Montana State University
Portland State
Bobcats Force 20 Turnovers, Hang on for Win over Vikings
1/8/2010 10:31:49 PM | Men's Basketball
Howard's 18 Points Pace Bobcats
In a game marked by offensive fireworks, Montana State turned the tide with its defense. The Bobcats forced 20 Portland State turnovers, 11 off Bobcat steals, in a 77-71 MSU victory in Bozeman on Friday.
Will Bynum led the way with six swipes and MSU played "solid team defense," according to MSU coach Brad Huse, as the Bobcats knocked off previously league-leading Portland State. "I thought the turnovers were a big factor, particularly in the first half," Huse said. "We were able to turn some of them into points, and if not we at least took away one of their possessions."
Vikings guard Dominic Waters led all players with 24 points, scoring 13 during the first half's offensive spectacular. Portland State hit six of its eight first-half three-pointers, while MSU was 6-for-8 from the arc at the intermission. The Bobcats hit nine of their first 11 shots, including their first five treys, in racing to a 43-34 halftime lead.
"I figured one of the teams would cool off in the second half," Huse said. "We cooled off a little more than I liked."
MSU maintained its lead through the early portion of the second half, but Phil Nelson hit a jumper and a three-pointer to draw PSU to within 53-49 at the 15:07 mark. Melvin Jones' three-pointer at 12:34 drew the Vikings back to within two at 55-53, and moments later he converted a layup to give PSU its only tie of the second half.
Danny Piepoli answered with a three-point on MSU's next possession, and after the team's traded free throws Bobby Howard hit a short jumper to extend MSU's lead to five. Erik Rush hit a trey at 3:25 to again extend the Bobcat lead to five.
Waters drained two free throws at 1:56 to cut MSU's lead to 73-71, but that would stand as the Vikings' last points. The Bobcat defense stopped Portland State twice with an opportunity to tie the game, the second when Bynum drew a charge from Waters with 21 seconds to play. Rush and Bynum salted the game away by draining two free throws each on the last 20 seconds.
"That's Will's game," Huse said of Bynum's spectacular defensive night.
Portland State out-rebounded MSU 32-27, but the Bobcats limited the athletic Vikings to just 10 second-chance points. Montana State turned the ball over only nine times, the fifth time in the last 11 games the Cats have turned the ball over less than 10 times.
The Bobcats raise their record to 9-6 with the win, 4-1 in Big Sky play, while Portland State falls to 7-8 overall, 2-1 in the league. The Vikings travel to Missoula for a Saturday night game against Montana, while MSU hosts Eastern Washington Sunday afternoon at 2 pm.
