THE MATCHUP
The Montana State men did not play Thursday because its game against at Idaho State was postponed because of Covid protocols in the ISU program. The Bobcats went to Ogden, Utah Saturday and drilled Weber State 78-57, MSU’s largest win at Weber during the Big Sky Conference era dating back to 1963.
That win marked MSU’s sixth straight road win, eighth straight win overall and 13th victory in 14 outings. Montana State made up its game at Idaho State on Monday against Bengal team that pounded Montana 86-63 on Saturday, ISU’s first win over UM since 2009.
THE RESULT
Montana State kept on rolling. No Bobcat played more than Nick Gazelas’ 26 minutes yet the visitors led wire to wire. MSU won 72-54, marking the 14th victory in Montana State’s last 15 outings, including for the ninth time in a row. The winning streak overall and the seven road wins in a row are MSU’s best in 20 years.
THE STANDOUTS
Montana State moved to 18-5 overall — MSU’s best start in more than two decades — by scoring eight of the game’s first 10 points and crusing from there. MSU shot 55 percent from the field and Gazelas scored a team-high 15 points as MSU kept rolling.
The Bobcats never trailed in the game and led by as many as 15 points in the first half. The cushion was 12 at halftime and grew to 27 in the second half on RaeQuan Battle’s layup with 7:43 to play on a 12-point night for the former Washington transfer.
At about that time, MSU center Jubrile Belo – enjoying an eight-point, four-rebound, four-block game — was whistled for a personal foul and then a technical foul, and was thrown out in the game. Shortly after that Great Osobor, MSU’s backup center, also fouled out. The Bengals punctuated those events with a 9-0 run that drew MSU’s lead down to 18 and eventually down to 68-53.
Gazelas hit all seven of his free throws to help him match Adamu for team-high scoring honors with 15 points.
MSU’s ninth straight win, and seventh straight victory on the road, pushes the Bobcats to within a half-game of the Big Sky lead. The Cats are 18-5 overall, 10-2 in Big Sky play. Idaho State falls to 4-17 overall, 2-10 in the league.
QUOTABLE
“I don’t really know how many wins or how many in a row. All I know is it’s one in a row, and that’s what we came here to do.”
Montana State head coach Danny Sprinkle
“It was a really physical game. They’re big, they’re strong, and that’s how they play. It’s hard to play against them, and not a lot of (visiting) teams come in here and win.”
Danny Sprinkle
SOCIAL
BOX SCORE
WHAT’S NEXT
Montana State returns to Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on Thursday to host Portland State at 7 p.m. The Bobcats then host the NAU Lumberjacks at noon on Saturday.
Idaho State plays at Idaho on Thursday and at Eastern Washington on Saturday.
