Montana State hit eight of 14 three-point attempts in the first half, but a considerable cool spell after the intermission spelled doom as the Bobcats lost their season opener to a WAC foe for the third straight season in a 77-59 loss to Hawai'i. Returning All-Big Sky forward bobby Howard led the Bobcats with 17 points, while Erik Rush added 15 and dished out a career-high nine assists. The Bobcats shot just 37% from the field for the game, and after limiting the Rainbow Warriors to 43% shooting in the first half allowed the home team to shoot 55% after halftime. The eight new Bobcats on the trip combined to score 19 poitns and shooting 6-for-22 from the field. Central Michigan topped CS Fullerton 70-67. William McClure scored 15 points.
NEXT UP...
Montana State vs. Central Michigan
DATE November 13, 2010
TIPOFF 12:30 am MT/9:30 pm HT
SITE Honolulu, HI
ARENA Stan Sheriff Center/10,300
RADIO Bobcat Network (Jeff Lasky)
TV none
LAST TIME UH 71-55, 11/29/91 in Honolulu
MISCELLANY...
•Montana State has dropped seven straight season openers, its last three against WAC foes
•MSU opened against a coach making his debut for the second straight season - last year the Cats lost to Nevada rookie coach David Carter 75-61, this year to Hawai'i's Gib Arnold 77-59
SERIES NOTES...
•Montana State's only previous meeting with Central Michigan was a 102-75 Chippewa win on December 29, 1973 in Detroit, Mich.
ON THE OFFENSE...
•After hitting eight of its 14 three-point attempts in the first half against Hawai'i, the Bobcats shot just 4-of-14 from the arc after the intermission
•Twelve of MSU's 22 field goals were three-pointers on Friday, and the Bobcats scored 36 of its 59 points from beyond the arc
•Seniors Bobby Howard and Erik Rush, who combined to score more than one-third of MSU's points a seasons ago, scored 32 of the team's 59 points against Hawai'i
ON THE DEFENSE...
•After limiting the Rainbow Warriors to 43% shooting in the first half, the MSU defense surrendered 55% shooting and 45 points in the second half
