[Montana State](/teams/montana-state) University-Bozeman's Worthington Arena was electric as the Montana State Bobcats hosted their in-state rivals, the Montana Grizzlies. The Bobcats came out on fire, with Davian Brown leading the charge. Brown's 24 points and 5 rebounds paced Montana State to a 76-67 victory over Montana. The win improves Montana State's record to 13-8, while Montana falls to 12-9.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with Montana State taking a slim 32-31 lead into the break. Brown was unstoppable in the opening 20 minutes, scoring 14 points to stake the Bobcats to their narrow advantage. Montana's Money Williams kept the Grizzlies in the game, scoring 10 points in the first half. Williams would finish with 17 points and 5 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome Brown's dominant performance.
The second half saw Montana State pull away, outscoring Montana 44-36. The Bobcats' Jeremiah Davis and Jed Miller provided key support, with Davis scoring 13 points and Miller adding 11 points and 11 rebounds. Montana State's balanced attack proved too much for the Grizzlies, as the Bobcats built a lead that would stretch to as many as 12 points.
Despite a late push from Montana, the Bobcats held firm, securing the 9-point win. The victory was a significant one for Montana State, as it marked a Quadrant 3 win for the Bobcats. For Montana, the loss was also a Quadrant 3 game, and it will likely have implications for the Grizzlies' tournament resume.
The game was a showcase for the talents of Brown and Williams, two of the top players in the Big Sky Conference. Brown's 24 points were a game-high, and his performance will likely earn him consideration for conference player of the week honors. Williams, meanwhile, continued to demonstrate why he's one of the most feared scorers in the league.
With the win, Montana State improves its NET ranking to 137, while Montana's NET ranking stands at 156. The Bobcats' victory will likely boost their tournament chances, although there is still much work to be done. For Montana, the loss is a setback, but the Grizzlies remain in the hunt for a tournament bid. As the season enters its final stretch, both teams want to build on this performance and make a push for the postseason. The win over Montana is a significant addition to Montana State's resume, and it will be interesting to see how the Bobcats build on this momentum in the coming weeks.