Leath-el Hornets Top Bobcats
1/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Justin Williams knocked down a 15-foot jumper from the baseline with 4.6 seconds to play, capping a back-and-forth affair and handing Sacramento State a 78-77 win in Hornet Gym on Thursday.
Williams’ jumper erased a short-lived MSU lead, which it took on a Phil Friesen layup with 1:14 to play. Friesen had a chance to help the Bobcats’ cause with two free throws with 17 seconds to play, but missed both to set up Williams’ game-winner.
“I was fine with how we defended (the final play),” Bobcat coach Brad Huse said. “The kid hit a clutch shot. I thought they hit clutch shots all night.”
The loss overshadowed another spectacular effort by Carlos Taylor. The MSU senior guard scored 34 points for the second straight game, and also grabbed five boards. “We rode Carlos’ shoulders down the stretch,” Huse said. “But it was too little, too late. At the same time, I want to give Sacramento (State) a lot of credit. They made big shots all night, they got the ball to the guys who can score, and they really played well.”
Sacramento State’s switching defenses kept Montana State off balance offensively throughout the first half. The Bobcats shot just 25% from the field and didn’t score a basket for nearly seven minutes, but MSU stayed in the game by penetrating and getting to the free throw line. The Cats scored their first eight points from the stripe, and stood 20-for-22 from the line at the intermission.
Sacramento State used a spurt early in the second half to grab a 10-point lead with 16:56 to play. After the Bobcats used a 10-0 run to claim a 52-51 edge, the Hornets used a 12-2 run to push the lead back to 10.
Trailing 71-62, MSU forged its way back into the game on the strength of Taylor’s shooting. The senior hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to six, and moments later nailed back-to-back threes to get MSU within two at 74-72. He scored his 34th point on a free throw with 1:53 to play, which brought MSU to within one.
The loss drops MSU to 9-6 on the season, 1-1 in Big Sky play, and finishes an evening in which all four Big Sky home teams in action won. The Hornets now stand at 3-11 overall, 1-3 in the conference.
Williams’ jumper erased a short-lived MSU lead, which it took on a Phil Friesen layup with 1:14 to play. Friesen had a chance to help the Bobcats’ cause with two free throws with 17 seconds to play, but missed both to set up Williams’ game-winner.
“I was fine with how we defended (the final play),” Bobcat coach Brad Huse said. “The kid hit a clutch shot. I thought they hit clutch shots all night.”
The loss overshadowed another spectacular effort by Carlos Taylor. The MSU senior guard scored 34 points for the second straight game, and also grabbed five boards. “We rode Carlos’ shoulders down the stretch,” Huse said. “But it was too little, too late. At the same time, I want to give Sacramento (State) a lot of credit. They made big shots all night, they got the ball to the guys who can score, and they really played well.”
Sacramento State’s switching defenses kept Montana State off balance offensively throughout the first half. The Bobcats shot just 25% from the field and didn’t score a basket for nearly seven minutes, but MSU stayed in the game by penetrating and getting to the free throw line. The Cats scored their first eight points from the stripe, and stood 20-for-22 from the line at the intermission.
Sacramento State used a spurt early in the second half to grab a 10-point lead with 16:56 to play. After the Bobcats used a 10-0 run to claim a 52-51 edge, the Hornets used a 12-2 run to push the lead back to 10.
Trailing 71-62, MSU forged its way back into the game on the strength of Taylor’s shooting. The senior hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to six, and moments later nailed back-to-back threes to get MSU within two at 74-72. He scored his 34th point on a free throw with 1:53 to play, which brought MSU to within one.
The loss drops MSU to 9-6 on the season, 1-1 in Big Sky play, and finishes an evening in which all four Big Sky home teams in action won. The Hornets now stand at 3-11 overall, 1-3 in the conference.
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