Highlights: Montana State powers past Omaha, 82-54

(Editor’s Word: Montana State Press Launch)

BOZEMAN — Powered by a season-best 18 factors from Nice Osobor and disciplined offensive play, the Montana State males’s basketball staff routed the Nebraska Omaha Mavericks 82-54 in Worthington Enviornment on Saturday afternoon.

The Bobcats (6-5) dedicated a season-low eight turnovers whereas scoring 24 factors off 17 Mavericks (3-8) turnovers. In one other balanced offensive exhibiting, 10 completely different Bobcats scored because the staff linked on 49.2% of its subject objective makes an attempt. Rounding out the dominant efficiency, the Bobcats out-rebounded the Mavericks by a 33-31 margin.

Saturday’s win additionally marked the third straight for the Bobcats, who’ve gained the final 12 video games in Worthington Enviornment — a win streak courting again to Dec. 30, 2021.

“I’m tremendous pleased with our guys,” Montana State head coach Danny Sprinkle advised Bobcat Sports activities Radio Community. “Coming house and enjoying in entrance of their house followers for the primary time shortly actually means one thing. I do know when this staff is engaged, and so they had been engaged tonight and in each video games this week.”

RaeQuan Battle had one other double-figure scoring evening with 16 factors on 6-for-15 capturing, plus he grabbed a career-high 9 rebounds to guide all gamers. Jubrile Belo chipped in 10 factors and 5 rebounds in 19 minutes of labor, whereas Robert Ford III sparked the Bobcats on each ends of the ground with 8 factors, three assists and three steals.

After Frankie Fidler briefly put the Mavericks up 2-0, a barrage of threes from RaeQuan Battle, Darius Brown II and Tyler Patterson gave the Bobcats a 9-4 lead.

Then Nice Osobor and the remainder of Montana State’s second unit took over.

The sophomore ahead backed down his man on the left block, threw down a dunk alongside the baseline and baffled the protection with two spin strikes that gave him a fast eight factors. Threes from Patrick McMahon and Robert Ford III would give the Bobcats a 24-14 lead with 11:56 to go.

“I assumed Nice Osobor was terrific,” Sprinkle mentioned. “He set the tone for the sport and acquired three-straight baskets down low. As soon as he began dominating, it opened up every little thing else for us.”

Montana State wouldn’t relent within the first half. Led by 10 first-half factors from Osobor and Battle, plus eight from Robert Ford III, the Bobcats led by as many as 24 within the first body. The Bobcats went on a 13-0 run late within the first half whereas the Mavericks went 7 minutes and 19 seconds with no made subject objective. Omaha would rating on its ultimate two possessions of the primary half to make it a 46-26 sport in favor of the Bobcats at intermission.

Though the Mavericks would rating on back-to-back possessions to open the second half, the Bobcats stored working the ball inside to Osobor and Fuller, who stored sporting down Omaha’s bigs and drawing contact beneath. Within the spotlight of the second half, Battle tipped a cross on the head of MSU’s protection and threw down a dunk on the different finish to place the Bobcats up 62-41 with 11:08 to go. From that time on, MSU led by not less than 20 factors.

The Montana State protection would drive 9 Omaha turnovers and maintain the Mavericks with no made three within the second half. With the sport absolutely in hand, the hosts would lead by as many as 30 factors on two events: first off a layup from Sam Lecholat, after which off a 3 from Carter Ash that made it an 82-52 ballgame with 68 seconds left. Omaha would rating on its ultimate possession and MSU would let the shot clock wind down on its ultimate possession to cap off the 82-54 win.

Jaeden Marshall led the Mavericks with 14 factors on 6-for-10 capturing, whereas Marquel Sutton was the one different participant in double-figures for Omaha with 10 factors. Saturday’s sport capped off a seven-game highway journey for the Mavericks, who haven’t performed a house sport since Nov. 16.

The Bobcats will conclude their house non-conference schedule with a sport towards Northwest Indian School on Saturday, Dec. 17. From there, they may make a journey to Tucson, Ariz. to face the Arizona Wildcats within the non-conference finale on Dec. 20 earlier than opening up Large Sky Convention play at house towards Idaho on Dec. 29.