Montana State University
12-16,7-8Big Sky
Montana
20-8,13-2Big Sky
Cats Fall 89-85 to Griz
2/22/2025 10:24:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Patrick McMahon paces Montana State with career-high 22 points, but 13 missed free throws doom comeback bid
BOZEMAN, Montana – On a night that Montana State's offense played one of its best games of the conference season, the University of Montana's was just enough better. The result was an 89-85 Grizzly win in Bozeman on Saturday night.
The Bobcats never led, but UM's lead never grew past 13 and the Cats faced two one-possession deficits in the game's closing minute. But the Bobcats missed 11 free throws in the second half and allowed the Grizzlies to shoot 56.5 percent from the floor.
"I thought both teams played very efficient offensively," said Bobcat coach Matt Logie. "We just had a few minor breakdowns at inopportune times and it cost us."
The Grizzlies played nearly flawless basketball in the game's first 20 minutes. UM shot 53.1 percent in the first half, including 6-11 from deep and 9-11 from the free throw line, to open up a 49-40 halftime advantage. UM held double-digit leads on three different occasions, but each time the Bobcats fought back. UM led 49-38 with just inside of one minute to play in the first half, but a layup by Brandon Walker and a defensive stand sent the Cats to the locker room trailing by nine.
Early in the second half, the Bobcats set the tone for the rest of the game and set the stage for a close contest. Sam Lecholat's three-pointer just more than two minutes into the period pulled MSU within 49-43, and a layup by Walker moments later pulled the Cats to within four. UM's lead was 63-59 after Patrick McMahon's bucket with 11:02 to play, but a 9-0 Montana run pushed the lead to 13. Brandon Whitney scored six points in that run, and Kai Johnson three.
The Bobcats were far from finished. Walker's layup and a pair of Jabe Mullins free throws halted UM's run, and a triple and a conventional three-point play by Mullins pulled the Cats to within 74-70 with 6:33 to play. Montana's biggest lead the rest of the game was nine, 86-77 at 2:20, after layups by Johnson and Whitney. Mullins made a pair of free throws, and when McMahon charged through the lane for a layup at 54 seconds the Cats trailed 86-83. The junior forward was fouled on the play, but missed the free throw.
Money Williams converted one of two free throws on the other end to push UM's lead to 87-83, but another McMahon layup narrowed the score to 87-85. Te'Jon Sawyer closed the scoring for UM with a pair of free throws to account for the final margin.
Johnson led all players with 23 points for UM, two points fewer than against the Bobcats in Missoula in January. Whitney added 18, Malik Moore 14, Joe Pridgen 13, and Sawyer 12. Johnson's six rebounds led the team, and his three steals led all players.
McMahon's 22-point effort paced the Cats, while Mullins scored 17 and Walker 16. Sam Lecholat grabbed six rebounds.
The Bobcats fall to 12-16 on the season, 7-8 in Big Sky play, and visit Portland State on Thursday. UM is 20-8, 13-2 in the conference, and plays at Sacramento State on Thursday.
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