Bobcat men win; Bears rout Griz

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — The Cats kept the pressure on. 

Behind 18 points from Christian King, Montana State pushed past Northern Arizona 76-65 Monday in the final regular season game for both Big Sky men’s teams.  

The Bobcats drew even with Portland State in league wins at 12-6; they are 18-13 overall. The Vikings (18-10, 12-5 in league) played host to Weber State Monday. The game had not ended at press time, but PSU owned a 20-point lead in the second half. 

Eastern Washington lost at home to Idaho 85-81 Monday to fall to 13-17, 11-7 BSC, eliminating the chance of a 3-way tie for first. 

Jaden Steppe was 6 of 10 from the floor on the way to 16 points for MSU, he scored 11 after halftime. Jed Miller was 4-for-4 from the floor, hit three 3-pointers and finished with 13 points and eight rebounds. Seth Amunrud and Chris Hodges chipped in 10 points apiece. 

MSU led 36-25 at halftime and used a 16-0 run — started by Hodges’ old-fashioned three-point play and capped by 3-pointers from Steppe and Miller — to go up 59-37 with 11:39 left. The Jacks couldn’t get the gap under 11 from there. 

Oakland Fort powered his way to 26 points for the Lumberjacks (10-2, 4-14 in league). Diego Campisano added 14 points and eight rebounds. 

No. Colorado 85, Montana 57

GREELEY, Colo. — Zach Bloch hit four 3-pointers and scored 16 points and the balanced Bears scored 58 second-half points to rout Montana. 

Quinn Denker also had 16 points and Ring Nyeri added 15 points and seven rebounds for Northern Colorado (20-11, 10-8 BSC). The Bears led 27-23 at halftime and then blew the doors open, hitting eight 3-pointers in 12 attempts after intermission. 

Money Williams led the Grizzlies (16-15, 10-8 BSC), who beat first-place Portland Saturday, with 17 points. Kenyon Aguino added 10 points. Both players had six rebounds. 

“Starch Madness,” as the Big Sky Tournament is called, begins Saturday in Boise, Idaho.