Montana State University
Cal Poly
Same Song, Second Verse: MSU Tops Big West Foe, Again
12/21/2009 10:58:07 PM | Men's Basketball
Bobby Howard's layup with just less than two minutes to play gave
The victory, MSU's third straight and its second in four nights against a Big West foe, was a grind from the beginning. Cal Poly scored the game's first nine points, and led until Branden Johnson fed Howard in the paint for the go-ahead layup. MSU drew close on several occasions, but Cal Poly rebuilt its lead to nine at 48-39 and led 70-65 with 4:17 to play. Layups by Cody Anderson and Marquis Navarre drew MSU to within one, and after a Lorenzo Keeler jumper extended Cal Poly's lead back to three an Erik Rush jumper and Howard's short shot in the paint gave the Bobcats the lead.
“Sometimes your best games are the ones that are the hardest to find a way to win,” said MSU coach Brad Huse. “We got off to a very slow start in each half, but to our guys' credit our guys did not go away and would not be denied. I think we showed that we're a veteran team. Our guys continue to find ways.”
Cal Poly held its lead on the strength of strong defense, but the Bobcats caught fire in the second half. MSU shot 58% in the second half, and finished at 51% for the game. Marquis Navarre led MSU with 18 points, while Will Bynum finished with 12.
Marquis Navarre led the Bobcats with 18 points on 6-for-8 shooting from the field, adding a pair of assists and steals. Branden Johnson, who earned Big Sky Player of the Week honors for the first time on Monday, added 16 points, five rebounds, and three blocked shots. Will Bynum scored 12 points, including a momentum-turning dunk off one of his three steals in the closing minutes.
The Bobcats raise their record to 7-4 with the win in their first-ever contest against Cal Poly, while the Mustangs fall to 3-7. MSU travels to
