Portland, OR – A slow start to the second half spelled doom for Portland State, as the Montana State Bobcats were able to pull away for a 73-60 victory at Viking Pavilion.
 
It was a three-point game at halftime, but the Bobcats went on a 16-2 run to open the second half and Portland State was never able to get the deficit back to single digits.
 
Montana State (14-5, 6-2) won its fifth straight game and 10^th in the last 11 as it continues to be one of the hottest teams in the Big Sky Conference. Portland State (4-11, 2-5) lost its third in a row overall and fifth straight at home.
 
Ezekiel Alley scored 12 points off the bench for Portland State. He was matched by James Jean-Marie, who had a dozen points and seven rebounds. Damion Squire had 11 points for the Vikings.
 
Xavier Bishop led four Bobcats in double figures with 15 points. He added seven assists, six rebounds and two steals.
 
PSU forced Montana State into five turnovers in first five minutes of the game, building an 11-5 lead. The Bobcats closed quickly on the Vikings and the lead changed hands nine times before MSU pulled into a 35-32 halftime lead on a late three-point field goal by Nick Gazelas.
 
Portland State made eight steals and forced 11 first-half turnovers by the Bobcats. But, Montana State out-shot the Vikings from the field, .500 to .417.
 
PSU struggled to score to open the second half. On the other side, Bobcats' big man Jubrile Belo got MSU going, scoring eight points, with six at the free throw line, in the 16-2 run. Montana State led 51-34 with 13:45 to go.
 
The Vikings managed to make only eight of 27 field goals in the second half as they were unable to mount a significant rally. Keeping the Vikings' hopes alive was foul trouble by Montana State. The Bobcats were in the penalty less than eight minutes into the half. That got PSU to the line early and often. The Vikings made 19-25 on the night (.760). From the field, PSU was only 18-51 (.353) and never scored more than four points in a row in the second half.
 
MSU finished 25-54 from the floor (.463) and 15-23 at the line (.652). Most significant was a 43-26 rebounding advantage by the Bobcats over the Vikings. Montana State had 14 offensive rebounds and 15 second chance points.
 

GAME NOTES

• Michael Carter III had a season-high six assists for the Vikings.
• PSU finished the game with 10 steals, forcing 16 Montana State turnovers.
• Portland State had a season-high attendance of 1,496.
• Portland State is at home again on Monday night, hosting Idaho in a 7 p.m. game.