'Cats Fall to Broncos
12/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Travis Niesen scored the first four points of the game en route to a career-high 17 points, as Santa Clara beat Montana State 74-56 in Bozeman on Saturday.
"Niesen set the tone of the game" by getting back-to-back baskets on the low blocks, MSU coach Mick Durham said, as the Broncos raced to a 7-0 lead and never looked back. The Bobcats didn't get closer than seven points in the last 38 minutes of the game.
"They did a good job establishing the low blocks right out of the gate," Durham said. "We knew they would be physical, we just didn't respond."
The Bobcats shot 50% in each half, but Santa Clara out-rebounded MSU 37-to-20, including a 23-to-7 margin in the first half. MSU's Jason Erickson led all scorers with 22 points, but Niesen had 17 and Doron Perkins 16 to lead Santa Clara.
"I thought our first shot defense was pretty good," Durham said, "but they went and got the ball off the glass. We didn't."
Montana State made a run late in the first half, when Jason Erickson hit a short jumper and a three-pointer, and Nick Dissly nailed a long three at the buzzer to cut a 17-point Bronco cushion to a 37-28 halftime lead. Matt Towsley hit a short turnaround to open the second half to get the Bobcats within seven, but they would get no closer.
"We talked about this after the game," Durham said. "We can't change ourselves physically in the next three months. We have to find it in ourselves to be tougher."
Santa Clara is now 5-2 on the season, while the Bobcats fall to 3-3. MSU plays Wyoming at Casper next Saturday.
"Niesen set the tone of the game" by getting back-to-back baskets on the low blocks, MSU coach Mick Durham said, as the Broncos raced to a 7-0 lead and never looked back. The Bobcats didn't get closer than seven points in the last 38 minutes of the game.
"They did a good job establishing the low blocks right out of the gate," Durham said. "We knew they would be physical, we just didn't respond."
The Bobcats shot 50% in each half, but Santa Clara out-rebounded MSU 37-to-20, including a 23-to-7 margin in the first half. MSU's Jason Erickson led all scorers with 22 points, but Niesen had 17 and Doron Perkins 16 to lead Santa Clara.
"I thought our first shot defense was pretty good," Durham said, "but they went and got the ball off the glass. We didn't."
Montana State made a run late in the first half, when Jason Erickson hit a short jumper and a three-pointer, and Nick Dissly nailed a long three at the buzzer to cut a 17-point Bronco cushion to a 37-28 halftime lead. Matt Towsley hit a short turnaround to open the second half to get the Bobcats within seven, but they would get no closer.
"We talked about this after the game," Durham said. "We can't change ourselves physically in the next three months. We have to find it in ourselves to be tougher."
Santa Clara is now 5-2 on the season, while the Bobcats fall to 3-3. MSU plays Wyoming at Casper next Saturday.
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