Big Sky

Friday’s results

Montana St. 76, Boise St. 65

Nico Harrison had 16 points Friday night as the Bobcats pulled within one-half game of Boise State’s conference leaders by defeating the Broncos at Bozeman, Mont.

Scott Hatler’s 3-point basket with 4:18 remaining sparked a 9-3 run that gave Montana State a 35-29 halftime lead. In the second half, the Bobcats led by as many as 12 points on two occasions, the last at 68-56 with 5:07 remaining, when Hatler hit another 3-pointer.

Boise State pulled within 71-63 on Gerry Washington’s 3-pointer with 2:21 left, but MSU responded by making five straight free throws.

Mike Elliott and Nate Holmstadt came off the bench to score 14 and 12 points respectively for Montana State.

Washington led Boise State with 18 points.

Boise State (13-11) - Rodman 4-6 0-0 8, Tolman 4-11 1-2 12, Huleen 3-10 0-0 7, Washington 6-11 2-2 18, Wyatt 4-9 0-0 9, Flanagan 1-6 2-2 4, Hagman 1-2 1-1 3, Tharp 0-1 0-0 0, Van Kirk 2-4 0-0 4. Totals 25-60 6-7 65.

Montana State (16-8) - Leachman 1-4 4-6 7, Harrison 6-9 4-6 16, Lollis 3-5 0-0 6, Hatler 2-5 2-2 8, Sprinkle 4-7 0-0 10, Elliott 4-7 4-6 14, Fay 1-2 1-1 3, Sullivan 0-0 0-0 0, Holmstadt 6-9 0-2 12. Totals 27-48 15-23 76.

Halftime-Montana St. 35, Boise St. 29. A-7,207.

Montana 80, Idaho State 69

Shawn Samuelson scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Grizzlies past the Bengals at Missoula.

Montana overcame an early 19-10 deficit to take a 40-35 halftime lead and went on to join rival Montana State one-half game behind league-leading Boise State.

Idaho State cut Montana’s lead to 65-63 on a Ron Harwell jump shot with 6:19 remaining. But the Grizzlies answered by running off eight straight points, on two baskets by Shane Belnap and one each by Nate Covill and Samuelson.

Idaho State (11-12) - Preston 3-10 4-5 11, Brown 6-11 0-1 12, Green 7-13 2-7 16, Artis 2-7 0-0 4, Harwell 3-11 3-4 9, Tarver 0-3 2-2 2, Lee 3-5 4-6 11, Maxwell 1-2 2-4 4. Totals 25-62 17-29 69.

Montana (18-6) - Spoja 2-5 1-1 5, Samuelson 8-12 2-2 18, Covill 4-7 1-2 9, Bowie 1-3 1-3 3, Belnap 3-6 8-10 14, Walker 5-7 4-4 16, Dade 2-3 2-2 6, Seidensticker 1-2 1-2 3, Smith 2-3 0-0 4, Dick 1-2 0-1 2. Totals 29-50 20-27 80.

Halftime-Montana 40, Idaho St. 35.