Bobcats Steal Win from PSU
1/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Casey Durham recorded six points and two rebounds and drew the biggest charge of his career in the last 76 seconds on Saturday, leading Montana State to an improbable 69-68 win over Portland State.
For all the statistics Durham registered in the last two minutes of the game, it was a defensive call he made in the huddle with 19 seconds left that proved to be the difference in the game.
"Casey made the call," Bobcat coach Mick Durham said of his point guard's alignment change on Portland State's possession to win the game. "He told Jacques to take the point guard (Ryan Sommer) and he took (Josh Neeley), and Jacques caused the point guard all kinds of trouble in the last 12 seconds."
The possession resulted in a turnover by Sommer and a steal under the basket by Al Beye, clinching the win in a game Montana State led for only 49 seconds. PSU hit its first five three-pointers, building a lead as big as 14 in the first half (21-7, 14:19). A 12-4 run to close the half gave the Vikings a 39-28 halftime advantage.
"They schooled us in the first half," Mick Durham said. "I don't know where our heads were, but they came out with intensity and played great. Give them credit."
Portland State played with the lead throughout the second half, and when a Neeley layup extended the lead to 10 with 3:02 the game appeared out of reach for Montana State. "When we went down by 10 with a couple minutes left we could have just folded, but our guys didn't want to give up," said Bobcat guard Ja'Ron Jefferson.
Al Beye nailed two free throws with 2:47 to play to trim the lead to eight, and his rebound after a missed jumper by Neeley led to a layup and free throw by Moss that cut the lead to five. A pair of Atnhony Washington free throws extended PSU's cushion to seven, and the younger Durham's heroics began.
With 1:16 to play he rebounded a Sommer miss and was eventually fouled. Durham made the first and missed the second, but Moss earned a jump ball on the rebound and MSU retained possession. On a designed inbounds play Durham hit a three behind an Al Beye screen, cutting the lead to three. On the ensuing inbounds, Durham hounded Sommer into an offensive foul. Moss eventually nailed two free throws, and the Bobcats pulled within one.
After a pair of point blank shots by the Vikings, Casey Durham again grabbed a defensive board, setting up the game-winning possession. He was fouled in the back court, and nailed both free throws to give MSU its first lead in 38 minutes.
Durham has converted 24 of his last 26 free throws, a phenomenon he is at a loss to explain. "I don't know what the deal is," the son of MSU's all-time free throw percentage leader said with a shrug.
"We wanted to switch on ball screens and not give up any open looks," Jefferson said of MSU's last defensive possession. "Luckily they threw it away and Al grabbed it."
Portland State out-played Montana State for 38 minutes. "Fortunately," Mick Durham said, "we won the last two minutes." PSU out-shot (47% to 42%) and out-rebounded (38-to-30) the Bobcats. MSU owned a 17-to-7 free throw advantage on a night when both teams shot poorly (MSU 61%, PSU 47%).
Montana State raised its record to 12-9 overall and 5-2 in Big Sky play with the win. PSU falls to 8-12, 1-6.
For all the statistics Durham registered in the last two minutes of the game, it was a defensive call he made in the huddle with 19 seconds left that proved to be the difference in the game.
"Casey made the call," Bobcat coach Mick Durham said of his point guard's alignment change on Portland State's possession to win the game. "He told Jacques to take the point guard (Ryan Sommer) and he took (Josh Neeley), and Jacques caused the point guard all kinds of trouble in the last 12 seconds."
The possession resulted in a turnover by Sommer and a steal under the basket by Al Beye, clinching the win in a game Montana State led for only 49 seconds. PSU hit its first five three-pointers, building a lead as big as 14 in the first half (21-7, 14:19). A 12-4 run to close the half gave the Vikings a 39-28 halftime advantage.
"They schooled us in the first half," Mick Durham said. "I don't know where our heads were, but they came out with intensity and played great. Give them credit."
Portland State played with the lead throughout the second half, and when a Neeley layup extended the lead to 10 with 3:02 the game appeared out of reach for Montana State. "When we went down by 10 with a couple minutes left we could have just folded, but our guys didn't want to give up," said Bobcat guard Ja'Ron Jefferson.
Al Beye nailed two free throws with 2:47 to play to trim the lead to eight, and his rebound after a missed jumper by Neeley led to a layup and free throw by Moss that cut the lead to five. A pair of Atnhony Washington free throws extended PSU's cushion to seven, and the younger Durham's heroics began.
With 1:16 to play he rebounded a Sommer miss and was eventually fouled. Durham made the first and missed the second, but Moss earned a jump ball on the rebound and MSU retained possession. On a designed inbounds play Durham hit a three behind an Al Beye screen, cutting the lead to three. On the ensuing inbounds, Durham hounded Sommer into an offensive foul. Moss eventually nailed two free throws, and the Bobcats pulled within one.
After a pair of point blank shots by the Vikings, Casey Durham again grabbed a defensive board, setting up the game-winning possession. He was fouled in the back court, and nailed both free throws to give MSU its first lead in 38 minutes.
Durham has converted 24 of his last 26 free throws, a phenomenon he is at a loss to explain. "I don't know what the deal is," the son of MSU's all-time free throw percentage leader said with a shrug.
"We wanted to switch on ball screens and not give up any open looks," Jefferson said of MSU's last defensive possession. "Luckily they threw it away and Al grabbed it."
Portland State out-played Montana State for 38 minutes. "Fortunately," Mick Durham said, "we won the last two minutes." PSU out-shot (47% to 42%) and out-rebounded (38-to-30) the Bobcats. MSU owned a 17-to-7 free throw advantage on a night when both teams shot poorly (MSU 61%, PSU 47%).
Montana State raised its record to 12-9 overall and 5-2 in Big Sky play with the win. PSU falls to 8-12, 1-6.
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