Defense Propels Bobcats to First Victory

Sunday, November 14

BOZEMAN

2 p.m.

Montana State University

1-1,0-0Big Sky

Rocky Mountain

0-1

Rocky Mountain

Montana St.

Abdul Mohamed

Photo by: Garrett Becker

11/14/2021 5:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

The Montana State men’s basketball team held Rocky Mountain to just 28% shooting from the field and tied its lowest point total given up to an opponent in two seasons as the Bobcats defeated the Battlin Bears, 89-51, on Sunday

By: Andrew Pedersen

BOZEMAN, Mont. – The Montana State men's basketball team held Rocky Mountain to just 28% shooting from the field and tied its lowest point total given up to an opponent in two seasons as the Bobcats defeated the Battlin Bears, 89-51, on Sunday in Worthington Arena.

The Bobcats jumped out to a 15-0 advantage just over six minutes into the contest and wouldn't trail in the matchup. Rocky Mountain would cut the deficit to two twice in the first half, but MSU's offense picked things up late. Tyler Patterson connected on a 3-pointer with just a few seconds left to cap a 13-4 scoring run and put MSU up 39-27 at the break.

"We challenged the guys (before the game) because a couple of the exhibition games we didn't get off to a quick start," Montana State head coach Danny Sprinkle said. "They did a really good job, but then they relaxed after that. I think they thought Rocky was going to give in.

"Rocky, with only eight guys and two of their top guards were out, they fought back. They pushed us in that first half, they moved the basketball and attacked us, it really showed we've got to get better."

Montana State kept the scoring margin in double digits by going on an 11-0 run over a 2:30 stretch to begin the second half. Two baskets by Jubrile Belo, a 3-pointer by Abdul Mohamed, jumper by Amin Adamu and Xavier Bishop layup put the game out of reach.

From there a variety of Bobcats made impacts in the MSU home opener.

Belo (21), Patterson (15) and Mohamed (10) led Montana State in the scoring column. Mohamed nearly registered a double-double pacing the Bobcats on the boards with nine rebounds. Great Osobor followed him with eight rebounds and he also scored eight points. Bishop and Sam Lecholat each scored seven points while Bishop had a team-high four assists.

Fourteen Bobcats played in all with 12 players appearing for at least nine minutes.

"It's hard right now because there's not enough minutes for all these guys," Sprinkle said. "There are some good players we have that we haven't been able to put in that much that I still want to get under the lights. Isaac Spears hit a 3 at the end of the game and he's capable of doing that, but it's hard to find minutes right now. It feels like I have 19 guys on the bench."

"It's about creating separation on our bench. Who's going to separate themselves to where the staff trusts to put them in and know that they'll do the right thing and guard, rebound and share the basketball."

The Bobcats registered 19 assists on 28 field goals in the contest while shooting 42.4% from the floor. MSU's 51 points given up to Rocky Mountain matches the 2020-21 squad's season-low set in a game at Northern Arizona on Jan. 21.

Montana State (1-1) goes on the road for its next seven straight games. The Bobcats open their road stand on Wednesday at South Dakota State (2-1) with tipoff against the Jackrabbits set for 6 p.m. MT.