'Cats Drop Thriller
12/3/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Montana State guards Josh Barsh and Jason Erickson held Erik Benzel in check for thirty nine minutes, fifty eight seconds on Wednesday night, but Benzel’s short jumper with two seconds left sealed a 55-53 home win for the Pioneers.
Benzel finished with three points, nearly 14 points below his season average, but his first field goal of the game capped a wild ending to the game. MSU’s Frank Brown -- a 50% free throw shooter -- hit two charity tosses with 30 seconds left to tie the game before Benzel’s jumper. MSU had four empty trips prior to Brown’s free throws.
“We had a lot of opportunities,” said MSU coach Mick Durham. “We missed chances all night. Both teams are really hanging their hats on their defense right now. Chalk it up to being a defensive battle.”
MSU shot just 33% on the night, while holding Denver to 37% shooting. The Pioneers used a 21-13 rebounding edge in the second half to out-board the ‘Cats 36-to-35. Each team turned the ball over 18 times.
Erickson and Brown, MSU’s outstanding backcourt, shone. Erickson scored 14 points and had five steals, while Brown had a career-high 18 points and six rebounds. Brown was three-for-four from three-point range. Calvin Ento had a season-high 10 boards.
Durham credited Brown with spurring the Bobcat offense. “He really sparked us tonight,” Durham said. “Frank sparked our effort with great energy and confidence.”
MSU led 27-23 at the intermission in a half in which the teams exchanged dry spells. Denver’s came first, as the Pioneers failed to score for a six-minute stretch from the 15:40 mark until 9:44 remained, when Brett Starkey hit a free throw. That point answered a Jason Erickson basket at 10:01, which was MSU’s last score for four-and-a-half minutes, and the team’s last field goal for nine minutes.
With just over one minute remaining in the first half, Nick Dissly hit a long three and Calvin Ento followed 15 seconds later with a strong post move down low. Those baskets stretched MSU’s halftime lead to 27-23. The Bobcats shot 35% in the first half, limiting Denver to 28% shooting. MSU outrebounded the taller Pioneers 22-to-25 in the first period, as well, but hindered their own offensive efforts with a dozen turnovers.
Benzel finished with three points, nearly 14 points below his season average, but his first field goal of the game capped a wild ending to the game. MSU’s Frank Brown -- a 50% free throw shooter -- hit two charity tosses with 30 seconds left to tie the game before Benzel’s jumper. MSU had four empty trips prior to Brown’s free throws.
“We had a lot of opportunities,” said MSU coach Mick Durham. “We missed chances all night. Both teams are really hanging their hats on their defense right now. Chalk it up to being a defensive battle.”
MSU shot just 33% on the night, while holding Denver to 37% shooting. The Pioneers used a 21-13 rebounding edge in the second half to out-board the ‘Cats 36-to-35. Each team turned the ball over 18 times.
Erickson and Brown, MSU’s outstanding backcourt, shone. Erickson scored 14 points and had five steals, while Brown had a career-high 18 points and six rebounds. Brown was three-for-four from three-point range. Calvin Ento had a season-high 10 boards.
Durham credited Brown with spurring the Bobcat offense. “He really sparked us tonight,” Durham said. “Frank sparked our effort with great energy and confidence.”
MSU led 27-23 at the intermission in a half in which the teams exchanged dry spells. Denver’s came first, as the Pioneers failed to score for a six-minute stretch from the 15:40 mark until 9:44 remained, when Brett Starkey hit a free throw. That point answered a Jason Erickson basket at 10:01, which was MSU’s last score for four-and-a-half minutes, and the team’s last field goal for nine minutes.
With just over one minute remaining in the first half, Nick Dissly hit a long three and Calvin Ento followed 15 seconds later with a strong post move down low. Those baskets stretched MSU’s halftime lead to 27-23. The Bobcats shot 35% in the first half, limiting Denver to 28% shooting. MSU outrebounded the taller Pioneers 22-to-25 in the first period, as well, but hindered their own offensive efforts with a dozen turnovers.
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