BOZEMAN, Mont. — Montana State shot a very impressive 29-for-31 from the free throw line, converting on 19 more freebies than Sacramento State on the way to a 92-76 victory over the Hornets on Thursday evening at Worthington Arena.
Sacramento State was whistled for 23 fouls while Montana State committed just 16 infractions. That led to MSU going 11-for-11 from the free throw line in the first half and 18-for-20 in the second half on the way to a very proficient 94% for the game. Meanwhile Sacramento State converted on just 10 of its 18 trips to the free throw line, good for a 56% clip. Both teams converted on 28 made field goals.
The Bobcats, who led for 37:10 of game clock, outscored the Hornets, 45-29, in the first half while both teams finished with 47 points in the second half. Sacramento State trimmed MSU's 16-point halftime lead all the way to four points (66-62) after Justin Strings buried a jumper with 9:25 remaining. However, the Bobcats immediately responded with a 12-0 run, and never looked back. The Hornets' last lead of the game came at 9-8 early in the first half.
With the victory, Montana State avenged a loss to the Hornets earlier this season in the Nest as the two teams split the season series. Both games between the teams were won handily as the Hornets defeated the Bobcats, 87-68, on Jan. 13. MSU improved to 13-12 overall, 6-6 in the Big Sky Conference and 8-3 at home.
Meanwhile, the Hornets dropped their third straight while falling to 6-18 overall and 3-8 in league. Only seven games are left in the regular season, and Sacramento State will continue its brief two-game road trip against conference unbeaten Montana (12-0) on Saturday night at 6:05 p.m. PST.
Montana State shot 51% (28-55) from the field, 39% (7-18) from the 3-point line and 94% (29-31) from the free throw line. The Bobcats also had a 38-31 edge in the rebounding department and a 36-22 advantage in points in the paint. Sacramento State shot 44% (28-64) from the field, 40% (10-25) from the 3-point line and 56% (10-18) from the free throw line. Despite making 28 field goals, the Hornets were somehow credited with just eight assists. Sacramento State continues to have problems at the free throw line where the team is shooting 66% this season, and has shot below 58% in three of the last four contests.
For Sacramento State, Strings led the way with 21 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field to go along with two blocks. He has now scored in double figures in 44 straight games, the fifth longest active streak in the nation. In addition, the fourth-year senior has 1,420 career points and moved into sixth place in school history, surpassing Dylan Garrity's 1,406 points.
He was joined in double figures by true freshman Bryce Fowler who had a season-high 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field. He also added a seven rebounds. Sophomore Izayah Mauriohooho-Le'afa posted 11 points (3-for-7 from distance) and five assists, and Kevin Hicks had nine points off the bench on 3-for-6 shooting from long range. Joshua Patton added six points and a blocked shot, Jordan Tolbert and Chibueze Jacobs both had five points, and Calvin Martin had six rebounds in 11 minutes.
Five Montana State players scored in double figures, led by Tyler Hall's game-high 28 points on 8-of-13 from the field, 4-for-8 from the 3-point line and 8-of-8 from the free throw line. Zach Green added 16 points and six rebounds, and Devonte Klines had 12 points and four assists. The five MSU starters combined to go 26-for-28 from the free throw line.
Sacramento State will now play a Montana team that continues to dominate in league play as the Grizzlies have won all 12 league games, with 10 of those outcomes resulting in wins by at least nine points.


April 11, 2018
MEN’S BASKETBALL SIGNS CLARK HIGH SCHOOL’S JAMES BRIDGES

February 21, 2018
MEN'S BASKETBALL BEGINS FINAL REGULAR SEASON ROAD TRIP THURSDAT AT NAU

February 17, 2018
STRINGS ACHIEVES HUGE MILESTONE; MEN’S HOOPS FALLS TO WEBER STATE

February 16, 2018
MEN'S BASKETBALL HOSTS WEBER STATE ON SATURDAY FOR WHITEOUT THE NEST


February 9, 2018
MEN'S HOOPS PLAYS AT MONTANA ON SATURDAY NIGHT

February 7, 2018
MEN'S BASKETBALL LOOKS FOR SERIES SWEEP OF MONTANA STATE ON THURSDAY

February 3, 2018
MEN’S BASKETBALL FALLS AT HOME TO IDAHO

February 2, 2018
MEN'S BASKETBALL HOSTS IDAHO ON SATURDAY NIGHT AT 7 PM


January 26, 2018
MEN'S HOOPS CONCLUDES ROAD TRIP SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT PORTLAND STATE

