Montana State University
5-8,0-0Big Sky
TCU
7-4,0-0Big 12
Horned Frogs Handle Bobcats in Fort Worth
12/22/2024 7:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
TCU’s defense slows Montana State attack in final non-conference test before Big Sky play
FORT WORTH, Texas — Montana State men's basketball put a bow on a difficult non-conference schedule Sunday afternoon, falling 82-48 to TCU in Fort Worth.
After facing one of the most challenging slates for any mid-major team through November and December, Montana State (5-8, 0-0 Big Sky) will start fresh in 2025 with the beginning of Big Sky Conference play on January 2 at Idaho.
On Sunday afternoon in Fort Worth, TCU (7-4, 0-0 Big 12) leaned on their size and athleticism to control the boards and hound Montana State with relentless defensive pressure in the halfcourt.
The Horned Frogs came into Sunday boasting a top-25 defense in the country and looked the part, making every pass, handoff, and shot difficult. TCU out-rebounded Montana State, 46-24, while collecting 14 offensive boards.
The Bobcats shot just 5 of 26 (19.2%) from beyond the arc and 19 of 54 (35.2%) from the floor, committing 14 turnovers—their most since the season opener at Wisconsin.
Max Agbonkpolo led MSU with 18 points on 7 of 12 shooting, but was the only Bobcat to score in double figures.
Brandon Walker, returning to the greater Dallas area in which he grew up, tallied eight points and five rebounds.
Patrick McMahon and Brian Goracke each finished with five points.
Montana State appeared to have things working early, leading 10-7 on a Jabe Mullins step-back 3-pointer five minutes into the first half.
A few possessions later, Goracke nailed an open three off an assist from Chika Nduka, pushing the Cats back in front before Agbonkpolo connected on a pull-up jumper in the paint to give Montana State a 15-12 lead at the under-12 timeout.
However, TCU then began forcing Montana State into miscues—sparking a 24-4 run that had the Horned Frogs on their way.
TCU led 42-25 at halftime and put the game away for good with a 16-0 run that cleared with the Horned Frogs up 64-33 at the second half under-12 media timeout.
TCU was the third team that Montana State has faced in the last six weeks that was a single-digit seed in last year's NCAA Tournament (No. 5 Wisconsin, No. 9 Northwestern, No. 9 TCU).
"That's what I just told the guys—that we knew what we were signing up for," Logie said of the non-conference schedule that also included USC and Wichita State. "The reason I felt confident they could absorb the challenge of this schedule was because of our age, our maturity, our experience, and our culture. That doesn't mean it always feels great, but I think it'll be good for us to come back from Christmas break and have four or five days, a good period of time to really lock in and get ready for conference play. I know our guys are extremely hungry. Now we're 0-0. Now the conference season begins and everything that we set out for is still right in front of us."
UP NEXT
After a break for Christmas, Montana State returns to the road in the new year.
The Bobcats open Big Sky play visiting Idaho on Thursday, January 2, and Eastern Washington on Saturday, January 4.
#GoCatsGo
