BOZEMAN, Mont. — A chilly capturing evening put Montana State in a tricky position on Thursday evening, with visiting Rocky Mountain College taking benefit handy the Bobcats a 70-62 defeat at Worthington Arena.
Montana State (3-4) completed 7 of 31 from past the arc (22.6%) and couldn’t fairly put collectively a comeback after falling behind early as Rocky Mountain College (6-1) led for almost the complete contest.
“We had a tough time getting ourselves going,” head coach Matt Logie mentioned. “Credit Rocky Mountain on that. They’re an skilled group that is performed collectively and well-coached—they definitely earned the victory. As somebody who’s been on the small-college degree for a very long time, I’ve the utmost respect for the standard of these groups. This is a tricky lesson for a few of our guys to be taught, however hire’s due on daily basis. We’ve bought to play higher.”
Brian Goracke led the Bobcats with 14 factors and 5 rebounds, whereas Eddie Turner III noticed his first actual motion after lacking a lot of the earlier 4 video games with an harm, scoring 11 factors and including six assists, 4 rebounds, and three steals.
Montana State pressured 17 Rocky Mountain turnovers, scoring 19 factors off these miscues, however was out-rebounded 43-31.
Robert Ford III led the Cats on the glass, snagging 9 boards and including eight factors and three assists.
The Battlin’ Bears, ranked No. 21 within the NAIA National Poll, got here into Thursday averaging 93.3 factors per recreation and bought out to a fast begin, building a 13-6 benefit on an Elliott Brooks 3-pointer on the 16:39 mark and main 22-13 with 11:29 left within the first half.
Montana State recovered and began to get some photographs to go down, with a Ford 3-pointer with 6:38 left within the half reducing the deficit to simply 4 at 27-23.
However, Rocky Mountain would lead 38-30 on the break, capturing 15 of 31 from the ground (48.4%) and 6 of 10 from three (60%).
Goracke scored 12 of his 14 factors and Brandon Walker scored all eight of his factors within the first half, serving to maintain the Bobcats inside placing distance.
Montana State matched Rocky Mountain possession for possession within the second half, however couldn’t get sufficient stops to offer the comeback try traction.
A Tyler Patterson mid-range jumper minimize the Battlin’ Bear result in 58-52 with 9:25 left to play, however the Cats wouldn’t get nearer than that six-point margin the remainder of the best way.
John Olmsted supplied a lift off the bench for Montana State, chipping in eight factors and 4 boards, together with a pair of dunks, throughout 18 minutes on the ground.
UP NEXT
Montana State will journey to Seattle subsequent Tuesday for the second time this season, going through the University of Washington at 8 p.m. PT/9 p.m. MT.
The Bobcats knocked off California in Berkeley on Nov. 16, 63-60, their first win over a Power Five foe since 2018. Their first journey to the Emerald City on Nov. 11 resulted in a good loss to Seattle U, 71-68.
Tuesday’s recreation will air on Pac-12 Network, with dwell radio play-by-play carried on the Bobcat Radio Network.
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