Seniors Danny Piepoli, Erik Rush and Bobby Howard combined for 62 points in their final home game as Montana State secured the fifth seed in the Big Sky Conference with an 84-68 rout of Idaho State on Wednesday night.
Piepoli matched his career best with 22 points, and Rush and Howard added 20 apiece as the Bobcats (13-17, 7-9) won for the second time in three outings after losing nine straight. Montana State will travel to fourth-place Northern Arizona to open the Big Sky tournament on Saturday.
Montana State made 56.9 percent of its shots - the Bobcats' first performance above 50 percent in the last 16 games.
Broderick Gilchrest scored 20 points in his final game for Idaho State (9-20, 4-12), who tied for last with Sacramento State. Deividas Busma and Andre Hatchett added 11 apiece for the Bengals.
