Bobcats Seal Fifth Seed, Race Past Bengals on Senior Night

Wednesday, March 2

7:05 PM

Montana State University

Idaho State

Danny Piepoli (left) and Bobby Howard played in Worthington Arena for the final time Wednesday.

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

Bobcats Seal Fifth Seed, Race Past Bengals on Senior Night

3/2/2011 9:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball

MSU's three seniors each score 20 points to lead Cats

By: Bill Lamberty

It was a Senior Night for the ages.

MSU-ISU box score

Senior Danny Piepoli matched his career high with 22 points and classmates Bobby Howard and Erik Rush each added 20 as Montana State raced past Idaho State 84-68 in Bozeman on Wednesday. “It's really fitting for those (seniors) to go out with a bang,” said Montana State coach head coach.

Analysis of Wednesday's game starts with the starts. MSU scored on its first seven possessions of the game, jumping out to a 17-6 lead, and scored on 14 of the first 15 possessions of the second half. “It's nice to hit that first media time out with a lead,” Huse said with a smile. “it's a function of playing with confidence.”

The confidence flowed throughout Worthington Arena on Wednesday, with MSU's senior class serving as the font. After struggling with his shot for much of the season, Piepoli has 41 points in the last two games on 14-for-24 shooting, including 9-for-17 from the arc. He also dished out three assists in each of the two games.

Rush and Howard passed milestones on Wednesday. A slick guard from San Jose, Rush finished with one steal, the 100^th of his career. His night was highly efficient, as he shot 7-for-9 from the field and 5-for-6 from the line with two assists and a steal. And Howard, whose parents both played basketball at MSU, passed the 600 rebound mark. He was nearly unstoppable inside, collecting five of his seven field goals in the paint and grabbing eight rebounds.

While Bobcat fans waxed nostalgic about its departing seniors, it saw plenty to look forward to in the future. Junior point guard Rod Singleton scored 10 points and grabbed four boards, freshman guard Shawn Reid scored six points, and freshman center Tre Johnson punctuated his 10 points with a steal and monster dunk to open the second half, and also grabbed four rebounds.

The win raised Montana State's record 7-9 in the Big Sky, 13-17 overall, and clinched the fifth seed in the Big Sky Tournament for MSU. The Bobcats travel to Flagstaff to face Northern Arizona on Saturday. Idaho State finishes its season at 9-20, 4-12 in Big Sky play.