Big Sky Conference

Bobcats race past Calgary to begin foreign tour

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MONTANA STATE PRESS RELEASE

Tyler Hall scored 15 point on 4-for-5 three-point shooting, and Montana State beat Calgary 91-71 in the first of four contests in Canada this weekend.

The Bobcats closed the game on a 17-2 run, out-rebounding the Dinos 56-to-35. MSU snagged 16 offensive boards. “I thought that was a depth issue,” said MSU coach Brian Fish. “We kept rotating guys, and nobody played too many minutes. I thought we played hard, but in the fourth quarter we were still fresh. I liked the way we closed the game.”

MSU guard Harald Frey (5)

MSU guard Harald Frey (5)

Harald Frey added 13 points for Montana State while Devonte Kline and 2017 redshirt Keljin Blevin each scored a dozen. The Cats shot 45 percent, holding Calgary to 34 percent. Eleven Bobcats saw action, with Zach Green nursing an injury and Lassi Nikkarinen not yet medically cleared.

Regardless, Fish likes his team’s depth. “I think we’re deep this year, and if you’re not playing hard you’re coming out,” Fish said. “Guys will understand that you can get a lot done in fewer minutes, and guys are going to be locked in or they’re coming out.”

The Bobcats turned the ball over 21 times – “Way too many,” Fish said – but forced 20. “We thought there would be a lot of turnovers early on, playing woolly-bully basketball because we’re not used to the tempo. But we made an adjustment defensively switching one through five and that helped.”

The game also took on a physical flavor, especially in the first half. The Cats adjusted. “I thought tonight we adjusted to the physicality. We got some loose balls, and I thought that was because we attacked instead of laying back.”

Montana State returns to the court again tomorrow night, facing the University of Alberta at 7 pm in Calgary.

Press release by Bill Lamberty, Montana State sports information. Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved. 

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