The Madness of March
3/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
named Big Sky Coach of the Year; the Bobcatsnotched their 20th win of the season; and Aaron Richwent over the 1000-point plateau. And mostimportantly, the ‘Cats will keep on dancin'.
Pete Conway scored a career-high 23 points,including an impressive six-of-ten effort from three-point range, as Montana State notched its 20th win ofthe season with a 77-69 victory over Utah State in theopening round of the NIT, Tuesday night in Logan.
The guys were ready to go from the opening tip,
said Bobcat mentor Mick Durham, who was named
Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year earlier in the
day. We didn't want to end our season the way it did
last Friday night.
Montana State (20-9) junior Casey Reynolds gave
the Bobcats a 33-32 halftime advantage after
knocking down a three-pointer off the glass as time expired in the opening stanza.
In the second half, the Bobcats took a 51-47 lead on a Conway trey with 8:15 remaining.
However, a Utah State (23-8) bucket by Desmond Penigar cut the margin to 62-60 with 3:42
left. Reynolds then scored one of the biggest baskets of the night on an offensive rebound to
push MSU's margin back to four points. Damir Latovic hit a crucial three-pointer to give the
‘Cats a 66-61 advantage with 2:09 remaining and MSU nailed eight-of-ten free throws in the
final minute to secure their first-ever postseason tournament victory.
I thought we out-hustled them and had more desire, said MSU senior Aaron Rich, who went
over the 1000-point plateau with a layin at the 4:41 mark in the second half, which gave the
Bobcats a 60-56 lead. We didn't think Utah State gave us the respect we deserved. We
showed a lot of heart and battled the entire game.
Also in double-figures for Montana State was Rich with 17 points and Reynolds with 11.
Junior Damir Latovic added nine points and team-high eight rebounds. For the game, the
Bobcats shot 53 percent from the field, while holding the Aggies to 49 percent, including only
41 percent in the second stanza.
Utah State was led by Penigar with 25 points, while Jeremy Vague added 18 points and eight
rebounds for USU.
The Bobcats will play the winner of Wednesday's Richmond-Wagner contest in the next round
on Friday night.
Note: As of 10:15 p.m. on Tuesday night, there is no official word that MSU wouldhost a Friday night game in Worthington Arena. According to MSU AssociateAthletic Director Bruce Parker, a top NIT official told Montana State on Tuesdayafternoon to be prepared to host a game. Official notice will probably not come fromthe NIT until Wednesday afternoon. Check back for more information on Wednesday.
Pete Conway scored a career-high 23 points,including an impressive six-of-ten effort from three-point range, as Montana State notched its 20th win ofthe season with a 77-69 victory over Utah State in theopening round of the NIT, Tuesday night in Logan.
The guys were ready to go from the opening tip,
said Bobcat mentor Mick Durham, who was named
Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year earlier in the
day. We didn't want to end our season the way it did
last Friday night.
Montana State (20-9) junior Casey Reynolds gave
the Bobcats a 33-32 halftime advantage after
knocking down a three-pointer off the glass as time expired in the opening stanza.
In the second half, the Bobcats took a 51-47 lead on a Conway trey with 8:15 remaining.
However, a Utah State (23-8) bucket by Desmond Penigar cut the margin to 62-60 with 3:42
left. Reynolds then scored one of the biggest baskets of the night on an offensive rebound to
push MSU's margin back to four points. Damir Latovic hit a crucial three-pointer to give the
‘Cats a 66-61 advantage with 2:09 remaining and MSU nailed eight-of-ten free throws in the
final minute to secure their first-ever postseason tournament victory.
I thought we out-hustled them and had more desire, said MSU senior Aaron Rich, who went
over the 1000-point plateau with a layin at the 4:41 mark in the second half, which gave the
Bobcats a 60-56 lead. We didn't think Utah State gave us the respect we deserved. We
showed a lot of heart and battled the entire game.
Also in double-figures for Montana State was Rich with 17 points and Reynolds with 11.
Junior Damir Latovic added nine points and team-high eight rebounds. For the game, the
Bobcats shot 53 percent from the field, while holding the Aggies to 49 percent, including only
41 percent in the second stanza.
Utah State was led by Penigar with 25 points, while Jeremy Vague added 18 points and eight
rebounds for USU.
The Bobcats will play the winner of Wednesday's Richmond-Wagner contest in the next round
on Friday night.
Note: As of 10:15 p.m. on Tuesday night, there is no official word that MSU wouldhost a Friday night game in Worthington Arena. According to MSU AssociateAthletic Director Bruce Parker, a top NIT official told Montana State on Tuesdayafternoon to be prepared to host a game. Official notice will probably not come fromthe NIT until Wednesday afternoon. Check back for more information on Wednesday.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
