SACRAMENTO -- Montana State built a 17-point first half lead, before Sacramento State stormed back in the second half, but fell just short in a 72-65 loss to the Bobcats on Saturday evening at the Nest.
The Bobcats, picked to finish first in the Big Sky Conference preseason polls, went on a 23-3 run spanning 7:30 of the first half to take its largest lead of the contest at 31-14 with 7:26 left in the first half. However, the Hornets continuously chipped away, getting the deficit down to 10 points (37-27) at halftime.
Sacramento State made things very interesting late, cutting the deficit down two points or fewer on three occasions during the final 2:40. However, the Bobcats responded with points each time as the Hornets had just one possession with a chance to tie. That came with 1:13 to play (trailing 66-63), but Sacramento State missed a two-pointer and MSU responded with free throws to put the game away.
The Hornets outscored the Bobcats, 38-35, in the second half. A whopping 20 of the Bobcats' 35 second half points came from the free throw line where they were 20-of-24. Montana State converted each of its last nine free throw attempts over the final 2:50 of the contest. MSU's RaeQuan Battle scored a game-high 32 points (9-18 FG, 2-3 3FG, 12-12 FT), including 21 of the Bobcats' 35 second half points.
The loss dropped Sacramento State to 12-10 overall and 5-4 in the Big Sky. The Hornets lost for the first time this season at home (8-1), and had been one of three Hornet teams in program history to win each of its first eight home games. The Hornets' four conference losses have come by a combined total of 16 points. All four of those losses have come down to the final minute.
The Bobcats, who are the defending Big Sky regular season and tournament champions, improved to 15-8 overall and 8-2 in league. MSU sits in second place behind Eastern Washington (10-0), and has won seven of its last eight games. The Hornets are in a tie for fourth, one game back of third place Weber State (6-3).
Montana State's swarming defense forced 15 Sacramento State turnovers (10 in the first half), and the Bobcats turned those miscues into 17 points. The Hornets, who shot 49% (24-49) from the field, held sizable advantages in points in the paint (40-30) and second chance points (15-9). The Bobcats converted two less field goals (45%, 22-for-49), but made 11 more free throws (MSU 24-28; SAC 13-16). Both teams knocked down four 3-balls.
Zach Chappell led the Hornets with 19 points (12 in the second half) to go with a career-high tying seven rebounds and two assists. He was joined in double digits by
Callum McRae (15 points, 9 rebounds) and
Cameron Wilbon (10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks). Chappell was 5-for-9 from the field, 3-of-4 from distance, and 3-for-4 from the line. Four of McRae's nine boards came on the offensive glass.
Point guard
Gianni Hunt had six points, three rebounds and two assists, and
Quadry Adams six points.
Austin Patterson had five points and three assists, and true freshman
Kiir Kiir Chol Deng scored his first collegiate points.
Battle was nearly a one-man wrecking machine as he scored 32 of the Bobcats' 72 points. Besides Great Osobor (13), no other Montana State player scored more than six points.
At the midway point of the conference season, Sacramento State continues it season-long four-game homestand next week with games on Thursday vs. Eastern Washington (7 p.m.) and Saturday vs. Idaho (2 p.m.).
