Bobcats Drop Heartbreaker to Wyoming
12/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Wyoming's Alex Dunn hit a 10-foot jumper as time expired to give Wyoming a 71-70 win in Billings on Saturday.
The Cowboys' 10th straight win in the Border War series was its most difficult, as Montana State overcame a 16-point second-half deficit to take a 70-69 lead on Ja'Ron Jefferson's three-pointer with 22 seconds to play. Dunn missed a short turnaround shot and the ball bounced out of bounds with one second to play. Dunn hit the jumper off the inbounds pass.
"I don't know what to say," MSU coach Mick Durham said. "It was a great game, a lot like the San Jose State game. The kids competed so hard, it was neat to watch them cut the lead and cut the lead, and we actually took the lead. The last couple of years against Wyoming we couldn't get over the hump, but we got the lead tonight, and Dunn hit a big shot."
Wyoming guard Jay Straight controlled the first 30 minutes of the game, but when he picked up his fourth foul with 9:01 left Montana State surged back into the game. The Bobcats made the most headway -- an 11-4 run from 8:09 to 4:19, capped by a Branden Miller three-pointer, then a 10-2 run capped by Jefferson's three -- after that point.
"Jay Straight really had it going," Durham said, "but when he got in foul trouble we were able to take advantage. I thought the small lineup played well. We were in foul trouble with Matt (Towsley), and we have an emergency small lineup, and it clicked tonight."
While Straight led all scorers with 24 points, Jefferson had a career-high 19 and Miller 18 for MSU. Despite Wyoming's enormous size advantage, MSU was outrebounded only 39-to-32, and out-shot Wyoming 44% to 41%. The Cowboys benefitted from a 21-for-29 performance from the free throw line, while MSU was just 8-for-15. It was the first game all season the Bobcats' opponent shot more free throws the MSU.
The Cowboys' 10th straight win in the Border War series was its most difficult, as Montana State overcame a 16-point second-half deficit to take a 70-69 lead on Ja'Ron Jefferson's three-pointer with 22 seconds to play. Dunn missed a short turnaround shot and the ball bounced out of bounds with one second to play. Dunn hit the jumper off the inbounds pass.
"I don't know what to say," MSU coach Mick Durham said. "It was a great game, a lot like the San Jose State game. The kids competed so hard, it was neat to watch them cut the lead and cut the lead, and we actually took the lead. The last couple of years against Wyoming we couldn't get over the hump, but we got the lead tonight, and Dunn hit a big shot."
Wyoming guard Jay Straight controlled the first 30 minutes of the game, but when he picked up his fourth foul with 9:01 left Montana State surged back into the game. The Bobcats made the most headway -- an 11-4 run from 8:09 to 4:19, capped by a Branden Miller three-pointer, then a 10-2 run capped by Jefferson's three -- after that point.
"Jay Straight really had it going," Durham said, "but when he got in foul trouble we were able to take advantage. I thought the small lineup played well. We were in foul trouble with Matt (Towsley), and we have an emergency small lineup, and it clicked tonight."
While Straight led all scorers with 24 points, Jefferson had a career-high 19 and Miller 18 for MSU. Despite Wyoming's enormous size advantage, MSU was outrebounded only 39-to-32, and out-shot Wyoming 44% to 41%. The Cowboys benefitted from a 21-for-29 performance from the free throw line, while MSU was just 8-for-15. It was the first game all season the Bobcats' opponent shot more free throws the MSU.
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