Feline Fury: Cats Claw Their Way to a 74-64 Victory Against Eastern Washington!

BOZEMAN, Mont. — Montana State men’s basketball secured an important 74-64 victory against Eastern Washington on Monday evening, maintaining their home advantage at Worthington Arena. 

This win marks the Bobcats’ second consecutive victory and their third triumph in the last four matches. 

Montana State (8-12, 3-4) found themselves trailing at halftime and were down 40-36 with 15 minutes remaining in the match, but initiated a Brandon Walker and-one basket right after a timeout, igniting a 27-7 scoring spree characterized by breathtaking alley-oops during transitions, powerful dunks through agile cuts, and a collective commitment to ball movement. 

 When the game settled, the Bobcats were ahead 63-47 with less than five minutes left. 

Montana State had been playing their third game in the past five days following an extensive Big Sky road journey, initially struggling, yet managed to gain contributions from their bench and enthusiastic support from a crowd of 3,111 to shift the energy and regain momentum after halftime. 

“I believed we executed more effectively,” head coach Matt Logie commented about his team’s revival in the second half. “There were excessive possessions in the first half where we initiated a play but did not execute it. Or we had a strategy when the ball reached a specific spot and then failed to follow through. We simply needed to be a bit more precise with our execution.” 

In the second half, Montana State achieved 18 out of 27 from the field (66.7%) and committed only three turnovers. 

Walker concluded the game with a team-leading 20 points, making nine of his ten field goal attempts. The big man also contributed six rebounds and had a plus-15 rating in his 27 minutes of play. 

Monday was the fifth consecutive game for the Oak Cliff, Texas native to score at least 17 points, a growth that Logie has acknowledged throughout the season regarding his decision-making with the basketball. 

Max Agbonkpolo was an entertainment powerhouse, rejecting Eagle attempts on one end and scoring creatively on the other. 

The forward’s synergy with Patrick McMahon during transitions led to a series of thrilling moments, particularly a two-man weave following a Jed Miller steal that culminated in an Agbonkpolo slam from a McMahon assist, prompting an Eastern Washington timeout with 3:56 to go, the ‘Cats boasting a 17-point advantage—their biggest of the night. 

McMahon netted all ten of his points in the second half, adding four rebounds and four assists. 

Miller followed his career-high 20-point performance against Weber State on Saturday with another nine points from the bench, hitting 3 of 4 from beyond the arc. 

Montana State is noted for having one of the highest national percentages of points scored from 3-pointers, yet they flipped the narrative and asserted dominance inside against Eastern Washington (6-13, 2-4). 

The ‘Cats amassed 40 points in the paint, successfully converting 16-of-19 on contested attempts in the restricted area. 

“We’ve had some excellent chances at the rim this season and just haven’t been able to finish,” Logie stated. “Technique plays a role, as do repetitions and focus, and I believed our players executed it tonight. We were 23 for 31 in the paint, and when you finish at such a rate on a night when your open threes aren’t falling, it’s essential.” 

MSU also witnessed another commendable performance from their bench, with the combined efforts of Miller, McMahon, and Jabe Mullins totaling 29 points, ten rebounds, and six assists. 

“Our players have remained resilient and cohesive throughout the process despite not achieving the results we desired,” Logie noted. “Our objective has never been to reach our peak in November, December, or January; rather, we aspire to peak in March. We’re progressing toward that. We’re starting to witness positive developments, and we hope to sustain that momentum.” 

UP NEXT 

Montana State heads to Missoula on Saturday for the Brawl of the Wild at Dahlberg Arena. 

This rivalry stands as the fifth most frequently contested series in college basketball, with a total of 308 historical encounters. 

The ‘Cats bested the Griz in the 2024 Big Sky Tournament championship game, 85-70, to secure a spot in their third consecutive NCAA Tournament. 

The tip-off on Saturday is scheduled for 7 p.m. The matchup will be broadcast on Scripps Sports stations, statewide on MTN, and streamed on ESPN+. 

#GoCatsGo