Bobcats Earn Road Win Over Idaho State

Thursday, March 2

Pocatello, ID

7 p.m.

Montana State University

16-14, 11-6

Idaho State

6-24, 3-14

Montana State

Idaho State

Tyler Hall

Photo by: Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez

3/2/2017 9:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Tyler Hall Leads Efficient Offense

By: Bill Lamberty

Brian Fish knows it's not a popular statement, but the math holds up.

"I know our fans don't want to hear this but (Montana State's 79-68 win at Idaho State on Thursday) counts for just as many wins as last week's win (over Montana)," Fish said after his team won its 11^th league game for the first time since 2002 and its fourth conference road game for the first time since 2010. "We figured out a way to get a win."

The Bobcats followed a different path to Thursday's win than in the previous four wins of its current five-game streak. MSU turned the ball over 14 times against Idaho State's fiercely physical defense, the second-highest total in the last 15 games. ISU out-rebounded MSU 33-to-30, out-scored the Cats 36-to-28 in the paint, and 10-to-4 on second chance points.

MSU countered with shooting efficiency not seen this season. The Cats shot a season-high 59.6 percent, led by Tyler Hall. The superb sophomore made eight of his 11 shots, including 4-for-6 from beyond the three-point circle. Sophomores Devonte Klines and Sam Neumann each added 13 points, and combined to shoot 9-for-16. Neumann did so while battling ISU seven-footer Novak Topalovic, who scored 14 points but was limited to six boards.

Montana State led 32-29 at the intermission, but scored on its first four possessions of the second half. Idaho State kept contact, and pushed ahead 41-40 with 15:23 to play when Balint Mocsan nailed the fifth of his five three-pointers. Neumann's whirling layup gave MSU a 42-41 lead and launched a stretch of points on eight of nine possessions. When the run ended MSU led 58-52 with just under 10 minutes left. The Cats wouldn't trail again.

Among the litany of elements of Thursday's win to like, Fish pinpointed his team's acceptance of the challenge of playing five days after an emotional home win. "We didn't respond well after we played Montana (earlier in the season) so I wanted to see how we'd respond tonight," Fish said after his team beat Idaho State 79-68 in Pocatello. "We responded well."

The first half was an uneven segment, with the Bobcats building a lead as large as seven points when Benson Osayande converted a layup with 3:14 remaining. The Bengals turned up the defense, limiting MSU to just one basket – a Joe Mvuezolo triple – after that point. The Bobcats shot 54 percent in the first half, but Novak Topalovic scored eight points on 4-for-6 shooting.

Montana State's defense showed well throughout the night. MSU limited the Bengals to 39.4 percent shooting in the first half and 43.5 percent on the game, limited the Bengals to just 10 free throw attempts, and spearheaded by Devonte Klines held Ethan Telfair - who torched MSU for 31 points last year in Pocatello - scoreless.

The win pushed Montana State's record to 16-14 on the season, and 11-6 in Big Sky play, while Idaho State is 6-24, 3-14. The Bobcats enter Saturday's regular season finale at Weber State to determine the Big Sky Tournament seeding for much of the field, including MSU, which could finish anywhere from third to sixth.