Bobcats Slow Down NAU, Earn 74-68 Win
1/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Will Bynum scored 18 points and provided the exclamation point, as Montana State held off hot-shooting Northern Arizona 74-68 Saturday in Bozeman.
With the Bobcats clinging to a six point lead and struggling from the free throw line, Bynum registered a steal with 42 seconds left and turned it into a dunk and a free throw, allowing MSU to earn the victory. Bynum finished with a team-high 18 points on 8-for-9 shooting, adding three steals and two assists.
Both teams scorched the nets in the first half, with Northern Arizona holding the unlikely distinction of trailing by three, 42-39, after a first half in which the road team shot 74%. Neither team led by more than five, as MSU shot 59%. The Lumberjacks took a 39-38 lead with 2:30 left in the half, but a Divaldo Mbunga layup at 47 seconds and a Bobby Howard layup as the half ended gave MSU a three-point margin.
"I thought one team had to assert itself (coming out of halftime)," said MSU coach Brad Huse. "Both teams were in a nice offensive flow in the first half. I thought if we could get some stops we could surge out (in the second half). Getting the lead allowed us to use some time in the second half."
After scoring the last four points of the first half, MSU opened the second half with 10 straight. Bynum hit a pair of short jumpers, Marquis Navarre scored on a layup, and Erik Rush hit a free throw and a three-pointer to give MSU a 52-39 lead with 17:04 to play.
NAU scored four straight points capped by Jermaine Calvin's layup with 51 seconds left, to draw to within 67-62, but after Rush converted a free throw Bynum's steal and dunk gave MSU control of the game.
Montana State 2-2 in Big Sky play after the weekend, 9-6 overall, while NAU falls to 4-12 on the season, 1-4 in Big Sky play. MSU travels to Weber State and Idaho State next week, while NAU travels to Sacramento State for a single game on Sunday.
With the Bobcats clinging to a six point lead and struggling from the free throw line, Bynum registered a steal with 42 seconds left and turned it into a dunk and a free throw, allowing MSU to earn the victory. Bynum finished with a team-high 18 points on 8-for-9 shooting, adding three steals and two assists.
Both teams scorched the nets in the first half, with Northern Arizona holding the unlikely distinction of trailing by three, 42-39, after a first half in which the road team shot 74%. Neither team led by more than five, as MSU shot 59%. The Lumberjacks took a 39-38 lead with 2:30 left in the half, but a Divaldo Mbunga layup at 47 seconds and a Bobby Howard layup as the half ended gave MSU a three-point margin.
"I thought one team had to assert itself (coming out of halftime)," said MSU coach Brad Huse. "Both teams were in a nice offensive flow in the first half. I thought if we could get some stops we could surge out (in the second half). Getting the lead allowed us to use some time in the second half."
After scoring the last four points of the first half, MSU opened the second half with 10 straight. Bynum hit a pair of short jumpers, Marquis Navarre scored on a layup, and Erik Rush hit a free throw and a three-pointer to give MSU a 52-39 lead with 17:04 to play.
NAU scored four straight points capped by Jermaine Calvin's layup with 51 seconds left, to draw to within 67-62, but after Rush converted a free throw Bynum's steal and dunk gave MSU control of the game.
Montana State 2-2 in Big Sky play after the weekend, 9-6 overall, while NAU falls to 4-12 on the season, 1-4 in Big Sky play. MSU travels to Weber State and Idaho State next week, while NAU travels to Sacramento State for a single game on Sunday.
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