Saturday, January 25
Missoula, Mont.
7 p.m.
Montana State University
8-13,3-5Big Sky
70
at
77
Montana
13-8,6-2Big Sky
1
2
F
Montana St.
30
40
70
Montana
42
35
77
Patrick McMahon
Photo by: Brian Morse
Bobcat Comeback Bid Falls Short in Missoula
1/25/2025 9:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Grizzlies top MSU 77-70
MISSOULA, Montana – The University of Montana closed the first half on a 22-7 run and held on for dear life, topping Montana State 77-70 in Missoula on Saturday.
UM converted its four free throws in the game's final 17 seconds after the Bobcats cut the lead to three to seal the win. The Grizzlies didn't convert a field goal in the game's final 5:42, but made all eight of its free throws in that span.
Grizzly guard Kai Johnson, a senior Western Washington transfer, led all players with 25 points on 11-18 shooting. Joe Pridgen scored 14 points and Malik Moore 13 for UM.
Patrick McMahon scored a season high 18 points to lead the Bobcats, adding four rebounds and a steal. Brandon Walker scored 11 points for MSU, and Bryce Zephir 10.
The teams both played efficient offensively everywhere but the arc. The Cats shot 53 percent from the floor (24-45) and 90% from the free throw line (18-20), while the Grizzlies shot 52 percent from the field (30-58) and 87 percent from the line (13-15). Both teams made four three-pointers, MSU 4-12 and UM 4-14. Montana State out-rebounded their rivals 27-25, but the Bobcats turned the ball over 13 times while forcing only five.
"Credit Montana tonight," said Bobcat coach Matt Logie. "I thought their execution in the first half was a little better than ours, and they were able to create a margin that we really had to fight and battle back from."
Montana is now 13-8 on the season, 6-2 in Big Sky play, while the Bobcats fall to 8-13 overall, 3-5 in the league. MSU hosts Sacramento State on Thursday night.
#GoCatsGo
UM converted its four free throws in the game's final 17 seconds after the Bobcats cut the lead to three to seal the win. The Grizzlies didn't convert a field goal in the game's final 5:42, but made all eight of its free throws in that span.
Grizzly guard Kai Johnson, a senior Western Washington transfer, led all players with 25 points on 11-18 shooting. Joe Pridgen scored 14 points and Malik Moore 13 for UM.
Patrick McMahon scored a season high 18 points to lead the Bobcats, adding four rebounds and a steal. Brandon Walker scored 11 points for MSU, and Bryce Zephir 10.
The teams both played efficient offensively everywhere but the arc. The Cats shot 53 percent from the floor (24-45) and 90% from the free throw line (18-20), while the Grizzlies shot 52 percent from the field (30-58) and 87 percent from the line (13-15). Both teams made four three-pointers, MSU 4-12 and UM 4-14. Montana State out-rebounded their rivals 27-25, but the Bobcats turned the ball over 13 times while forcing only five.
"Credit Montana tonight," said Bobcat coach Matt Logie. "I thought their execution in the first half was a little better than ours, and they were able to create a margin that we really had to fight and battle back from."
Montana is now 13-8 on the season, 6-2 in Big Sky play, while the Bobcats fall to 8-13 overall, 3-5 in the league. MSU hosts Sacramento State on Thursday night.
#GoCatsGo
Team Stats
MSU
Mont
FG%
.533
.517
3FG%
.333
.286
FT%
.900
.867
RB
27
25
TO
13
5
STL
2
8
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
6
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
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