Bobcats Use Solid Effort on Both Ends to Top Idaho State

Saturday, December 31

BOZEMAN

2 p.m.

Montana State University

1-16-9/ BSC

Idaho State

0-23-12/ BSC

Team	1	2	F
Idaho State	27	36	63
Montana State	40	40	80

Devonte Klines

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

12/31/2016 6:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Four Cats post season scoring highs

By: Bill Lamberty

Brian Fish liked what he saw from his Montana State basketball team during Saturday's 80-63 win over Idaho State in Worthington Arena, mostly because it was a rerun.

"I liked how we played today, partly because it's how I've seen us practice," said Fish, whose team snapped a seven-game losing streak. "We've been practicing really, really well, but we haven't carried it over to the games. Today we did that."

The Bobcats kept their foot on the accelerator most of the night, trailing for less than a minute of the entire game, but that pleased Fish most because MSU didn't start particularly strong. A Bobcat turnover led to the first point of the game, an Ethan Telfair free throw 75 seconds in, and it too MSU nearly two minutes to score.

But once they did, things began clicking for the Cats. MSU led by seven with 12:29 to play on a Tyler Hall triple, and pushed the lead to double-digits on a Harald Frey three-pointer with 4:48 to play in the half. ISU never again chopped the lead below 10.

"We didn't get off to a great start," Fish said, "but we were guarding and getting stops. They didn't get out to a six-, eight-point lead because we were defending."

While defense drew much of the post-game attention, MSU's offense was efficient, as well. The Cats shot 50% from the floor and the arc, the team's best-shooting game since November 26 against Delaware State. Four Bobcats – Harald Frey with 20, Devonte Klines with 11, Mandrell Worthy with seven, and Devin Kirby with four – notched career scoring highs.

MSU raised its record to 6-9 overall and 1-1 in Big Sky play with the win, while ISU falls to 3-12, 0-2. The Cats play at Eastern Washington on Thursday.