Bobcats Battle Through Shooting Slump, Top ISU
1/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Brad Huse saw a familiar sight on the Worthington Arena floor Saturday night, and he liked what he saw.
"We looked like who we are tonight," Huse said following Montana State's 74-53 win over Idaho State in Worthington Arena. "We got good balance, everybody contributed. I'm sure they probably didn't have their legs in the second game of the road trip, either. But at the same time, I like the way we focused, the way we executed."
Divaldo Mbunga scored 21 points and Carlos Taylor logged his first career double-double with 19 points and 11 boards. Taylor had set his career-high with eight boards in the first half, and led all players with 15 points at the intermission.
With the Bobcats clinging to a one-point lead with 3:49 to play in the first half, Casey Durham hit a three-pointer propelling the Bobcats to a half-ending 10-1 run that gave the team control of the game. After Cory O'Brien made a free throw, Carlos Taylor drained a long three-pointer, then Bobby Howard and Phil Friesen each made one free throw. The half ended on a short jumper by Divaldo Mbunga after a hustle play on the defensive end by Branden Johnson.
"That was a big play by our bigs," Huse said.
Idaho State's Donnie Carson converted three free throws on the Bengals' first offensive possession of the second half to draw ISU within seven, but that's as close as they came. Mbunga converted a jumper, Adrian Zamora drained a three, and after a Matt Stucki jumper Phil Friesen hit a three-pointer and Carlos Taylor a slam as MSU extended the lead to 15.
Huse credited his team's consistent energy level. "I thought that was one of the big keys to the game," he said. "We had energy on both ends of the floor."
In his first start for the Cats, Phil Friesen responded. The junior forward scored 10 points on three-for-five shooting from the floor, while Branden Johnson added 11 points. MSU out-rebounded Idaho State 34-to-22, snapping a string of three straight in which the team was out-rebounded.
Montana State raised its record to 10-8 overall and 2-3 in Big Sky play, and the team travels to Northern Colorado for a Thursday night contest. Idaho State falls to 6-12 overall, 3-2 in the league, and hosts Sacramento State on Friday.
"We looked like who we are tonight," Huse said following Montana State's 74-53 win over Idaho State in Worthington Arena. "We got good balance, everybody contributed. I'm sure they probably didn't have their legs in the second game of the road trip, either. But at the same time, I like the way we focused, the way we executed."
Divaldo Mbunga scored 21 points and Carlos Taylor logged his first career double-double with 19 points and 11 boards. Taylor had set his career-high with eight boards in the first half, and led all players with 15 points at the intermission.
With the Bobcats clinging to a one-point lead with 3:49 to play in the first half, Casey Durham hit a three-pointer propelling the Bobcats to a half-ending 10-1 run that gave the team control of the game. After Cory O'Brien made a free throw, Carlos Taylor drained a long three-pointer, then Bobby Howard and Phil Friesen each made one free throw. The half ended on a short jumper by Divaldo Mbunga after a hustle play on the defensive end by Branden Johnson.
"That was a big play by our bigs," Huse said.
Idaho State's Donnie Carson converted three free throws on the Bengals' first offensive possession of the second half to draw ISU within seven, but that's as close as they came. Mbunga converted a jumper, Adrian Zamora drained a three, and after a Matt Stucki jumper Phil Friesen hit a three-pointer and Carlos Taylor a slam as MSU extended the lead to 15.
Huse credited his team's consistent energy level. "I thought that was one of the big keys to the game," he said. "We had energy on both ends of the floor."
In his first start for the Cats, Phil Friesen responded. The junior forward scored 10 points on three-for-five shooting from the floor, while Branden Johnson added 11 points. MSU out-rebounded Idaho State 34-to-22, snapping a string of three straight in which the team was out-rebounded.
Montana State raised its record to 10-8 overall and 2-3 in Big Sky play, and the team travels to Northern Colorado for a Thursday night contest. Idaho State falls to 6-12 overall, 3-2 in the league, and hosts Sacramento State on Friday.
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