Bobcats Keep Pace with PSU, Top Weber
2/5/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Junior guard Ja'Ron Jefferson scored 22 points and Montana State held Weber State to 32% shooting in the second half as the Bobcats topped Weber State 78-65 on Saturday.
Leading by just four with 16:16 to play, Jefferson hit a pair of layups then Al Beye hit a jump hook on a 6-0 run to give MSU a 45-35 lead. After a Lance Allred three-pointer, Casey Durham nailed a three and Taylor Pratt got a dunk to extend MSU's lead to double-digits. Weber State would get no closer than 11 the rest of the way.
"We started getting stops," Jefferson said, "and when that happened we started getting points in transition. Our defense got us going in the second half."
The teams played on even terms throughout the first half. MSU held a brief four-point lead, and the game was tied 10 times. The Bobcats led 33-32 at the break.
Weber center Lance Allred dominated the first half, with plenty of help from forward Coric Riggs. The two combined to score Weber's first 24 points, and Allred had 18 points at halftime. Allred finished with 22 points and nine rebounds.
Jefferson's 22 points were his most since he scored 25 at Montana in January, and capped an incredible weekend. Jefferson missed his first eight shots against Idaho State on Thursday, but finished on a 5-for-6 tear with 12 points. He carried the hot hand over to Saturday, hitting 8-for-13 from the field and also grabbing 10 boards.
"I just needed to make some shots against Idaho State," Jefferson said. "I made some shots early tonight, and then I felt very comfortable."
The win helps Montana State keep pace with league-leading Portland State. The Vikings swept the Sac State-NAU road trip, and stand 8-2 and atop the Big Sky. MSU is a half-game back at 7-2, while Montana is 6-3. The Bobcats host UM next Sunday afternoon at 2:05 pm.
Leading by just four with 16:16 to play, Jefferson hit a pair of layups then Al Beye hit a jump hook on a 6-0 run to give MSU a 45-35 lead. After a Lance Allred three-pointer, Casey Durham nailed a three and Taylor Pratt got a dunk to extend MSU's lead to double-digits. Weber State would get no closer than 11 the rest of the way.
"We started getting stops," Jefferson said, "and when that happened we started getting points in transition. Our defense got us going in the second half."
The teams played on even terms throughout the first half. MSU held a brief four-point lead, and the game was tied 10 times. The Bobcats led 33-32 at the break.
Weber center Lance Allred dominated the first half, with plenty of help from forward Coric Riggs. The two combined to score Weber's first 24 points, and Allred had 18 points at halftime. Allred finished with 22 points and nine rebounds.
Jefferson's 22 points were his most since he scored 25 at Montana in January, and capped an incredible weekend. Jefferson missed his first eight shots against Idaho State on Thursday, but finished on a 5-for-6 tear with 12 points. He carried the hot hand over to Saturday, hitting 8-for-13 from the field and also grabbing 10 boards.
"I just needed to make some shots against Idaho State," Jefferson said. "I made some shots early tonight, and then I felt very comfortable."
The win helps Montana State keep pace with league-leading Portland State. The Vikings swept the Sac State-NAU road trip, and stand 8-2 and atop the Big Sky. MSU is a half-game back at 7-2, while Montana is 6-3. The Bobcats host UM next Sunday afternoon at 2:05 pm.
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