Bobcats Overcome Free Throw Woes to Post Win Over Portland State

Thursday, January 13

7:05 PM

Montana State University

Portland State

Jourdain Allou's 10 points and six rebounds off the bench spurred the Cats against PSU

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

Bobcats Overcome Free Throw Woes to Post Win Over Portland State

1/13/2011 10:28:22 PM | Men's Basketball

MSU moves to 4-1 in Big Sky play

By: Bill Lamberty

Montana State overcame a horrific free throw shooting night to hang on for a 74-65 win over Portland State in Bozeman on Thursday. The win boosted the Bobcats to 4-1 in Big Sky play, its best start to the conference season since 2005.

MSU-Portland State box score

Erik Rush scored 16 points and Bobby Howard and Shawn Reid added 15 each to lead the Bobcats in a win featuring several unusual statistical elements. Montana State shot better from three-point range (8-for-26) than the free throw line (6-for-22), and also scored more second chance points (42) than in the previous four games combined (38). MSU logged season highs in offensive rebounds, 19, and total boards, 42, but registered double-digit turnovers for the second straight game.

Bobcat coach Brad Huse was pleased with his team's perseverance. “To overcome that (free throw shooting) and win the ball game says a lot about our character,” Huse said. “Our offensive rebounding was obviously huge. When you shoot free throws like we did tonight, you've just got to overcome, and our guys did that tonight.”

Trailing 17-14 midway through the first half, Rush hit a three-pointer and a short jumper to give MSU a 19-17 lead. Rod Singleton's long, arcing three-pointer at the first half buzzer sent MSu to the locker room with a 38-33 lead. After the Vikings forged a 44-44 tie at the 15:47 mark, MSU launched an 11-0 run to take control of the game. Freshman Chris McCall started the run with a conventional three-point play, then classmate Reid hit a three-pointer for 50-44 lead. Singleton's knifing layup and a Howard triple pushed the lead to 11.

In spite of its free throw shooting woes, the Bobcats maintained the lead in or near double-digits the rest of the way by forcing three PSU turnovers and holding the Vikings to 3-for-7 shooting in the last six minutes. MSU's bench provided a boost, chipping in 28 points. “I thought the bench gave us great energy,” Huse said.

The Bobcats host Eastern Washington Sunday at 2 pm in the Big Sky's Altitude Television Game of the Week.