Saturday, January 14
Flagstaff, AZ
6:35 PM
Montana State University
74
at
72
at NORTHERN ARIZONA
Xavier Blount
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Blount, Bobcats Blunt Late Lumberjack Rallly
1/15/2012 12:01:00 AM | Men's Basketball
X scored 21 points, MSU holds on for win
Xavier Blount took Montana State on a roller coaster ride Saturday, and at the end the Bobcats were smiling.
Montana State surrendered a 15-point lead in the second half, but responded by holding Northern Arizona scoreless for the game's final 2:23 to snag a 72-70 win in Flagstaff on Saturday. Blount led the all scorers with 21 points, tied the score after NAU took a late lead, committed a key turnover in the game's final minute, and sealed the win with a steal and the decisive layup.
The Bobcats shot a sizzling 56.6 percent, including 60 percent in the first half, but watched its lead dwindle due to NAU's hot shooting (54 percent in the second half) and a couple of late dry spells, and the homestanding Lumberjacks grabbed a 72-70 lead with 2:23 to play on a pair of Stallon Saldivar free throws.
But the Bobcats responded. Blount tied the score with a jumper at 2:01, then with just over a minute left Blount got a steal and layup to give MSU the decisive margin. Blount then gave up a turnover with 27 seconds to play to give NAU a chance, but the Lumberjacks missed a loast-second shot and the Bobcats held on for the victory.
Shawn Reid scored 16 points off the bench on 7-for-11 shooiting for the Bobcats. Christian Moon added 12 points. Mo Fall led all players with nine rebounds.
The win lifts MSU's record to 8-8, including a 2-2 mark in Big Sky play. Importantly, the Bobcats have banked a pair of league road wins, at Idaho State and NAU. The win also marked MSU's first win at NAU since 2002.
Montana State surrendered a 15-point lead in the second half, but responded by holding Northern Arizona scoreless for the game's final 2:23 to snag a 72-70 win in Flagstaff on Saturday. Blount led the all scorers with 21 points, tied the score after NAU took a late lead, committed a key turnover in the game's final minute, and sealed the win with a steal and the decisive layup.
The Bobcats shot a sizzling 56.6 percent, including 60 percent in the first half, but watched its lead dwindle due to NAU's hot shooting (54 percent in the second half) and a couple of late dry spells, and the homestanding Lumberjacks grabbed a 72-70 lead with 2:23 to play on a pair of Stallon Saldivar free throws.
But the Bobcats responded. Blount tied the score with a jumper at 2:01, then with just over a minute left Blount got a steal and layup to give MSU the decisive margin. Blount then gave up a turnover with 27 seconds to play to give NAU a chance, but the Lumberjacks missed a loast-second shot and the Bobcats held on for the victory.
Shawn Reid scored 16 points off the bench on 7-for-11 shooiting for the Bobcats. Christian Moon added 12 points. Mo Fall led all players with nine rebounds.
The win lifts MSU's record to 8-8, including a 2-2 mark in Big Sky play. Importantly, the Bobcats have banked a pair of league road wins, at Idaho State and NAU. The win also marked MSU's first win at NAU since 2002.
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