Eagles implode in loss to Bobcats

BOZEMAN – Carlos Taylor scored 20 points and Divaldo Mbunga had a key block to help Montana State to a 74-69 come-from-behind victory over Eastern Washington on Saturday night.

The Bobcats (12-8, 4-3 Big Sky) trailed 44-27 at the break but rallied in the second half. They went on a 12-2 run capped by a Branden Johnson 3-pointer with 8:41 remaining to take their first lead of the game.

Down 72-69 with 13 seconds remaining, the Eagles (8-14, 3-5) had a chance to tie the game. But Mbunga, who finished with 17 points, blocked a jumper by Trey Gross and was fouled. Mbunga’s free throw put Montana ahead by four with 12 seconds remaining.

A last ditch 3-pointer by Kellen Williams was rebounded by Adrian Zamora, who was fouled with less than a second remaining. Zamora made 1 of 2 from the free-throw line to secure the win.

“In particular, how we lost the game was disappointing,” said EWU coach Kirk Earlywine. “I hoped we learned some things for the 18-4 start we had against Idaho State (a 58-56 road loss earlier this month), but apparently we haven’t.”

Adris DeLeon led Eastern Washington with 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting with four assists. But he turned the ball over nine times.

Montana St. 74, E. Washington 69

Eastern Washington (8-14, 3-5)—Williams 3-8 2-5 8, Moore 2-5 0-3 4, Gibson 1-6 0-0 3, DeLeon 9-14 0-1 22, Gross 2-7 2-2 8, Hinton 0-1 0-0 0, Loofburrow 3-4 0-0 9, Stanojevic 0-3 2-2 2, Brunell 4-6 3-3 13. Totals 24-54 9-16 69.

Montana State (12-8, 4-3)—Friesen 3-5 6-6 14, Zamora 0-1 1-2 1, Mbunga 5-10 7-11 17, Taylor 8-20 3-4 20, Durham 1-7 0-0 3, Hennessy 4-7 1-1 10, Howard 0-2 0-0 0, Davis 1-3 0-0 2, Johnson 2-5 2-2 7. Totals 24-60 20-26 74.

Halftime—Eastern Washington 44, Montana State 27. 3-Point Goals—Eastern Washington 12-25 (DeLeon 4-7, Loofburrow 3-3, Brunell 2-2, Gross 2-3, Gibson 1-3, Hinton 0-1, Stanojevic 0-2, Williams 0-4), Montana State 6-28 (Friesen 2-3, Johnson 1-4, Hennessy 1-4, Durham 1-6, Taylor 1-8, Davis 0-1, Howard 0-2). Fouled Out—Gross. Rebounds—Eastern Washington 36 (Moore 8), Montana State 36 (Zamora 10). Assists—Eastern Washington 14 (DeLeon, Gibson 4), Montana State 12 (Durham 5). Total Fouls—Eastern Washington 23, Montana State 16. A—5,430.