Cats Ride Defense, Veteran Leadership to Win Over James Madison

Friday, November 18

BOZEMAN

7 p.m.

Montana State University

3-1

James Madison

0-3

James Madison

Montana State

Sam Neumann

Cats Ride Defense, Veteran Leadership to Win Over James Madison

11/18/2016 10:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Tyler Hall scores 24 to lead the way

By: Bill Lamberty

Montana State faced a handful of key moments in its 80-73 win over James Madison in Worthington Arena on Friday, but one of the biggest came early. Very early.

"I thought from shootaround until the end of the game that this was the best leadership we've got from our veterans all year," MSU's third-year coach Brian Fish said after his team finished off a bigger, physical Dukes squad that won 21 games a season ago. "I thought Tyler (Hall) and Zach (Green) and Sam (Neumann) and Q (Quinton Everett) had us going in the right direction all day."

The result was a grind-it-out victory that saw the Cats send JMU to the line 38 times, connecting on 29. Montana State countered with a scrappy defensive effort that limited the Dukes to 30% shooting from the floor and just 17 field goals, although 10 of this baskets were three-pointers.

The Bobcats built a lead of eight points early in the second half, but James Madison countered with a 13-6 run to trim MSU's lead to 52-51 with 13:32 to play. At that point, the Bobcats took control. Sarp Gobeloglu nailed a three-pointer, then Joe Mvuezolo Jr. arced in a jumper. Another Gobeloglu triple pushed the Bobcat lead to 60-51, and when Neumann nailed two free throws at 11:13 the Cats had their biggest lead, 62-51. JMU cut the lead down to five once, but never pulled to within a single possession.

Fish, though, though the key moment of the game came in the first half. "I thought that when the score was 32-32 late in the first half and we went on that (7-0) run, that was the key turning point," he said. "For us to get that (seven-point) lead at halftime was important because it was the first time our guys really thought we could play with them."

Hall was again the fuel that drove the Bobcat engine. He scored 24 points, his third 20-point effort in four games this season and the 16^th of his 35-game career. Harald Frey, MSU's freshman point guard, joined Hall in double-digits, adding 14. No one else scored more than nine, but five others had at least six.

"That's our identity," Fish said. "We get a lot of contributions. Devonte (Klines) was a stud tonight on defense, I like how he sticks his nose in there. Joe hit some shots. The contributions don't all come in points, some of it's defense, some of it's rebounding. A lot of guys are finding ways to help this team."

Green led the team with six boards, while Gobeloglu and Neumann each added five. JMU out-rebounded the Bobcats 43-to-40, but MSU turned the ball over only seven times. "If we're able to take care of the ball like that, with the way I think we'll shoot as the season goes along, we'll have a chance to score some points."

After sweeping the three-game homestand that ended Friday, the Bobcats fly to Houston for a game at Rice on Monday. MSU's next home game is Saturday, November 25, against Delaware State. Tipoff is at 2 pm. Purchase tickets at msubobcats.com.