Monday, November 28
BOZEMAN
7 p.m.
Montana State University
5-2
93
vs
73
Arizona Christian
4-0 (exh)
1
2
F
Arizona Christian
36
37
73
Montana State
37
56
93
Team Stats
ACU
MSU
FG%
.391
.431
3FG%
.381
.414
FT%
.652
.735
RB
37
49
TO
7
10
STL
6
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
7
Pts
16
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
9
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
Quinton Everett
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
Bobcats Use Strong Second Half, Versatile Offense to Storm Past Arizona Christian
11/28/2016 10:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MSU battles past pesky Firestorm
Brian Fish knows that shooting slumps happen, even with players as accomplished as Montana State sophomore Tyler Hall. So Fish understands that dealing with a couple of bumpy games for his squad's leading scorer is a growth opportunity.
"We're are still adjusting from dependence on Tyler," Fish said after Montana State's 93-73 win over Arizona Christian on Monday. Hall scored 22 points, but only six came in the first half, after which the Cats led 37-36. "When he's not making shots early on, the tendency is to wait for him. What we're going through is beneficial in our development."
The Bobcats opened the second half on an 11-2 run getting points from four different players, but none from Hall. Eight-and-a-half minutes in he nailed a pair of free throws and in the next three minutes nailed two three –pointers and registered a steal. In addition to the 22 points, Hall blocked three shots and dished out five assists.
Hall was hardly along in sparking the Bobcats, though. Zach Green scored 16 points for the second time in three days, also dishing out three assists and blocking a shot. Green grabbed eight rebounds, narrowly missing a second consecutive double-double. "When he plays man-ball he changes us," Fish said of Green. "He just changes us."
Quinton Everett added 11 points, six coming on two three-pointers during MSU's early second-half run that opened up the game. "I thought Q's energy was a factor in the second half," Fish said of his senior forward, who also grabbed four boards with two assists and two steals.
The teams fought through a tight first half, with MSU pushing out to leads of seven points three times and eight twice. The Firestorm answered on each occasion. Arizona Christian closed the first half on a 9-2 run to pull within 37-36 at the break. After MSU's spurt to open the second half, ACU was not within single-digits in the game's final 10 minutes.
"Credit Arizona Christian," Green said. "They came out going to the basket and playing really well."
But the Bobcats had too much firepower, especially in an energetic second half. MSU connected on more free throws (25) than the opponent shot (ACU was 15-for-23) for the second straight game, the only two times this season. The Cats also out-rebounded ACU 49-to-37, and combing Saturday and Monday finished the quick two-game home set with a +34 rebound margin.
With the win, the Bobcats raise their record to 5-2 on the season, tied for Montana State's best start (with the 2010-11 squad) since the 1997-98 Bobcats began the season wtih seven straight wins. Five is the most wins in program history in November, and matches the most non-league victories for an MSU team since 2008.The Bobcats take to the road and take a major step up in competition Thursday, visiting its second Pac 12 opponent of the season in Utah. MSU and the Utes tip off at 7 pm at Salt Lake City's Huntsman Center. The game is televised on the Pac 12 Network.
"We're are still adjusting from dependence on Tyler," Fish said after Montana State's 93-73 win over Arizona Christian on Monday. Hall scored 22 points, but only six came in the first half, after which the Cats led 37-36. "When he's not making shots early on, the tendency is to wait for him. What we're going through is beneficial in our development."
The Bobcats opened the second half on an 11-2 run getting points from four different players, but none from Hall. Eight-and-a-half minutes in he nailed a pair of free throws and in the next three minutes nailed two three –pointers and registered a steal. In addition to the 22 points, Hall blocked three shots and dished out five assists.
Hall was hardly along in sparking the Bobcats, though. Zach Green scored 16 points for the second time in three days, also dishing out three assists and blocking a shot. Green grabbed eight rebounds, narrowly missing a second consecutive double-double. "When he plays man-ball he changes us," Fish said of Green. "He just changes us."
Quinton Everett added 11 points, six coming on two three-pointers during MSU's early second-half run that opened up the game. "I thought Q's energy was a factor in the second half," Fish said of his senior forward, who also grabbed four boards with two assists and two steals.
The teams fought through a tight first half, with MSU pushing out to leads of seven points three times and eight twice. The Firestorm answered on each occasion. Arizona Christian closed the first half on a 9-2 run to pull within 37-36 at the break. After MSU's spurt to open the second half, ACU was not within single-digits in the game's final 10 minutes.
"Credit Arizona Christian," Green said. "They came out going to the basket and playing really well."
But the Bobcats had too much firepower, especially in an energetic second half. MSU connected on more free throws (25) than the opponent shot (ACU was 15-for-23) for the second straight game, the only two times this season. The Cats also out-rebounded ACU 49-to-37, and combing Saturday and Monday finished the quick two-game home set with a +34 rebound margin.
With the win, the Bobcats raise their record to 5-2 on the season, tied for Montana State's best start (with the 2010-11 squad) since the 1997-98 Bobcats began the season wtih seven straight wins. Five is the most wins in program history in November, and matches the most non-league victories for an MSU team since 2008.The Bobcats take to the road and take a major step up in competition Thursday, visiting its second Pac 12 opponent of the season in Utah. MSU and the Utes tip off at 7 pm at Salt Lake City's Huntsman Center. The game is televised on the Pac 12 Network.
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