Bobcats Top Griz, Keep Pace with PSU
2/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Freshman guard Casey Durham scored a game-high 18 points off the bench to lead Montana State to a 72-62 win over Montana in Bozeman on Sunday afternoon.
All the points in Durham's career-high effort came on three-pointers, with his six accounting for half of MSU's dozen. Durham also had a hand in MSU's outstanding defensive effort, getting two steals as the Bobcats limited UM to 39.6% shooting and forced 17 turnovers.
"That's what he does," said MSU coach Mick Durham. "He hits threes and he's a pest on defense. He did a good job of those things today."
Although Durham's shooting carried the day, his former Bozeman High teammate Nick Dissly that got the Bobcats untracked in the first half. With the Bobcats trailing 11-9 six minutes into the game, Dissly hit a three that gave the Bobcats a lead they would never relinquish.
After Marvin Moss hit a couple of inside baskets and Al Beye hit one, Durham nailed a three-pointer with 8:27 to play to give the 'Cats a 21-13 lead. After the Grizzlies cut the lead to six, Durham hit another three, assisted on one of Taylor Pratt's two layups, and converted another triple to give MSU a 33-20 halftime cushion.
"We seemed to answer their spurts with spurts of our own," Durham said. "We had good energy. I didn't think we played particularly well offensively in the first half, but there we were up by 13. I don't think the coaches knew what to say, because I don't know the last time we had a 13-point lead at halftime."
Grizzly center John Seyfert opened the second half with a layup and free throw and Matt Dlouhy hit a follow dunk and a layup to cut the Bobcat lead to 33-27 two minutes into the second half, but Marvin Moss answered with a short jumper in the paint. "That was a big shot by Marvin," Durham said, but a Dlouhy three-pointer got the Grizzlies within five. After a pair of free throws by Taylor Pratt, Branden Miller hit back-to-back threes to push the Bobcat lead to 13.
Montana used a 7-0 run to get the lead back to 51-44 at 7:37, but the 'Cats answered 15-3 run keyed by back-to-back Miller three-pointers to ice the win. The Grizzlies got to within 10 in the closing seconds.
The win leaves Montana State 8-2 in the Big Sky, a half-game behind Portland State (9-2) entering Thursday's game at NAU. Portland State hosts Idaho State Thursday before playing in ESPN's Bracket Buster in Tennessee on Saturday. The 'Cats play at NAU Thursday and at Sacramento State on Saturday.
All the points in Durham's career-high effort came on three-pointers, with his six accounting for half of MSU's dozen. Durham also had a hand in MSU's outstanding defensive effort, getting two steals as the Bobcats limited UM to 39.6% shooting and forced 17 turnovers.
"That's what he does," said MSU coach Mick Durham. "He hits threes and he's a pest on defense. He did a good job of those things today."
Although Durham's shooting carried the day, his former Bozeman High teammate Nick Dissly that got the Bobcats untracked in the first half. With the Bobcats trailing 11-9 six minutes into the game, Dissly hit a three that gave the Bobcats a lead they would never relinquish.
After Marvin Moss hit a couple of inside baskets and Al Beye hit one, Durham nailed a three-pointer with 8:27 to play to give the 'Cats a 21-13 lead. After the Grizzlies cut the lead to six, Durham hit another three, assisted on one of Taylor Pratt's two layups, and converted another triple to give MSU a 33-20 halftime cushion.
"We seemed to answer their spurts with spurts of our own," Durham said. "We had good energy. I didn't think we played particularly well offensively in the first half, but there we were up by 13. I don't think the coaches knew what to say, because I don't know the last time we had a 13-point lead at halftime."
Grizzly center John Seyfert opened the second half with a layup and free throw and Matt Dlouhy hit a follow dunk and a layup to cut the Bobcat lead to 33-27 two minutes into the second half, but Marvin Moss answered with a short jumper in the paint. "That was a big shot by Marvin," Durham said, but a Dlouhy three-pointer got the Grizzlies within five. After a pair of free throws by Taylor Pratt, Branden Miller hit back-to-back threes to push the Bobcat lead to 13.
Montana used a 7-0 run to get the lead back to 51-44 at 7:37, but the 'Cats answered 15-3 run keyed by back-to-back Miller three-pointers to ice the win. The Grizzlies got to within 10 in the closing seconds.
The win leaves Montana State 8-2 in the Big Sky, a half-game behind Portland State (9-2) entering Thursday's game at NAU. Portland State hosts Idaho State Thursday before playing in ESPN's Bracket Buster in Tennessee on Saturday. The 'Cats play at NAU Thursday and at Sacramento State on Saturday.
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