Bozeman, MT - Somebody had to get well. Unfortunately, for Portland State it was the Montana State Bobcats.

MSU followed the hot shooting of Christian Moon and Xavier Blount, who combined for 45 points in an 86-73 win over the Vikings in a Big Sky Conference game at Worthington Arena.

It was a matchup of teams on hard times. Montana State came in having lost four in a row, while the Vikings had lost three straight and five of six. 

Moon led a fast start for the Bobcats that Portland State could never overcome. He hit his first three three-pointers and 6-8 for the game on the way to 21 points. Blount scored 24 points to go with five assists.

Montana State hit its first nine shots, including five three pointers, and jumped to a 24-12 lead after nine minutes. Twice in the half, MSU's lead grew to 18 points. 

Lateef McMullan sparked a late Viking rally, scoring seven straight points in the final two minutes of the first half. That cut the Bobcats' lead to 41-32 at intermission.

After hitting their first nine shots, the Bobcats made just 6-21 from the field over the last 11 minutes. Meanwhile, the Vikings put on a full-court man press forcing nine turnovers, and allowing them to stay in the game.

The Vikings closed it to six points on two occasions early in the second half. But MSU got hot again down the stretch, making 31-58 overall for a .534 mark.

"It's frustrating, we have been getting behind early (in recent games), then we start playing hard. We need to come out from the get-go and play hard," said Viking Coach Tyler Geving. "Teams are getting hot against us and we have to look in the mirror a little bit and step up the intensity (on defense).

"If you give up those shooting percentages you are just not going to win. It is on me right now to figure out how to get this thing going."

Portland State hit 25-54 from the field for a respectable .463 mark but it was not enough.

Chehales Tapscott posted his sixth double-double of the year with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Charles Odum scored 20 points on 7-8 from the field and 5-7 at the line. Lateef McMullan scored 12 points.

Portland State is now 6-8 on the season, 0-2 in the Big Sky. PSU has lost four in a row and is 0-8 on the road this year. 

Montana State improved to 6-7 overall, 1-1 in the Big Sky.

GAME NOTES: In their last seven games, the Vikings have given up an average of 88 points and 52% opponent shooting… PSU is just 3-14 all-time in Big Sky games in Bozeman… Odum scored 47 points in the two road games this week, making 15-21 field goals. He scored his fifth 20-point game of the season - all of which have come on the road… Portland State returns home - where the Vikings are 4-0 this year - for a pair of Big Sky Conference game next week. The Vikings host Northern Arizona on Thursday, then Weber State on Saturday. Both games tip off at 7:05 p.m. at the Stott Center. The games air on Freedom 970 AM and www.freedom970.com. They can be seen on the internet at www.b2tv.com.