Sunday, December 19
3:00 pm MST
Montana State University
67
at
78
UC Riverside
Bobby Howard led MSU with 21 points
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcats Fall to UC Riverside in Rainy California
12/19/2010 7:52:56 PM | Men's Basketball
Poor shooting dooms MSU
Montana State could not overcome the combination of its own poor shooting and UC Riverside's hot hand, as the Highlanders handed the Bobcats a 78-67 loss in Riverside on Sunday.
Montana State forced 18 UCR turnovers, but the Bobcats shot just 38% while UC Riverside's 54% shooting marked the best for any opponent against MSU this season. Bobby Howard led all players with 21 points, and also added seven rebounds. Kareem Nitoto led UCR with 19 points, while Javon Borum scored 17.
The Bobcats scored the game's first eight points and led for much of the first half on the strength of forcing 13 Highlander turnovers. Fifteen of MSU's 35 first-half points came as the result of turnovers, but the Highlanders scored the last two baskets of the half, including a steal and breakaway dunk by BJ Shearry as time expired, to grab a 37-35 lead.
With the game tied early in the second half, UC Riverside scored eight straight points to take control of the game. Four of those points came after Bobcat turnovers.
UC Riverside shot 55% in the first half and 54% in the second, and the team's 54% shooting on the day marked the best opponent field goal percentage against MSU this season. In fact, opponents had managed to shoot better than 50% in a half twice in MSU's first 10 games.
On the flip side of the equation, Montana State's 38% shooting marked its fourth game below 40% in nine games against Division I opposition. The Bobcats also shot just 58% from the free throw line.
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