BOZEMAN, Mont. – Montana State took a late second half lead over Weber State after trailing for most of the contest, but the Wildcats used a seven-point scoring run to re-take the lead and wouldn’t surrender it again in an 85-75 win over the Bobcats on Thursday in Worthington Arena.
Montana State trailed by as many as nine in the first half, but cut the deficit to 43-40 at halftime despite being outshot 60-41.9% from the field.
MSU and Weber State traded baskets to open the second half and MSU eventually went up 65-63 on a Xavier Bishop jumper with 9 minutes, 16 seconds left to play. The two sides went scoreless for two minutes of action before the Wildcats took control of the contest.
Dillon Jones made a free throw to cut the Bobcat advantage to 65-64. Then on back-to-back possessions Dyson Koehler drained 3-pointers to put the Wildcats ahead, 70-65.
The Bobcats would cut the Weber State lead to two on two occasions with the latest being a 74-72 score with 3:06 remaining. A dunk by RaeQuan Battle with 1:21 to play had the Bobcats down by a one-score margin, 77-74, but Jones made a layup on the Wildcats’ side of the court to seal the matchup for Weber State.
Weber State outshot Montana State 50-37.5% from the floor and benefitted from a 12-for-20 (60%) night from 3-point range. MSU was just 3 of 20 (15%) from deep.
The Wildcats had four players score in double digits led by Koby McEwen’s 31 points. The Bobcats had three finish in double digits with Jubrile Belo scoring a season-high 22 points to lead the way. He also had a game-high seven rebounds.
Montana State returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 1, when the Bobcats host Idaho State at 1 p.m. for a New Year’s Day matchup.
