Bobcats Rally to Top Jackrabbits
1/2/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Derrick Edmonds scored six points in Montana State's game-closing 10-2 run and Al Beye had the other four, as the Bobcats posted another late rally in a 78-73 win over South Dakota State on Monday.
Ja'Ron Jefferson had a game-high 21 points, Edmonds chipped in with 19, and Beye had 13 in a game that rang with familiarity. Four of MSU's last five games have been decided by five points or less, whie the other was an eight-point overtime win. The game's patter was also similar to MSU's recent games, as the 'Cats fell behind after a big drought, battled from behind for most of the second half, then used a late spurt to capture the win.
"We just couldn't get it together on the defensive end," said Bobcat coach Mick Durham, whose team surrendered a 49% shooting night to the Jackrabbits. That figure could have been worse, as SDSU shot 55% in the first half and was well over 50% halfway through the second half.
"We screwed it down the last 10 minutes," Durham said of his team's defensive effort late in the game, as the Bobcats limited South Dakota State to 3-for-11 shooting with five turnovers in the last eight minutes. "We found a lineup we were comfortable with and got a couple of fast breaks."
Montana State stayed in the game largely on the strength of its ability to force turnovers. SDSU turned the ball over 11 times, and the Bobcats had nine steals. Jefferson led the way with three.
South Dakota State thumped the Bobcats on the boards, grabbing 36 to MSU's 23. "South Dakota State sends four to the boards and really works hard on the offensive glass," Durham said. "I thought if we rebounded we'd be fine, but we didn't, and we weren't."
The Bobcats head into the Big Sky Conference season with a slightly uneasy feeling, Durham said, but one far better than last year. "We're going into the conference this year with a win," he said, "which is better than last year. We couldn't be much lower than when we left Lincoln, Nebr., last year (after losing to Nebraska)."
Still, Edmonds feels better heading into the league. "I see improvement, I really do," he said. "It's not always pretty, but I see improvement."
Ja'Ron Jefferson had a game-high 21 points, Edmonds chipped in with 19, and Beye had 13 in a game that rang with familiarity. Four of MSU's last five games have been decided by five points or less, whie the other was an eight-point overtime win. The game's patter was also similar to MSU's recent games, as the 'Cats fell behind after a big drought, battled from behind for most of the second half, then used a late spurt to capture the win.
"We just couldn't get it together on the defensive end," said Bobcat coach Mick Durham, whose team surrendered a 49% shooting night to the Jackrabbits. That figure could have been worse, as SDSU shot 55% in the first half and was well over 50% halfway through the second half.
"We screwed it down the last 10 minutes," Durham said of his team's defensive effort late in the game, as the Bobcats limited South Dakota State to 3-for-11 shooting with five turnovers in the last eight minutes. "We found a lineup we were comfortable with and got a couple of fast breaks."
Montana State stayed in the game largely on the strength of its ability to force turnovers. SDSU turned the ball over 11 times, and the Bobcats had nine steals. Jefferson led the way with three.
South Dakota State thumped the Bobcats on the boards, grabbing 36 to MSU's 23. "South Dakota State sends four to the boards and really works hard on the offensive glass," Durham said. "I thought if we rebounded we'd be fine, but we didn't, and we weren't."
The Bobcats head into the Big Sky Conference season with a slightly uneasy feeling, Durham said, but one far better than last year. "We're going into the conference this year with a win," he said, "which is better than last year. We couldn't be much lower than when we left Lincoln, Nebr., last year (after losing to Nebraska)."
Still, Edmonds feels better heading into the league. "I see improvement, I really do," he said. "It's not always pretty, but I see improvement."
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
