BOISE, Idaho -- Montana State had five players score in double figures, and shot 57% from the field, on the way to an 83-61 win over Sacramento State on Thursday afternoon in the Big Sky Conference Tournament quarterfinals at Idaho Central Arena.

The loss ends Sacramento State's season, as the Hornets advanced to today's quarterfinal round after beating Idaho in the first round yesterday. It marked the sixth time in eight years Sacramento State had won its first game of the Big Sky Tournament. The Hornets were the No. 8 seed while Montana State is the No. 1 seed and Big Sky regular season champions.

The Hornets got off to a very nice start, jumping out to a 14-6 lead at the 14 minute mark of the first half. However, that advantage did not last long as Montana State would eventually use a 20-6 run over the final eight minutes of the first half to go into the break with 39-28 lead. Sacramento State would get no closer than within nine points of that deficit the entire second half.

The Bobcats, who outscored the Hornets, 44-33, in the second half, finished the game shooting 57% (28-49) from the field and 81% (21-26) from the free throw line. In fact, the Bobcats shot better than 54% in both halves. Sacramento State started the game on fire, but had trouble making shots from the midway point of the first half through the second half. The Hornets shot 41% from the field and hit just one 3-pointer (a season low). Sacramento State was also credited for just two assists, also a season low. The team did go 16-for-18 from the free throw line, but made six less shots from the field than Montana State (five fewer 3-pointers).

The Hornets had entered today's game as winners of five of their last six games, but Montana State was too tough. The Hornets dropped all three games to the Bobcats this year, with both games in the regular season resulting in close outcomes (lost by two at home; lost by six in Bozeman).

The victory allowed Montana State to improve to 25-7 overall, and the Bobcats will advance to Friday's semifinal round where they will play No. 4 seed Weber State. The top seeded team has now won each of the first five Big Sky Tournament games.

For the Hornets, Bryce Fowler led the way with 20 points on 9-for-18 shooting to go along with seven rebounds (four offensive). It was Fowler's 14th game with at least 20 points this season, including 26 in yesterday's first round victory over Idaho. Zach Chappell added 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field and 7-for-8 from the free throw line. No other Hornet scored more than seven points.

William FitzPatrick scored seven points in a team-high 39 minutes to go along with four rebounds. Cameron Wilbon had six points and six boards, and four other Hornets scored two points - Jonathan Komagum, Rick Barros III, Elijah McCullough and Theo Seng.

Montana State's five players in double figures were Xavier Bishop (14), Great Osobor (13), Jubrile Belo (11), Abdul Mohamed (11) and RaeQuan Battle (10).

Today ended the collegiate careers of Hornet seniors Fowler and FitzPatrick.

Fowler, who will go down as one of the top players in program history, finished his career with 1,555 career points, the third best mark in program history (1948-pres.), and second highest total in Sacramento State's Div. I era (1991-pres.). Fowler averaged 20.2 points per game in conference play, the second best mark in the Big Sky.

FitzPatrick, one of the top snipers in program history, finished this season with 79 3-pointers, the eighth highest single-season total in school history, and third highest total in the Div. I era.