BERKELEY, Calif. — Behind 26 factors from sophomore Brandon Walker, Montana State secured the primary signature win of the Matt Logie period in dramatic style on Thursday evening, taking down California, 63-60, at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, California.
The first Division I victory for first-year head coach Matt Logie marked the primary win for the Cats over a Power Five opponent since they took down Washington State on December 9, 2018.
It’s additionally the primary highway win over a Power Five foe since defeating Utah in Salt Lake City in 2011.
The Bobcats (2-1) constructed up a 14-point lead within the second half however noticed Cal (2-2) erase the benefit right down to a 57-56 Cat lead with 2:34 left within the recreation.
Big buckets down the stretch from Walker, together with a clutch three-pointer from Sam Lecholat and large free throws from Brian Goracke and Jed Miller, sealed the win for the Bobcats as a game-tying heave from Cal went off the mark on the horn.
Montana State shot simply 17% from past the arc (4-for-24) and was out-rebounded 39-25, however received the turnover battle, 16-8, and led for over 37 minutes within the convincing win.
“This group has been resilient from day one once we obtained right here,” head coach Matt Logie mentioned. “It all comes right down to angle, which is what we are saying in each huddle, and that permits us to deal with adversity collectively and preserve preventing when issues get robust.”
Walker was almost unstoppable on the way in which to a career-high 26 factors. The sophomore switch from UT Arlington poured in 14 within the first half and 12 extra within the second half on 12-of-21 capturing for the sport, including three rebounds, 4 assists, and a vital block within the last two minutes.
“Brandon confirmed what he is able to tonight,” Logie mentioned, “He has such a singular skillset and did an awesome job attacking the paint for us all evening lengthy.”
Patrick McMahon reached double-figures for the third straight recreation to open the season, chipping in ten in his first begin of the 12 months. Brian Goracke added eight, and Miller and Lecholat every contributed six factors off the bench.
Robert Ford III collected a team-high 9 rebounds within the win.
Walker’s 14 within the first half got here as the massive man confirmed no hesitation in attacking the rim, backing down his defender within the put up and utilizing a wide range of strikes and footwork to get robust appears to be like to go down inside.
McMahon added eight within the opening body, together with three subject targets within the final 9 minutes to assist Montana State stake out a 33-27 benefit at halftime.
The Bobcats started to separate themselves from the bounce within the second half, rattling off an 11-2 run to take their largest lead of the sport at 44-30 with 15:09 left to play.
A Walker layup was adopted by a Walker triple, then Goracke discovered a crease for a layup earlier than Walker went again to work for back-to-back buckets, scoring eight of the Bobcats’ 11 factors within the mini-spurt to build the cushion.
The Golden Bears started to chip away, chopping it to an eight-point Bobcat lead earlier than Tyler Patterson nailed a 3 to push the MSU benefit again out to 47-36 with 12:26 to go.
Cal saved coming, going to Jaylon Tyson down the stretch to drag them inside two at 51-49 with 4:49 within the recreation. Tyson would end with a game-high 27 factors and eight rebounds.
Lecholat stepped out past the arc and caught a kickout feed from Miller with 3:19 to play, calmly flattening an enormous three to place Montana State in entrance, 57-51.
From there, huge defensive stops because the Cats locked in helped propel the guests ahead in a hostile setting on the highway, with a Walker block serving to seal a possession.
Goracke and Miller mixed to go 4-for-4 on the free throw line within the last 1:20, placing the sport on ice and resulting in jubilation from the Bobcat bench.
“It goes to point out what we are able to accomplish collectively within the Bobcat basketball household,” Logie mentioned. “Even within the midst of nice change and adversity, this program is constructed to final and these children are preventing for that on daily basis. The finest is but to come back.”
UP NEXT
Montana State will return to Bozeman to begin a four-game homestand starting Monday, as they host an MTE at Worthington Arena with Green Bay and UC Riverside.
The Bobcats will tackle Green Bay on Monday, November 20, at 7 p.m., earlier than internet hosting UC Riverside on Wednesday, November 22, at 7 p.m.
Both video games will stream on ESPN+, with Monday’s recreation in opposition to Green Bay additionally airing on SWX.
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