BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Five Montana State players scored in double figures

including four starters to lead the Bobcats to a 98-82 men's

basketball victory over Sacramento State Thursday night at

Worthington Arena.

The win avenged an MSU loss to the Hornets just eight days earlier

and improved the team to 16-10 overall and 7-5 in the Big Sky

Conference. Sacramento State dropped to 4-18 overall and 1-10 in the

Big Sky.

Montana State, which entered the game as the Big Sky's best shooting

team, shot 57.6 from the floor. The Bobcats converted 34-of-59 field

goals including nine three pointers. Pete Conway came off the bench

to lead all MSU scorers with 18 points. Conway ended the evening

6-for-6 from the floor including a perfect 4-of-4 from long range. He

also made both of his free throw attempts. Conway was joined in

double digits by Justin Brown (14), John Lazosky (14), Tom Duffy (13)

and Aaron Rich (13).

Sacramento State also shot the ball well but could not match Montana

State's effort. The Hornets were 25-for-59 (.424) from the floor but

were an impressive 27-of-31 (.871) from the charity stripe. Senior

Rame Batta was 9-for-9 from the free throw line and also made four

baskets to lead the team with 19 points. Rickie Glenn added 17 points

and Pablo Gonzales chipped in 12. The team also received a career

high eight points from freshman Tony Champion.

MSU used a couple of small runs to break an 11-11 tie and built a

58-45 halftime lead. The Hornets were able to pull as close as 10,

77-67, with 7:57 left but Montana State then went on an 18-9 run to

put the game away.

Sacramento State broke the 80-point plateau for the first time since

tallying 88 against UC Riverside on January 19 in overtime.

The Hornets continue their road trip on Saturday at Weber State. The

game will begin a 6 p.m. PST and will be broadcast on KTKZ 1380 AM

and can be heard via www.hornetsports.com.