Montana State contains Weber State for fourth straight win, 67-52

(Editor’s Notice: Montana State Press Launch)

BOZEMAN — Led by a double-double from Jubrile Belo, highlight-reel dunks from RaeQuan Battle and a near-triple-double from Darius Brown II, the Montana State males’s basketball workforce put the clamps down on Weber State in Saturday’s 67-52 dwelling win.

As soon as once more, the Bobcats (12-7, 5-1 Huge Sky) pulled away with stingy half-court protection and a slew of highlight-reel performs. The Wildcats (8-10, 3-2 Huge Sky), in the meantime, managed to shoot solely 4-for-16 from three (25%) and dedicated 16 turnovers to MSU’s 10. Weber State star Dillon Jones, who got here into Bozeman after having a profession night time in Missoula, solely managed 13 factors and 9 rebounds, whereas tying the team-high with 4 turnovers.

“I assumed we did a extremely good job of guarding the three-point line,” Montana State head coach Danny Sprinkle informed Bobcat Sports activities Radio Community. “They’re harmful. Nice Osobor, Sam Lecholat and Caleb Fuller did an excellent job on Dillon Jones. He’s one of many hardest guards within the league — he’s so large and quick and robust. However I assumed our guys confirmed great effort.”

Jubrile Belo had a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double — most of which got here within the first half — to steer the Bobcats. RaeQuan Battle added 12 factors, plus Darius Brown II stuffed the stat sheet with 9 factors, eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals.

Weber State briefly held the lead over the Bobcats till Caleb Fuller’s first three of the night time put MSU up 6-4. From there, the Bobcats tightened up on protection, staying glued to Weber State’s gamers because the Wildcats tried working their offense. Whereas the Wildcats couldn’t rating, MSU went on a 13-0 run after Fuller’s three, plus treys from Darius Brown II, RaeQuan Battle and a jumper from Jubrile Belo.

The Bobcats wouldn’t path once more, but they’d climate a five-minute drought and not using a made discipline objective. Fuller’s second three of the night time — a wide-open three from the wing — snapped the scoring drought to place MSU up 23-12. An 8-0 Wildcats run made it a two-possession recreation with 3:23 left within the half because the Wildcats tried wresting momentum from the Bobcats.

Like they’ve been wont to do all 12 months, the Bobcats bolted forward with highlight-reel performs.

Utilizing fast fingers on protection and stellar transition play, Montana State blew the sport open within the remaining 4 minutes. With the shot clock winding down, Brown II discovered Battle for a lob, then two possessions later, Brown II stripped Jones alongside the baseline and cruised coast-to-coast for a left-handed layup. Then, within the blink of an eye fixed, Brown II stole the ball from Jones once more, this time resulting in a windmill dunk from Battle.

“Once we’re taking part in our greatest, we’re getting stops and getting out in transition,” Sprinkle mentioned.

Because the Bobcat devoted rocked the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, Montana State stored taking part in the hits. Belo rolled alongside the baseline and threw down a dunk, then Brown II discovered Battle for an additional alley-oop to beat the buzzer and provides the Bobcats a 39-19 lead. Saturday’s recreation was the third time Montana State held an opponent to twenty factors or much less in convention play.

Weber State wouldn’t go quietly. The Wildcats kicked off the second half with an 8-0 run, sparked by six factors from Jones. MSU went practically 5 minutes with out scoring, save for a free throw from Sam Lecholat, who made the primary discipline objective of the second half on the following possession. Nice Osobor labored his means inside for a troublesome layup over Jones, then Belo drew one other considered one of his 11 whistles on Handje Tamba to go to the charity stripe for 2.

MSU’s lead ballooned to as many as 19 factors with Robert Ford III’s first three of the body, which gave the Bobcats a 51-32 lead. The Bobcat bench took over, as Nick Gazelas sank a nook three, Osobor stored scoring inside, then Ford III made one other three to place Montana State up 59-40 with 7:59 to play.

“His first three was enormous,” Sprinkle mentioned. “Rob pulling down that three gave us a bit little bit of respiration room and gave us the arrogance to get stops.”

Though the Bobcats wouldn’t make many extra discipline objectives from that time ahead, the workforce made four-straight free throws down the stretch, then Brown II’s pull-up elbow jumper with 1:23 remaining put the exclamation level on the win. Weber State’s 52 factors within the loss have been tied for his or her lowest whole of the season, whereas MSU has held Huge Sky opponents below 70 factors in its final 4 video games.

“There are numerous issues we have to clear up, however I assumed our guys had great vitality,” Sprinkle mentioned. “We got here out with some extent to show.”

Steven Verplancken led the way in which for the Wildcats with 16 factors on 7-for-12 taking pictures. Dyson Koehler and Daniel Rouzan additionally chipped in seven factors apiece.

Subsequent, the Bobcats journey to Moscow, Idaho for a 7 p.m. MT recreation towards the Idaho Vandals.