SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento State scored the game’s first seven points and never trailed as the Hornets defeated Montana State, 81-52, in Big Sky men’s basketball on Thursday in The Nest.
The win moves Sac State to 8-10 in league play, just a game behind MSU for the No. 6 spot in the league standings. The Bobcats’ third straight loss drops Montana State to 8-9 in league. MSU is a game behind Portland State, an 89-76 victor at Idaho State and a team that has now won four of five.
Despite a start that included five turnovers in the opening five minutes, Montana State was able to cut into the early deficit. The Bobcats trailed 14-13 at the 10:21 mark of the first half after three Harald Frey free throws.
But Montana State’s senior point guard never appeared fully healthy as he continues struggling with an ailing ankle he sprained against Portland State and re-injured last week against Montana. Frey finished with 12 points and shot just 2-of-8 from the floor, including 1-of-4 from beyond the arc. He did draw 10 fouls but it didn’t matter as four Hornets scored in double figures and the hosts won the battle of the boards 37-25.
After Frey cut the lead to one, the Hornets responded. Sacramento State used a 9-0 run to push the lead to 23-13. MSU trimmed the margin to seven with just under five minutes remaining in the first half, but the Hornets went on a 12-2 run to close the half up 36-19 and led by single digits the rest of the game in earning a split with the Bobcats.
Sacramento State’s point output was its highest of the season while MSU had a season-high 22 turnovers. The Hornets (15-12, 8-10 BSC) shot 46.7 percent (28-60) from the field including an 11-for-23 clip from beyond the arc. Four players finished in double digits led by Bryce Fowler’s 16.
The Bobcats (14-14, 8-9) had three double-digit scorers in Frey (12), Mychael Paulo (11) and Amin Adamu (10).
Montana State returns to action Saturday in Flagstaff when it takes on Northern Arizona. The ‘Cats and Lumberjacks’ matchup is set for a 4 p.m. tipoff.
