Montana State University
Montana
Bobcat Men Complete Historic Sweep, Topple Grizzlies in Missoula
2/27/2010 10:11:16 PM | Men's Basketball
Will's way was spectacular on Saturday, as Bynum scores 22 points to lead Cats
After leading Montana State with 22 points and adding three assists and two steals in Montana State's exhilarating 73-67 win over Montana in Missoula on Saturday, do you suppose Will Bynum enjoys playing in Dahlberg Arena?
“I love it,” Montana State's senior guard said with a huge smile after helping MSU clinch the third seed in the Big Sky Tournament with its second straight win in Missoula. “I was just trying to keep my composure and get good shots.” Mission accomplished on both fronts, which produced a smiliar effort to last March's Bobcat Big Sky Tourney win in Missoula, in which Bynum starred.
Bynum's bearing played into more than just getting shots for himself. With point guard Marquis Navarre shelved with foul trouble and a late-game eye injury, Bynum and fellow wing Erik Rush ran the point successfully as MSU grinded out possessions throughout the second half.
“That was a big key,” said Bobcat coach Brad Huse, “how Will and Erick stepped up in Marquis' wake. We panicked a couple of times, but for the most part those guys really played well. Will really stepped up and played like a senior. That was a good senior performance.”
In posting Saturday's win, Montana State never trailed. The Bobcats scored the first four points of the game, holding UM scoreless until the 3:22 had passed. The teams played an uneven first half, marked by physical play and emotion. The Bobcats shot 67% before intermission, but in doing so capitalized on Montana's aggressive defensive scheme that sent the Grizzly big men to the perimeter to hedge screens and guard MSU's four and five players. Bobby Howard hit five of his six shots in the first half, all down deep, and Will Bynum helped MSU maintain a lead throughout the period by pressing the issue and getting to the free throw line. Bynum was 7-for-9 from the line in the first half.
Anthony Johnson led the Grizzlies' parade to the charity stripe in the first half. He scored 14 points before the break. MSU didn't back down from the powerful Grizzlies inside, either. MSU grabbed 15 boards in the first half to Montana's 10, and each team grabbed three offensive boards.
As solid as Montana State started defensively in the first half, the second half was even better. While MSU failed to score on its first three offensive possessions after halftime, the Bobcats were holding Montana scoreless for the first 5:20 of the second half. While starting the half on an 0-for-9 shooting skid, the Bobcats actually expanded their lead by converting free throws.
Bynum's layup with 13:21 to play pushed MSU's lead to 11, and Rush nailed a jumper moments later to give the Bobcats a 47-34 cushion. The lead reached 16 on Bobby Howard's free throw at 5:13, and Montana didn't cut the lead to single digits until Raason Young's three-pointer at 2:45.
With the charge on, the Grizzlies came at full force. With 1:34 to play and MSU leading 64-54, Anthony Johnson hit three-pointers on three straight possessions to pull Montana to within 67-63 with 48.9 seconds left. But Danny Piepoli converted a pair of free throws after snagging a rebound, made two more on the next trip, and Bobby Howard sealed the win with a pair to make the score 73-63 with 27 seconds left.
The end game resulted from a game plan tempered by defensive effort and offensive patience, Huse said. “I thought we played with really good composure. We made them work on the defensive end and tried to get high percentage shots on every possession (on offense). Sometimes the best defense is a good offense. It doesn't hurt to have a little bit of a possession game.”
While Bynum led the Bobcats with 22 points, Bobby Howard registered a double-double, netting 17 points with a dozen boards. Branden Johnson scored 11 points and snared eight caroms, while Rush added 12 points. Anthony Johnson led all players with 31 points, but Derek Selvig was the only other Grizzly in double digits. He scored 14.
Montana State out-rebounded UM 38-to-26, a figure which included 12 on the offensive end. In the face of a relentless half-court defense, each team turned the ball over only seven times.
In addition to capping a historic day in Dahlberg Arena, where the Bobcat men and women beat Montana on the same day for what is believed to be the first time in history, MSU boosted itself into third place in the Big Sky. The Bobcats play explosive Portland State next Saturday in the first round of the Big Sky Tourney. Tipoff is set for 7:05 pm in Worthington Arena.
