Bobcats Outlast Utah Valley for Tourney Title
12/29/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Bobby Howard's three-pointer with four seconds left in regulation forced overtime, and the Bobcat junior scored four points in overtime to lead Montana State to a 70-67 win in the championship of the 2008 Bobcat 6th Man Club GranTree Inn Classic.
Montana State's balanced effort overcame a spectacular performance by Utah Valley's Ryan Toolson. The senior guard set a tournament record with 31 points in the championship game, and his 51 points in two games is also a tourney best. "They have a great player," MSU coach Brad Huse said, "and they use him to perfection. We really had to persevere."
Utah Valley led 35-25 after a first half in which they outrebounded the Bobcats 19-to-8. Montana State reversed that score in the second half, and out-rebounded UVU 28-to-18 the rest of the way.
Howard's three-pointer capped a wild end to regulation. MSU trailed 58-53 after Toolson's two free throws with 47 seconds remaining, but Marquis Navarre hit a layup to draw MSU within three. Shaun Curtis hit a pair of free throws to stretch the lead back to five, but Howard's layup cut the lead back to three.
UVU's Solomon Jensen missed a pair of free throws with 11 seconds to play, allowing Howard to drill a three-pointer with four seconds to play to tie the game at 60. Utah Valley couldn't get a shot off as the clock ran out.
With MSU trailing 64-62, Howard drained three free throws to give MSU a one-point lead. Tyray Petty converted one-of-two free throws before Divaldo Mbunga delivered a basket in the post and Erik Rush laid one in off a drive to give MSU a four-point lead. Justin Baker's jumper for UVU cut the margin to two, and after Howard made a free throw Toolson and Baker missed three-pointers to seal MSU's win.
"Our guys fought hard," Huse said. "I thought our pressure in the full court really made them work. Our guys really showed some courage in the second half."
MSU (7-5) travels to Missoula to play Montana on Saturday, while Utah Valley (7-5) travels to Coppin State on January 10.
-pick up all-tourney team-
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Erik Rush, Montana State ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Bobby Howard, Montana State; Ryan Toolson, Utah Valley; Jordan Scoubes, Utah Valley; Michael Deloach, Norfolk State; Rob Cooper, Lethbridge.
Montana State's balanced effort overcame a spectacular performance by Utah Valley's Ryan Toolson. The senior guard set a tournament record with 31 points in the championship game, and his 51 points in two games is also a tourney best. "They have a great player," MSU coach Brad Huse said, "and they use him to perfection. We really had to persevere."
Utah Valley led 35-25 after a first half in which they outrebounded the Bobcats 19-to-8. Montana State reversed that score in the second half, and out-rebounded UVU 28-to-18 the rest of the way.
Howard's three-pointer capped a wild end to regulation. MSU trailed 58-53 after Toolson's two free throws with 47 seconds remaining, but Marquis Navarre hit a layup to draw MSU within three. Shaun Curtis hit a pair of free throws to stretch the lead back to five, but Howard's layup cut the lead back to three.
UVU's Solomon Jensen missed a pair of free throws with 11 seconds to play, allowing Howard to drill a three-pointer with four seconds to play to tie the game at 60. Utah Valley couldn't get a shot off as the clock ran out.
With MSU trailing 64-62, Howard drained three free throws to give MSU a one-point lead. Tyray Petty converted one-of-two free throws before Divaldo Mbunga delivered a basket in the post and Erik Rush laid one in off a drive to give MSU a four-point lead. Justin Baker's jumper for UVU cut the margin to two, and after Howard made a free throw Toolson and Baker missed three-pointers to seal MSU's win.
"Our guys fought hard," Huse said. "I thought our pressure in the full court really made them work. Our guys really showed some courage in the second half."
MSU (7-5) travels to Missoula to play Montana on Saturday, while Utah Valley (7-5) travels to Coppin State on January 10.
-pick up all-tourney team-
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Erik Rush, Montana State ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Bobby Howard, Montana State; Ryan Toolson, Utah Valley; Jordan Scoubes, Utah Valley; Michael Deloach, Norfolk State; Rob Cooper, Lethbridge.
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