January 20, 2018
MEN’S BASKETBALL DROPS SECOND GAME OF ROAD TRIP TO IDAHO STATE

January 19, 2018
MEN'S HOOPS PLAYS AT IDAHO STATE ON SATURDAY NIGHT

January 18, 2018
LATE RUN DOOMS MEN’S BASKETBALL IN LOSS TO WEBER STATE

January 17, 2018
MEN'S HOOPS OPENS ROAD TRIP ON THURSDAY AT WEBER STATE

January 12, 2018
MEN'S BASKETBALL TO HOST MONTANA STATE ON SATURDAY FOR KIDS DAY

January 11, 2018
MONTANA USES BIG SECOND HALF TO BEAT MEN’S BASKETBALL, 78-66

January 10, 2018
MEN'S HOOPS BACK IN THE NEST ON THURSDAY VS. MONTANA AT 7 P.M.

January 3, 2018
MEN'S HOOPS PLAYS FIRST BIG SKY ROAD GAME THURSDAY AT IDAHO

January 2, 2018
STRINGS RECEIVES BIG SKY PLAYER OF THE WEEK ACCOLADES

January 1, 2018
STRINGS NAMED THE NATIONAL MID-MAJOR PLAYER OF THE WEEK


December 29, 2017
MEN'S HOOPS OPENS BIG SKY PLAY AT HOME SATURDAY VS. PORTLAND STATE

December 23, 2017
MEN’S BASKETBALL FALLS AT HOME TO UC SANTA BARBARA, 82-72

December 22, 2017
MEN'S HOOPS HOSTS UC SANTA BARBARA ON SATURDAY IN FINAL NON-LEAGUE GAME

December 21, 2017
MEN’S HOOPS FALLS TO PORTLAND, 80-75, IN GOLDEN 1 CENTER MATCHUP

December 20, 2017
MEN'S HOOPS PLAYS PORTLAND AT THE GOLDEN 1 CENTER ON THURSDAY AT 5:30 PM

December 18, 2017
MEN'S HOOPS BACK AT HOME TUESDAY VS. CSUN

December 9, 2017
MEN’S BASKETBALL FALLS AT BOISE STATE


December 3, 2017
MEN'S BASKETBALL TO PLAY SAINT MARY'S ON THE ROAD MONDAY NIGHT

November 24, 2017
BACK AND FORTH GAME GOES FULLERTON’S WAY IN 68-63 WIN OVER MEN’S HOOPS


November 23, 2017
MEN’S BASKETBALL DROPS FIRST ROUND WOODEN LEGACY GAME TO SAN DIEGO STATE

November 21, 2017
UC DAVIS USES LATE RUN TO EVENTUALLY BEAT MEN’S BASKETBALL

November 20, 2017
MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYS UC DAVIS ON TUESDAY AT THE GOLDEN 1 CENTER

November 17, 2017
MEN’S BASKETBALL FALLS ON THE ROAD AT SAN FRANCISCO

November 16, 2017
MEN'S BASKETBALL BACK ON THE ROAD FRIDAY NIGHT AT SAN FRANCISCO


November 8, 2017
MEN’S BASKETBALL SIGNS DAMIEN HIGH SCHOOL GUARD ELIJAH McCULLOUGH

November 7, 2017
MEN'S HOOPS OPENS REGULAR SEASON FRIDAY AT COLORADO STATE


October 23, 2017
GRAVES OUT FOR THE SEASON WITH INJURY

October 17, 2017
MEN’S BASKETBALL RELEASES ITS 2017-18 SCHEDULE


September 18, 2017
BOISE’S CENTURYLINK ARENA TO HOST BIG SKY BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT FROM 2019-22

August 24, 2017
HORNSBY SIGNS CONTRACT TO PLAY PROFESSIONALLY IN GERMANY
