Saturday, February 24
Missoula, MT
7 pm
Montana State University
63
at
90
Montana
Zach Green
Photo by: Andrew Pedersen
Montana Uses Late First Half Push to Cruise Past Bobcats
2/25/2018 2:14:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Poor shooting dooms Montana State
MISSOULA, Montana - Montana closed the first half on a 16-2 run and never looked back in a 90-63 win over Montana State in Missoula on Saturday.
Montana held the Cats to 30% shooting on the game, 25% before halftime, in earning the win. Bobcat coach Brian Fish said the run late in the first half proved crucial. "I think they turned it up a little bit there," he said. "I liked the looks we got, but credit them for their defense. We were fighting our tails off, we just couldn't get shots to fall."
After pulling away to end the first half, the Grizzlies staged a half-opening spurt in the second to put the game away. Montana scored 11 of the first 16 points after halftime, building the lead to 20. A series of smaller runs throughout the second half helped Montana build a lead as large as 30 points.
"We weren't able to fight through the adversity," said Bobcat guard Harald Frey.
The first half lacked in artistic value, but the Bobcats hung in for most of it. A short Harald Frey jumper with 3:49 to play pulled MSU withing 21-19 and capped a string of seven straight possessions with a score for the Cats. Montana responded, though, scoring on six straight possessions. UM took a 37-21 lead into the intermission, shooting 43% while holding the Cats to 25%.
The loss drops Montana State to 13-16 overall, 6-10 in Big Sky play. Montana remains in the league lead with a 14-2 conference record, 21-7 overall.
Montana held the Cats to 30% shooting on the game, 25% before halftime, in earning the win. Bobcat coach Brian Fish said the run late in the first half proved crucial. "I think they turned it up a little bit there," he said. "I liked the looks we got, but credit them for their defense. We were fighting our tails off, we just couldn't get shots to fall."
After pulling away to end the first half, the Grizzlies staged a half-opening spurt in the second to put the game away. Montana scored 11 of the first 16 points after halftime, building the lead to 20. A series of smaller runs throughout the second half helped Montana build a lead as large as 30 points.
"We weren't able to fight through the adversity," said Bobcat guard Harald Frey.
The first half lacked in artistic value, but the Bobcats hung in for most of it. A short Harald Frey jumper with 3:49 to play pulled MSU withing 21-19 and capped a string of seven straight possessions with a score for the Cats. Montana responded, though, scoring on six straight possessions. UM took a 37-21 lead into the intermission, shooting 43% while holding the Cats to 25%.
The loss drops Montana State to 13-16 overall, 6-10 in Big Sky play. Montana remains in the league lead with a 14-2 conference record, 21-7 overall.
Players Mentioned
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