Montana State Falls to Idaho, 78-74, in Big Sky Tournament Second Round

Sunday, March 8

Boise, Idaho

8 p.m.

Montana State University

18-14,12-6Big Sky

Idaho

19-14,9-9Big Sky

Idaho

Montana St.

Photo by: Brian Morse

Montana State Falls to Idaho, 78-74, in Big Sky Tournament Second Round

3/9/2026 12:16:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Bobcats’ season comes to an end in Boise

By: Pershelle Rohrer

BOISE, Idaho – Jeremiah Davis and Christian King each eclipsed the 20-point mark in No. 2 Montana State's second-round game against No. 7 Idaho in the Big Sky Tournament on Sunday night, but the Bobcats came up just short to the Vandals, 78-74, in Idaho Central Arena.

Davis poured in a career-high 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting, King shot 9-of-13 from the floor to add 21 points, and Jed Miller tallied 18 points as the trio combined for 61 of the Cats' 74 points in the loss. The Cats concluded their season with a 18-14 overall record.

"Hats off to Idaho," head coach Matt Logie said. "They played a terrific game. Obviously, when your season comes to an end, there are so many things to reflect upon, but the thing that just stands out the most about this year's Bobcat team, these two guys [Patrick McMahon and Jed Miller] in particular, is the way that they've inspired their teammates and our community with the resilience that they've shown in overcoming so much. I think all of us that were a part of this group take from it just an incredible amount of gratitude for the journey we got to go on together because of the way these guys loved each other and kept supporting each other and stepping up to the challenge when adversities hit, injuries hit. This is a special senior class that has really impacted the culture of our basketball family. I think all of us will look back on this and wonder what could have been, but to come a possession or two away from a regular-season title and show the grit and determination that they have throughout the season has just been incredibly inspirational. You hate to see that end because you just want more time. You just want more time with them."

The Cats and Vandals played a tight first half, with neither team leading by more than three points until the 13:14 mark when Davis knocked down a three to give Montana State a 15-10 advantage. Idaho then went on a 12-3 run to retake the lead 22-18, with 7:48 on the clock, marking the Vandals' largest lead of the half. Idaho led for much of the next six minutes before the Cats retook the lead on a King three-pointer with 1:51 left in the half. Miller scored the Cats final six points of the half as Montana State built their lead to four points, 40-36, heading into the break. Both teams shot well in the first half, with Idaho knocking down 53.6% of its shots and Montana State shooting at a 48.1% clip. King, and Davis each tallied 12 points in the frame, and Miller added 10 as the trio combined for 34 first-half points.

Idaho outscored Montana State, 42-34, in the second half to secure its victory in the contest. Davis knocked down a three-pointer on the Bobcats' second shot of the frame to push the Cats' lead to a game-high seven points, 43-36, at the 19:14 mark. Idaho gradually chipped into the Bobcats' lead over the next five minutes before retaking the lead on a Trevon Blassingame three-pointer with 13:55 left in regulation. The Bobcats then went on a 7-0 run to push their lead back to six points, 55-49, with 12:31 on the clock. Jaden Steppe led that run, contributing an assist on Miller's three-pointer, posting a block and a save en route to a King layup, and adding a bucket of his own on three-consecutive possessions. From there, Idaho responded with three-straight buckets to tie the game at 55 points apiece with just under 11 minutes to play. The two teams alternated buckets until the 5:02 mark when Idaho's Isaiah Brickner sunk a layup to put the Vandals back in front for good. That bucket triggered a six-point Vandal run to give Idaho a 67-61 lead with 3:01 to play. Montana State came as close as two points from the Vandals, 68-66, at the 1:40 mark, but a Biko Johnson three forced the Cats to begin fouling with just under a minute to play. The Bobcats ultimately fell, 78-74, to see their season come to an end in Boise.

Idaho shot 56.4% from the field to Montana State's 44.6%. The Cats held the Vandals to just 4-of-16 (25.0%) from three while knocking down 11-of-24 (45.8%) shots from deep. Montana State only gave up the ball six times while allowing just one steal. Idaho won the scoring battle inside, tallying 54 paint points to Montana State's 26, and the Vandals' bench outscored the Bobcats' reserves, 23-5.

Davis led the Bobcats in points (22), rebounds, (6), steals (2), and blocks (1), while also chipping in two assists. He shot 9-of-10 from the floor and 4-of-5 from three in the best performance of his career so far. King tallied 21 points, shooting 9-of-13 from the field, while adding five boards. Miller posted 18 points, five rebounds, and one assist in the final game of his collegiate career. Steppe dished four assists to lead the Bobcats in the category.

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