College Basketball

Montana State holds off NAU in overtime

Updated Aug. 12, 2022 10:43 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) -- Antonio Biglow scored 27 points to help Montana State hold on for an 83-79 overtime victory over Northern Arizona on Thursday night.

Montana State (12-16, 9-10 Big Sky) also got 19 points and 12 rebounds from Paul Egwuonwu, 18 points and nine rebounds from Flavien Davis and 11 points from Christian Moon. Biglow also had seven steals.

Northern Arizona (11-19, 8-11) was led by Gabe Rogers, who scored 29 points, including seven 3-pointers. Stallon Saldivar scored 14 points and Max Jacobsen had 12.

The loss leaves NAU in a precarious spot heading into Saturday night's regular-season finale at conference leader Montana. The Lumberjacks are tied with Southern Utah and Sacramento State for the final spot in the
conference tournament. NAU would advance if the three teams finish in
tie or NAU is in a tie with Sacramento State. If NAU and Southern Utah
finish tied, the Thunderbirds would advance to the tournament.

"We
have nothing lose," NAU coach Jack Murphy said. "They are the conference champion and
were picked preseason No. 1. We were not supposed to be here. We should
have fun with it and give it what we have."

The Lumberjacks trailed by 12 at the half Thursday night before rallying to force overtime.

"The defense in the first half is not what we are capable of playing, like it was in the second half," Murphy said. "It has a lot to do with us. They are a good team and an athletic team, but they were given too many open looks and easy passes and they moved the ball wherever they wanted to in the first half."

Rogers forced overtime with two free throws in the final seconds. He was 9 of 16 from the field and 7 of 12 beyond the arc.

"Gabe is playing at a high level, and I say that almost every game now," said Murphy. "I don’t know if I have been around a guy that has been on a streak like Gabe is on right now."

Rogers has scored in double figures in 15 straight games, while scoring 20 or more points in 11 of the last 13.

Montana State scored the first two baskets of the extra period before Jordyn Martin was fouled and hit a pair of free throws. After a basket by Paul Egwuonwu, Michael Dunn hit two free throws to cut the lead back to two points.

Montana State then ran 30 seconds off the clock before Flavien Davis was fouled. He made both to extend the lead back to four points. NAU turned the ball over, and the Bobcats sealed the game at the line with two free throws by Paul Bigelow, who finished with 27 points.

NAU shot just 1 for 8 in the overtime period, losing for the fourth time in five overtime contests this season.

"We missed a lot of layups and shots right at the rim," said Murphy. "We just have to put those in. We did a good job at foul line tonight hitting 15 of 18. We just have to be able put those layups in during overtime."

Saldivar scored five points during a 9-0 second half run for NAU, putting a big dent in the Bobcats' 47-35 halftime lead.

"We did a better job in the second half, and they didn’t shoot as well," said Murphy. "They shot 60 percent in the first half and 30 percent in the second half and there is a reason for that."

Saldivar's 14 points were a career high, and he also had five assists to become the eighth player in Big Sky Conference history with 500 or more in his career.

share

Get more from College Basketball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more