Montana State Topples Incarnate Word to Earn Second Straight Win

Saturday, November 27

San Antonio, TX

10:30 a.m.

Montana State University

3-3,0-0Big Sky

Incarnate Word

0-6,0-0Southland

Team	1	2	F
Montana St.	38	45	83
Incarnate Word	22	42	64

Xavier Bishop

Photo by: Andrew Pedersen

11/27/2021 1:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

The Bobcats put together one of its best shooting performances in recent memory as MSU got off to a strong start and completed a win over the host Cardinals

By: Andrew Pedersen

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Montana State men's basketball team put together one its best shooting performances in recent memory and led from start to finish in an 83-64 victory over Incarnate Word on Saturday, Nov. 27, at the McDermott Convention Center.

Montana State got out to a blistering start as the Bobcats converted on their first 3-point attempts – with two coming from Tyler Patterson and one from Xavier Bishop – to score the first nine points of the game. The 'Cats led by 11 less than seven minutes into the contest before the Cardinals battled back. Incarnate Word used a 9-0 run over a six-minute span to cut the deficit to 17-15, but that's as close as the Cardinals would get the margin the rest of the way.

The Bobcats went on an 18-4 scoring run in a spree that lasted less than six minutes as the first half closed. Abdul Mohamed connected on a 3-pointer for the last field goal of the half to put Montana State up 38-22 at the break.

MSU continued its onslaught going up by as many as 26 just over the midway point of the second half. The Bobcats finished the second half by going 17-for-23 from the field for a scorching 73.9% clip over the game's final 20 minutes.

"They did a great job," Sprinkle said of the team's effort Saturday. "Our starters came out with some great energy and got us off to a tremendous start. I knew it was going to be important. The way Incarnate Word lost yesterday at the buzzer, I knew if we came out and kind of punched them early, it'd be tough for them to recover."

The Bobcats went 31 of 47 (66%) shooting which was the best mark by the program in 35 years. MSU's record of 67.8% from the field was set in a matchup versus Weber State during the 1985-86 season. The 'Cats also made 15 of 26 3-pointers for a 57.7% clip. MSU's 15 3-pointers were the most by the squad in a single game since 2018.

Patterson played 22 minutes for Montana State and led the way with 22 points. He was 8-for-10 from the field while he connected on 6 of 7 attempts from long range. His offensive numbers were career highs as he improved his 3-point percentage this season to over 43%.

"He's put the work in the weight room which has given him the confidence to be more aggressive on the court," Sprinkle said of Patterson. "He's a tremendous shooter and he's got great size. He gets (his shot) off quick and a lot of it is our guys are finding him more. When he's open, we can't miss him."

Bishop had his best offensive performance of the season as he went 7 of 11 from the field along with a 5-for-8 mark from deep. His 19 points were a season high as he also led MSU with seven assists. Bishop went over 400 career assists during the contest.

Amin Adamu added 11 points and four assists for the Bobcats. Jubrile Belo scored nine points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Mohamed finish with eight points.

The Bobcats held the Cardinals to just 32% shooting in the first half but Incarnate Word eventually shot 43.1% from the field. Johnny Hughes III led UIW with 25 points.

Montana State returns to action at 11 a.m. MT on Sunday at the UIW Thanksgiving Invitational taking on Southeast Missouri. A live stream is expected to be available on Incarnate Word TV, while fans can also tune into Voice of the Bobcats Zach Mackey on the Bobcat Radio Network, on msubobcats.com/watch and on the Varsity Network app.