DURHAM’S 20 POINTS LEADS MONTANA STATE TO VICTORY OVER MEN’S BASKETBALL

2/8/2007

BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Four Bobcats scored in double figures, led by Casey Durham’s game-high 20 points, as Montana State defeated Sacramento State, 74-59, in a Big Sky Conference men’s basketball game Thursday evening at Worthington Arena.

Sacramento State shot below .400 for the fourth consecutive game, finishing 34.5 percent (20-58) from the field and 20.0 percent (3-15) from beyond the arc. The Hornets, who faced an early 13-0 deficit before climbing back to take an 18-14 lead, were outrebounded, 44-35. Montana State shot 43.4 percent (23-53) from the field and a blistering 52.6 percent (10-of-19) from beyond the three-point arc.

A big difference in the game was three-pointers as Montana State buried 6-of-12 from beyond the arc in the first half, and 4-of-7 in the second half. Conversely, Sacramento State again struggled from long range, as the team’s three three-pointers tied a season low. The Hornets have now shot .300 or worse from the three-point line four consecutive games, shooting .247 (22-89) over that span.

Sacramento State lost for the ninth time in 10 games while dropping to a season-worst 8-17 overall and 3-9 in the Big Sky. The Hornets remain 2.5 games back of the sixth and final Big Sky Tournament spot as both Eastern Washington and Portland State are tied for sixth with 6-7 conference records.

Montana State won for the sixth time in seven games, and improved to 10-14 overall and 7-4 in the Big Sky. The Bobcats, who are also 7-4 at home this year, avenged last year’s loss to Sacramento State in the Big Sky Tournament Quarterfinals in Bozeman. MSU is now 18-10 all-time against the Hornets, but has won just four of the past 10 meetings between the two teams. The two teams will meet again next week in Sacramento on Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14).

Durham scored 17 of Montana State’s 39 first-half points as the Bobcats went into the halftime with a 39-29 lead. After the Hornets took their largest lead of the game at 22-18, MSU closed the final 6:40 of the first half on a 21-7 run. Durham had three three-pointers during the run.

Sacramento State would get no closer than within eight points of Montana State’s lead in the second half as the Bobcats used a 15-4 run during the latter stages of the period to put the game away. Joining Durham in double figures for Montana State were Carlos Taylor (16 points), Ted Morris (12 points, eight rebounds, three blocked shots) and Mecklen Davis (12 points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals). Durham had seven rebounds to go along with his 20 points.

The Hornets had two players score in double digits, comprised of senior Haron Hargrave (12 points, game-high six steals) and junior Angel Alamo (10 points, two blocked shots). Making his third start of the season, junior Davon Roberts finished with eight points, seven rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals in 17 minutes. Both sophomore Loren Leath and junior Kris Groce added seven points for a Hornet team that has failed to hit the 70-point mark in each of its last three games.

Sacramento State junior forward Justin Williams missed his second straight game with a hand injury. The Hornets’ 59 points were four shy of a season low.

Only four games remain on Sacramento State’s regular season schedule, beginning with next Wednesday’s home game game against Montana State. The Hornets will then play at Portland State (Feb. 22) and Eastern Washington (Feb. 24), before the regular season finale at home against Weber State on Monday, Feb. 26.