Bobcats Stop League-Leading ISU
1/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
First-place Idaho State entered Saturday's game at Montana State with the Big Sky's leading defense, the hype, and the cool nickname, but the Bobcat defense carried the night in a 58-57 win.
Montana State never trailed, but the win wasn't secure until Casey Durham capped a frantic finish by intentionally missing a free throw with 0.9 seconds remaining. The clock expired before ISU could attempt a shot. Moments earlier, with 22 seconds left, Durham missed the front end of a one-and-one to set up a final shot attempt for Idaho State, a jumper missed by Akbar Abdul-Ahad. Durham was fouled after scrambling for the rebound.
"This was a great conference basketball game," said MSU coach Brad Huse. "It was a battle, low-scoring, every basket was fought for. It was fun, and it's great to be on the winning side. It easily could have gone the other way."
Idaho State's renowned 'razor' zone defense limits conference opponents to a league-best 37.8% shooting, and held MSU to just 38.9% on its home court, but Montana State's defense was even stingier. Idaho State shot 34.5% from the floor, including 6-for-23 from three-point range.
While the Bengal defense has earned its acclaim, Bobcat guard Mecklen Davis said MSU also prides itself in its defense. "Coach (Huse) stressed that when he recruited us, that it was defense first and offense second (at Montana State)," Davis said after a 12-point, five-rebound performance. "We struggled at first, but we're doing better now. We're buying into coach's system."
Both teams struggled on offense early, combining to miss the first six shots of the game and failing to score until Davis' layup after two minutes, 15 seconds. That gave the Bobcats a lead they would relinquish only at around the 10 minute mark, when the Bengals forged a 44-44 tie. Carlos Taylor answered with a three-pointer, and MSU didn't trail again.
Taylor hit a free throw with 2:26 to give MSU a 58-51 lead, and set up a furious ISU comeback. Logan Kinghorn hit two free throws, then David Schroeder nailed a triple to bring ISU within 58-56 at 1:53. With 41 seconds left, Matt Stucki made the second of two free throws to draw the Bengals within a point, and also to finish the scoring for the night.
Huse said his team's rock-hard belief system carried it through the rocky finish. "Our guys believe in themselves," he said, "and they haven't had a whole lot of reason to at some points during the year. This weekend proves that our guys will compete regardless of the situation."
Taylor capped a magnificent weekend with 19 points, three rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot. In spite of his offensive fireworks, Taylor's thoughts rested on defense coming down the stretch. "I was just thinking, 'Let's try to get stops, and get the rebound,' he said. "On offense we needed to run as much time off the clock as possible. Credit Idaho State, they're a tough team. Today, we matched their intensity."
Montana State's win evens the Bobcats' record to 3-3 in Big Sky play, while ISU dropped its first league tilt, and now stands 5-1. The Bobcats hit the road again on Thursday, facing league newcomer Northern Colorado on Thursday in Greeley.
Montana State never trailed, but the win wasn't secure until Casey Durham capped a frantic finish by intentionally missing a free throw with 0.9 seconds remaining. The clock expired before ISU could attempt a shot. Moments earlier, with 22 seconds left, Durham missed the front end of a one-and-one to set up a final shot attempt for Idaho State, a jumper missed by Akbar Abdul-Ahad. Durham was fouled after scrambling for the rebound.
"This was a great conference basketball game," said MSU coach Brad Huse. "It was a battle, low-scoring, every basket was fought for. It was fun, and it's great to be on the winning side. It easily could have gone the other way."
Idaho State's renowned 'razor' zone defense limits conference opponents to a league-best 37.8% shooting, and held MSU to just 38.9% on its home court, but Montana State's defense was even stingier. Idaho State shot 34.5% from the floor, including 6-for-23 from three-point range.
While the Bengal defense has earned its acclaim, Bobcat guard Mecklen Davis said MSU also prides itself in its defense. "Coach (Huse) stressed that when he recruited us, that it was defense first and offense second (at Montana State)," Davis said after a 12-point, five-rebound performance. "We struggled at first, but we're doing better now. We're buying into coach's system."
Both teams struggled on offense early, combining to miss the first six shots of the game and failing to score until Davis' layup after two minutes, 15 seconds. That gave the Bobcats a lead they would relinquish only at around the 10 minute mark, when the Bengals forged a 44-44 tie. Carlos Taylor answered with a three-pointer, and MSU didn't trail again.
Taylor hit a free throw with 2:26 to give MSU a 58-51 lead, and set up a furious ISU comeback. Logan Kinghorn hit two free throws, then David Schroeder nailed a triple to bring ISU within 58-56 at 1:53. With 41 seconds left, Matt Stucki made the second of two free throws to draw the Bengals within a point, and also to finish the scoring for the night.
Huse said his team's rock-hard belief system carried it through the rocky finish. "Our guys believe in themselves," he said, "and they haven't had a whole lot of reason to at some points during the year. This weekend proves that our guys will compete regardless of the situation."
Taylor capped a magnificent weekend with 19 points, three rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot. In spite of his offensive fireworks, Taylor's thoughts rested on defense coming down the stretch. "I was just thinking, 'Let's try to get stops, and get the rebound,' he said. "On offense we needed to run as much time off the clock as possible. Credit Idaho State, they're a tough team. Today, we matched their intensity."
Montana State's win evens the Bobcats' record to 3-3 in Big Sky play, while ISU dropped its first league tilt, and now stands 5-1. The Bobcats hit the road again on Thursday, facing league newcomer Northern Colorado on Thursday in Greeley.
Thursday, August 27
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