Bobcats Prevent Quick PSU Start but Fall to Vikings in Portland

Thursday, February 4

7:05 pm PT

Montana State University

9-13, 4-6

Portland State

8-12, 4-5

Montana State

Portland State

Bobcats Prevent Quick PSU Start but Fall to Vikings in Portland

2/4/2016 11:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

MSU drops 15-point decision to Portland State

By: Bill Lamberty

Portland State used thunderous starts to top Montana State in each of the last two meetings between the teams, including a 77-70 decision in Bozeman in January.

The Vikings missed their first five shots on Thursday, but it mattered little. After that they barely missed at all. The Vikings made 14 of their last 20 shots in the first half and 16 of their first 21 in the second. MSU's inability to get stops led to Portland State's 83-68 win.

"The key to winning on the road is to get stops and make shots," said Bobcat coach Brian Fish. "We gave them a lot of easy shots, they scored 46 points in the paint, and that says that we were letting them get to their spots."

After the slow start, until the final media timeout, the Vikings couldn't miss. PSU shot 60% for the game, 64% in the second half. While PSU was tearing it up offensively, the Cats struggled. MSU shot 39% for the game, and hit that mark in each half.

"We just didn't make enough shots," Fish said. "We never got in a good rhythm."

The first half was an uneven affair, ultimately punctuated by a pair of Portland State runs. A 12-4 spurt midway through the period, and a 10-2 run near the end of the half, combined to give the Vikings a 38-31 advantage at the break.

The Bobcats dominated the early going with an energetic defensive effort. MSU forced misses on the Vikings first five shots of the game, and MSU grabbed eight of the game's first 10 rebounds. The Vikings got going, however, and improved defensive intensity clamped down MSU's offensive effort. The Bobcats shot just 38.7% in the half. After the Vikings missed their first five shots, PSU finished the half on a 14-for-20 shooting spurt.

The Vikings also capitalized from the line in the first half. PSU hit eight of its 13 free throws, while MSU converted just four of 10 misses on the front end of two one-and-ones. Isaiah Pineiro led PSU with 12 first-half points, while Zach Green scored that many for the Cats.

Zach Green's career-high 17 points led the Bobcats, while Marcus Colbert added 13. Pineiro poured in 22 points for PSU. The Bobcats fall to 9-13 overall, 4-6 in the league. PSU is 8-12, 4-5. MSU visits Sacramento State on Saturday.