Montana State University
IDAHO STATE
Bobcats Head to Pocatello for Key Matchup with ISU
2/14/2013 12:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MSU battles Bengals with full hand for first time in four weekends
MSU Game Notes vs. Idaho State
Montana State heads to Pocatello Thursday for a matchup against Idaho State and its tenacious zone defense. The Bengals stand second in the league in all games in scoring defense, and while ISU is in the middle of the pack in terms of field goal defense it played well in Bozeman earlier this season. ISU held the Bobcats to 40.8% shooting, dragging the Bobcats into overtime before the home team triumphed 61-59. Thursday's game is in Reed Gym, where the Cats haven't played since 2006.
The Bobcats are expected to play with a full hand this weekend. Center Paul Egwuonwu has been cleared to play for the first time since January 31, when he was injured at Eastern Washington. Flavien Davis also returns Thursday after a weekend away due to a death in his family.
Playing without its starting center and power forward for the second straight game last Saturday, the Bobcats could not overcome Northern Colorado's hot shooting in an 85-72 Bears win on Saturday. UNC shot 61.7%, the highest percentage by a Bobcat opponent since 2009, and incredibly missed only six shots of any type in the second half - one from outside the circle, four inside it, and one free throw. Bears guard Tevin Svihovec managed his team's high ball-screen series impeccably, pouring in 23 points to lead the visitors. MSU managed a balanced offensive attack, with Antonio Biglow scoring 15 and three others in double-digits.
