MSU men: Still time to right ship

By JEFF WELSCH Chronicle Sports Editor

To be sure, the Montana State men's basketball team doesn't want to let this thing get any further away from them.

And the luster of a 16-point rout of Montana has faded in the haze of three consecutive defeats, the last one, Thursday's 78-76 loss to Weber State, came at home - the Bobcats' first loss at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse this winter.

Then again, the senior-laden team is savvy enough to know that every season has its ebb and flow, and perhaps the 'Cats (9-8, 1-3) were due.

"I'm old - I've been through it all," senior guard Carlos Taylor said. "You aren't going to see my head down."

After all, there's so much basketball still to be played, starting with tonight's key 7:05 o'clock game with feisty Idaho State (6-11, 3-1), which is fresh from a 56-54 win at Montana.

There's still time to right a semi-listing ship for a team that once looked like Big Sky Conference contenders.

"And I still think they are," Weber State coach Randy Rahe said after what he described as a "huge" road win. "They're too tough, too good and too well-coached not to be."

Of course, the 'Cats simply can't afford another home loss if they hope to continue harboring dreams of hosting the Big Sky tournament. Holding serve on your home turf is paramount for contenders, and MSU is already one down in Brick Breeden while also frittering away a chance for a coveted road win at Sacramento State on Jan. 10.

"It's not going to be an easy deal," second-year coach Brad Huse said of the next 12 games.

Said Taylor, who has raised his scoring average to 19.0 per game: "We're at home. You have to protect home."

Idaho State figured to be one of the easier opponents for protecting home, but the Bengals have displayed a raw toughness after staggering through a rugged non-conference schedule with a 3-10 record.

ISU is 2-0 on the road and has won six of its last 10 away from Pocatello in conference play. The Bengals' only league loss was 71-61 at home to Portland State.

They led by double digits early against Montana, fell behind late, then hit the game-winner with 3.2 seconds to go. They also defeated Eastern Washington by two points in Pocatello and are 4-1 in games decided by five points or fewer.

"You can see that when we get into these close games, our guys feel very confident," second-year ISU coach Joe O'Brien said.

Tonight's game promises an intriguing matchup.

The Bobcats haven't defended to Huse's satisfaction, but they're facing a team averaging less than 60 points per game.

Conversely, the Bengals have been stingy with their unique zone defense. They haven't won a game in two seasons in which the opponent scores more than 70 points. The Bobcats average 74.8.

This much is certain: ISU is likely to take MSU's best punch tonight, with the 'Cats knowing they can't let this once-promising conference season get any further out of hand.

"We don't want to dig a deeper hole than we already have," Taylor said. "We've got to be ready to play. We're not playing our best basketball, but we'll get better. We'll get it. We'll be there."

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