Go, 'Cats!

Tonight, the MSU Bobcats won a first-round victory over the hated UM Grizzlies 56-54 in Missoula in Big Sky Conference tournament play. Woo hoo! Go, 'Cats!

This is a nice bright spot in an otherwise very painful and surreal week. I've served on the Bobcat Stat Crew for 18 years (football; 15 years, basketball), and I'm so proud that this Cat-Griz went the way that all of them should go: with a Bobcat VICTORY!

The story from msubobcats.com:

Bobcat junior Will Bynum's steal and ensuing three-point play with six-seconds remaining paced MSU to a 56-54 win over Montana, Saturday night in Dahlberg Arena in opening round action of the Big Sky Tournament.

Where there is a Will, there is a way…

Montana State junior Will Bynum’s steal, layin and free throw with 6-seconds remaining sealed a 56-54 win over intra-state rival Montana, Saturday night in the opening round of the Big Sky Conference tournament in Dahlberg Arena.

Montana State (13-16) trailed 30-29 at intermission.

In the second stanza, the Bobcats opened up a 50-42 advantage with 6:28 left on a Bobby Howard trey and MSU staved off a late Montana (17-12) rally to advance to the Big Sky ‘Final Four’ in Ogden, Utah.

Bynum led the Bobcats with 15 points, while Divaldo Mbunga added nine points, 11 rebounds and five blocks. Also contributing to the MSU attack were Eric Rush with ten rebounds and Howard with nine points.

For the game, Montana State controlled the boards notching a 40-29 rebounding advantage. The Bobcats also collected 18 offensive rebounds.

The Bobcats will travel to Weber State, where they will face No. 1 Weber State, Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., in the Dee Events Center.