Freshman Isaac Bonton has left the Bobcat men’s basketball program, MSU heacoach Brian Fish said Thursday.
The 6-foot-2 guard from Portland played in each of MSU’s first 11 games, averaging 7.8 points and 2.8 rebounds.
“I want to thank Isaac for his contributions to our program,” Fish said, “and wish him good luck in the future.”
Bonton struggled with injuries from the outset of his time in Bozeman. He suffered a concussion early and also battled a hip bruise, missing 27 practices but no games.
He played 18.6 minutes per game, second-most behind senior Joe Mvuezolo among MSU reserves. Bonton scored 38 points during a four-game road trip but made just four of 25 shots over MSU’s last three games before leaving the team. He went 0-of-6 in a win over Milwaukee, 1-of-9 in a loss to Central Michigan and 3-of-10 in a lopsided home loss to UC Santa Barbara in what is now the last game of his Bobcat career.
Bonton’s 86 field goal attempts are third on the team behind All-Big Sky Conference guards junior Tyler Hall and sophomore Harald Frey. The former all-state performer from Parkrose High in Portland is shooting 36 percent, the worst shooting percentage on the team among players who have taken at least 10 shots and his 25 turnovers are a team-high.
Montana State hosts Denver on Monday at 7 pm in Worthington Arena, before a December 21 contest at Omaha closes the non-conference season.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
