MSU Men Rally for Crucial Win Over Thunderbirds

Thursday, February 28

Cedar City, UT

7:05 p.m.

Montana State University

11-14/8-9

SOUTHERN UTAH

11-16/8-9

Montana State

Southern Utah

Antonio Biglow made a couple of big plays late in the win over SUU

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

2/28/2013 9:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Biglow steal, layup with 1:11 left gives MSU a lead it would ride to victory

By: Bill Lamberty

Montana State's first lead at Southern Utah Thursday came with 71 seconds to play and the Bobcats never let go, holding on for a 62-61 road win over the Thunderbirds.

Antonio Biglow's steal and layup with 1:11 to play gave the Bobcats their first and only lead, and MSU withstood a late flurry to secure the win. Biglow also produced a pilfer with seconds to play, and in spite of an ensuing turnover the Cats prevented a game-winning attempt.

“That was something else,” Bobcat coach Brad Huse said on MSU's post-game radio show of Biglow's effort, particularly on the defensive end of the floor. “He really harassed (Thunderbird guards) all night long, between him and Marcus (Colbert). They really made (SUU's backcourt) work, and that play to score it was outstanding. And when things went haywire on the inbounds (in the last five seconds) he still got his hand on the ball.”

While the Bobcats kept the game close throughout – Southern Utah led by nine in the first half but that lead was only five at the intermission– MSU still faced an uphill climb most of the night. The Bobcats kept pace in spite of missing 10 of their first 11 shots and shooting just 26.5% before halftime. Jackson Stevenett's jumper coming out of the locker room gave Southern Utah a seven point lead, its biggest of the second half, but MSU fought back.

That was a characteristic Huse was most pleased to see. “(Southern Utah is) very aggressive. They play physical and tough, but our guys were up to the task. We competed all night long. When they jumped up by six we didn't panic.”

That six point lead came moments after MSU tied the score for the first time since it was 2-2, a 56-50 lead after treys by Stevenett and A.J. Hess. Christian Moon answered with a three, then Paul Egwuonwu scored on a tip-in. After a Stevenett jumper, Moon's three tied the score again, 58-58 with 3:36 to play.

A Damon Heuir triple gave the Thunderbirds some breathing room, but Christian Moon's jumper cut the lead to one with 1:26 to play. After a time out, Biglow picked Heuir's pocket near mid-court and converted that into a layup for the lead. SUU missed a three-pointer on the ensuing possession, the only shot it would get off in the last 1:47. MSU ran the clock down to 14 seconds before Flavien Davis missed a jumper.

After the Thunderbirds regained control of the game, Biglow again swiped the ball from Heuir, who fouled. Biglow turned the ball over with two seconds left, with Heuir returning the favor, but Southern Utah could not get a shot off.

While Christian Moon's 17 points led the Bobcats, Egwuonwu and Biglow provided key production off the bench. Egwuonwu scored 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for his third double-double, while Biglow added 10 points, seven assists, three steals and a blocked shot. He committed only one turnover.

The Bobcats forced 14 Southern Utah turnovers, against only eight MSU mistakes. The Bobcats bounced back to shoot 46.7% in the second half, but shot only 35.9% for the game against SUU's 45.8%. MSU out-rebounded the Thunderbirds 41-to-31, and turned 17 offensive boards into 16 second chance points.

The win raised Montana State's season record to 11-15, and importantly boosted the Bobcats to 8-9 in the Big Sky and kept the team in the thick of the five-team pack with either eight or nine conference victories. Montana State faces league-leading and well-rested Montana on Saturday night. The Bobcats, who don't return to Bozeman until Friday night due to travel restrictions, and UM get together at 7 pm in Bozeman Saturday.