Vandals Strike: Bobcats Meet Their Match on the Highways

MOSCOW, Idaho – A lackluster first half left the Montana State men’s basketball squad trailing in their Big Sky debut, resulting in a 69-64 loss to Idaho on Thursday evening at ICCU Arena in Moscow. 

Although the Bobcats (5-9, 0-1) managed to score only 25 points during the initial half, they fought their way back into the contest and even took a 61-60 lead over the Vandals (6-8, 1-0) thanks to a Brian Goracke three-pointer with 3:36 remaining, yet they were unable to secure enough defensive stops to clinch the win on the road. 

“We managed to put up 40 points in the second half and started to find our rhythm, but the first half was another tale,” head coach Matt Logie noted. “The ball stuck a bit too long, and we missed several layups and free throws. Trailing by five at halftime with only 25 points was tough. Ultimately, we didn’t execute enough. We fought back to take the lead but couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity for multiple reasons. At the end of the day, making free throws and protecting the ball in crucial moments is key—sometimes you have to win by eight on the road to inch out a two-point victory, and we fell short.” 

Patrick McMahon matched his career-best with 15 points, scoring 12 of those in the second half alone with 6-of-9 accuracy from the field. 

The redshirt junior hailing from Palmer, Alaska, consistently overpowered defenders in the paint and relentlessly attacked the basket, throwing down two powerful dunks as Montana State aimed to chip away at Idaho’s lead. 

“Pat was effective in driving to the basket, operating off two feet, and displaying strong fundamentals around the rim,” Logie remarked.

McMahon’s 15 points equals his previous record of 15 set against Seattle U on November 11, 2023. 

Brian Goracke contributed 14 points off the bench, scoring 12 of those in the second half and igniting a surge in the final minutes as the Bobcats attempted to close in on the Vandals before the concluding possessions. 

After his three-pointer allowed Montana State to lead 61-60 with 3:36 remaining, the Vandals called for a timeout and then responded with a three-pointer of their own followed by a layup. With just a minute left, Idaho held the ball and a 65-61 lead before Goracke intercepted the inbounds pass and scored through contact on the other end. 

The senior completed the three-point play from the charity stripe, narrowing the score to 65-64 in favor of Idaho with 50 seconds remaining. 

Nevertheless, the Vandals responded with a dunk on the next possession, then secured a rebound following a Bobcat miss in the key before converting on a pair of free throws to close out the game. 

“I believe the second half gave us a lot to build upon,” Logie expressed. “Not every player performed at their peak today, and it’s certainly a swift turnaround with Eastern Washington coming up on Saturday. We’re disheartened. A road sweep was our hope, but if we can rebound and win our next game after a tough loss during the conference season, it reflects positively on our team. That’s our current aim.” 

Montana State finished shooting 22 of 57 from the field (38.6%), along with 6 of 27 from the three-point range (22.2%). The Cats generated several favorable opportunities after halftime, yet only managed 2 of 14 from beyond the arc while trying to recover in the second half.

Tyler Patterson netted all ten of his points during the first half.

Jabe Mullins provided nine points and three assists, while Max Agbonkpolo contributed eight points and collected nine rebounds. 

UP NEXT 

Montana State faces a rapid turnaround, traveling to Cheney, Washington, to challenge Eastern Washington on Saturday afternoon. 

The tip-off between the two-time reigning Big Sky regular season champions and the three-time defending Big Sky Tournament champions is scheduled for 2 p.m. PT/3 p.m. MT. 

The matchup will be broadcast on SWX stations and streamed via ESPN+, including live radio commentary by Voice of the Bobcats Keaton Gillogly on the Bobcat Sports Network. 

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