The Montana State Bobcats opened their Big Sky Conference season with a 74-66 victory over the Idaho State Bengals on Thursday night. Led by senior guard Tyler Goracke’s 29 points, the Bobcats were able to pull away in the second half and secure the win.
Goracke was the star of the show, shooting 11-of-18 from the field and 4-of-7 from three-point range. He also added six rebounds, four assists, and two steals to his stat line. Senior forward Ladan Ricketts was also instrumental in the win, scoring 15 points and grabbing eight rebounds.
The Bobcats started the game strong, taking an early lead and never looking back. They led by as much as 15 points in the first half, but the Bengals were able to cut the lead to nine points at halftime.
In the second half, the Bobcats were able to regain their momentum and push their lead back up to double digits. Goracke was especially effective in the second half, scoring 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting. The Bengals were unable to mount a comeback as the Bobcats held on for the eight-point victory.
The win was a huge boost for the Bobcats, who are looking to make a run at the Big Sky Conference title this season. With Goracke leading the way, they have a good chance of making some noise in the conference.
The Bobcats will look to keep their momentum going when they take on Portland State on Saturday. With Goracke playing at such a high level, they should be able to pick up another win and continue their march towards the Big Sky title.
