Bobcats Rally from Double-Digit Deficits in Each Half to Top Southern Utah

Thursday, January 22

7:05 pm

Montana State University

1-54-14/ Big Sky

Southern Utah

2-45-12/ Big Sky

Southern Utah

Montana State

Two of Stephan Holm's 19 points vs. SUU Thursday

Photo by: Ruth Shellenberg

Bobcats Rally from Double-Digit Deficits in Each Half to Top Southern Utah

1/22/2015 10:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

MSU snaps skid with determined effort

By: Bill Lamberty

Montana State's halftime adjustment in Thursday's 79-65 win over Southern Utah, according to senior guard Michael Dison, did not amount to basketball brilliance. But it worked just the same.

"It was just us getting down and bending our knees and grinding," Dison said. Whatever the method, Montana State rallied from 10-point deficits in each half to snap a nine-game Bobcat losing streak and give MSU its first Big Sky win of the season.

As mightily as the Bobcats struggled offensively in the first half, Southern Utah flowed. The Thunderbirds shot 53.1% in the first half, including five-for-10 from the three-point arc. SUU led by double-digits at one point and by six at the break after neither team scored in the final 73 seconds.

The Bobcats, on the other hand, shot just 43.3% before the break, but hit seven three-pointers to maintain contact. The game was tied 15-15 when the Thunderbirds hit four three-pointers and converted a traditional three-point play in a string of six possessions to take a 10-point lead at 6:43.

Southern Utah, which swept Idaho State and Weber State at home last weekend, built the lead back to 10 less than two minutes into the second half. But Danny Robison – who battled foul trouble throughout but nonetheless scored nine points – scored the game's next five points to halve the lead, turn the game's tide.

With the Bobcats trailing 49-47 with 11:47 to play, Terrell Brown keyed a crucial stretch of the game which featured four different players combining for 13 points to push the Bobcats into the lead. Zach Green converted a second-chance opportunity to give MSUit's first lead since early in the first half, the Brown hit a short jumper and Erick Norman converted an and-one opportunity. Marcus Colbert hit a triple, and Norman nailed another free throw, and MSU led 60-51 with 7:49 remaining.

"We moved the ball a lot better today," Dison said. "That helps get guys open for good shots."

Dison both facilitated and benefited from crisp ball movement. With the lead down to 60-57 after a 6-0 SUU run, Robison hit a basket to slow the Thunderbirds' run. Then Dison hit a three-pointer at 5:13 to push the lead to 65-57, and on the next possession hit another to make the score 68-58. The Bobcats held Southern Utah without a basket for nearly five minutes, and the game was never close again.

"I really liked the way we responded when they got our lead back down to three or so," Fish said. "I thought they really responded well. We only gave up 24 points in the second half, and that was important."

Holm led all scorers with 19 points, while Dison scored 16 and Marcus Colbert added 15 points and five assists. Holm didn't miss a shot, finishing 7-for-7 from the floor, 3-for-3 from the arc, and 2-for-2 from the free throw line. He also grabbed four boards and blocked a shot. A.J. Hess led the Thunderbirds with 18 points.

MSU raises its record to 4-14 with the triumph, and 1-5 in Big Sky play. Southern Utah falls to 5-12 overall, 2-4 in the league.

The win, Fish said, will be a boost for his squad beyond Thursday night. "I always say that when you lose the guys take alleys to class, but when you win you walk right through the middle of campus. They'll be able to walk right through the middle of campus (Friday)."