Montana State University
6-8,1-1Big Sky
Oral Roberts
7-7,1-1Summit League
Bobcats Edged by Oral Roberts in Big Sky-Summit Challenge
1/3/2024 11:22:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Brandon Walker scores 20 points, Robert Ford III notches double-double in back-and-forth game in Bozeman
BOZEMAN, Mont. -- In a seesaw affair that had 14 lead changes and 17 ties, Oral Roberts handed Montana State a narrow 82-76 loss at Worthington Arena on Wednesday night in the first leg of the Big Sky-Summit Challenge.
Montana State (6-8, 1-1 Big Sky) led for 17 minutes and 21 seconds, but Oral Roberts (7-7, 1-1 Summit) out-paced the Cats over the final five minutes of game action to break a 67-67 tie and take home the win between two programs who have combined for four NCAA Tournament appearances in the last three seasons.
Brandon Walker was outstanding for Montana State, scoring 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting with five rebounds. The sophomore forward used a variety of one-on-one moves to take his defender deep in the paint and finish through contact. The 20 points are the most for the transfer from UT Arlington since he scored 26 against California on November 16.
Brian Goracke finished with 18 points, and Robert Ford III posted his third double-double of the season, recording 16 points, ten rebounds, and four steals.
The Bobcats turned 13 Golden Eagle turnovers into 17 points, but committed a few too many untimely turnovers in a couple big situations.
"Hopefully [these close games] are lessons that we can apply," head coach Matt Logie said. "Obviously we made our share of mistakes tonight—whether that's an untimely foul, an untimely turnover, not executing a play that costs you a possession. If we can get one percent better every time we go through one of these—we've played more close games than most."
Montana State led, 36-33, at halftime after holding the Golden Eagles at arm's length with outstanding shot-making. The Cats knocked down seven triples in the first half, getting two apiece from Ford and Goracke, and got the ball to Walker in isolation situations frequently, to great effect.
The first ten minutes of the second half featured a dogfight, with the two teams trading punches throughout a physical, up-and-down stretch of action.
Montana State led, 60-58, on a Walker layup in the paint with 9:17 to play in the game, and tied the action at 63-63 and then 67-67 with 5:11 remaining on a pair of Jaden Geron free throws.
Over the next three minutes, Oral Roberts would build their biggest lead of the game, pushing their advantage out to 75-67 on an 8-0 run that featured a 3-pointer off a Bobcat turnover and four made free throws.
"We had some silly turnovers, turnovers that were completely unforced—at least a good chunk of them," Logie said. "If we have ten turnovers in that game, we probably get 12 more shots than them and then maybe you can overcome the free throw deficit."
Montana State, the 2023 Big Sky Conference champions, stormed back, getting two free throws from Ford, a jumper from Walker, and a made three-point basket from Goracke to cut the game back to just a point at 75-74 with 53 seconds remaining.
The Golden Eagles, the 2023 Summit League champions, would answer with a three of their own from Trey Phipps, one of five second-half triples made by the visitors who would finish 7-of-14 from beyond the arc in the game.
The Cats would go empty on their remaining possessions, missing a pair of field goals, as Oral Roberts hung on for the tight win.
Montana State shared the ball to the tune of 14 assists on 26 made field goals, shooting 11-of-26 (42.3%) from deep.
Oral Roberts was led by Issac McBride and Jailen Bedford, who combined for 42 points.
UP NEXT
Montana State hits the road for the second leg of the Big Sky-Summit Challenge, heading to Brookings, S.D., to face South Dakota State (7-8, 1-1 Summit).
The Jackrabbits, the preseason favorites in the Summit League, fell to Weber State on Wednesday night, 75-73, on a Dillon Jones game-winning jumper.
Tip on Saturday is set for 3:15 p.m. MT/4:15 p.m. CT following the conclusion of the Montana State women's game against South Dakota State from Frost Arena.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+, with live radio play-by-play from Voice of the Bobcats Keaton Gillogly airing on the Bobcat Sports Radio Network.
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