THE MATCHUP
Last season, Montana State walloped Weber State 78-57 in Ogden, Utah, a statement win for the Bobcats on the way to their first Big Sky Conference title since 2002. On Thursday, MSU returned to the Salt Lake City suburb riding a five-game winning streak while Weber State was coming off an 88-54 drubbing at the hands of Northern Colorado just three days earlier.
THE RESULT
Weber State played one of its best games of the season and rebounded in a big way to hold steady at third in the conference standings by spring-boarding into the second half with a 27-4 run on the way to a 73-63 victory over the defending league champions.
WSU moved to 8-4 in league play while Montana State fell to 10-3.
THE STANDOUTS
Dillon Jones continued his league MVP candidacy by rolling up his 15th double-double of the season. He finished with 18 points, 12 rebounds, along with four assists and two steals.
Steven Verplancken added 17 points and was 7 of 9 from the field, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range. Zahir Porter scored a season-high 13 points and was 4 of 6 from the field.
Great Osobor led the Bobcats with 15 points off the bench — 12 of which came in the first half. RaeQuan Battle added 14 points and Caleb Fuller had 10 points, four rebounds and four assists.
QUOTABLE
“We couldn’t make shots. During the first three minutes, we made a couple when we were in our 1-3-1 zone, and then we started kicking the ball around. Our post players can’t have 11 turnovers combined between the two of them. Give Weber State credit — I thought they did a good job packing the paint and we didn’t handle that well.”
Montana State head coach Danny Sprinkle on the Bobcat Radio Network
SOCIAL
WHAT’S NEXT
Montana State plays at Idaho State on Saturday. ISU lost 69-61 to Montana on Thursday night. The Wildcats host the Grizzlies, who come to Ogden on a four-game winning streak.
