Bobcats Use Physical Approach to Topple San Jose State

Friday, November 20

8:05 pm

Montana State University

1-2

San Jose State

1-1

San Jose State

Montana State

Marcus Colbert scored 27 points vs. San Jose State Friday

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

11/20/2015 11:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Marcus Colbert scored 27 points to lead Montana State

By: Bill Lamberty

Brian Fish saw plenty to like in Montana State's 81-69 win over San Jose State in Bozeman on Friday.

There was the 20-rebound advantage over a taller, athletic Mountain West opponent, a 23-for-28 showing from the free throw line, and the 27-point, six-assist, four-steal effort from senior guard Marcus Colbert. But Fish's favorite thing was something entirely different.

"We changed the game today," MSU's second-year head coach said, "because there was no question who was hitting who on block outs and rebounds. That hadn't happened in the (Bobcats') three previous games."

That aggressive approach on the glass spilled over onto the offensive end of the floor, where the Cats shot 46% from the field and 42% from the line while hitting 82% of its free throws. Fish said it arose from a renewed emphasis on the physical elements of the game after Montana State's 1-2 showing in Hawai'i last weekend.

"Attention to detail by our guys," Fish said. "We asked them to guard, we asked them to bend their knees and block out and hit some people. I thought we were way more aggressive blocking people out than we have been all year. We outscored them by 13 on the line and were plus-20 on rebounding. That's a good recipe to win."

The Cats didn't pull out that recipe until nearly two minutes into the game, after the Spartans had built a 6-0 lead. "They made good plays," Fish said, "you've got to credit them. But if you're going to get down 6-0 there's 37 minutes left to get back. I thought we settled down, hit some big shots, ran a nice play to Zach to get the three in the corner."

MSU followed San Jose State's game-opening 6-0 run with a 14-2 spell during which the Bobcats took control of the game. Colbert started the scoring with a layup, then Zach Green nailed a three-pointer and Tyler Hall hit a short jumper to pull MSU within 8-7. Hall's triple gave the Bobcats a lead they would never let go.

Fish had fretted in the days leading up to his team's home opener about nervous energy, and he thought he saw that early. "I thought we might be a little excited, the first game at home, but I thought we settled down and played really well."

After San Jose State pulled within 16-13 on Gary Williams Jr.'s layup just ahead of the first half's midway point, the Bobcats took off again. Sarp Gobeloglu's three-pointer triggered and 11-3 tun that pushed MSU's lead to 11 the Spartans never drew closer than eight the rest of the game.

Colbert was Montana State's driving force on Friday. His 27 points matched his career high, his six assists was a season high, and four steals was his most against a Division I opponent. He scored three of MSU's first four field goals of the second half, and around the midway mark of that period hit three three-pointers – the first at 12:09 and the last at 8:58, each one longer than the one before it.

"That (last of the three) was a terrible shot right until it swished through," Fish said with a laugh.

Colbert had plenty of help. Freshman guard Tyler Hall scored 16 points and blocked two shots, and Robison added 13 with a game-high nine rebounds. Quinton Everett scored six points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Montana State raised its record to 2-2 on the season with the victory, while San Jose State – which previously lost to Big Sky member Idaho while beating Montana – is also 2-2. The Cats play their third of four straight games against Mountain West Conference foes on Sunday in Billings at 2 pm, battling Wyoming in the Border War. Montana State and SJSU meet again on December 13 in San Jose.