Brown, Battle lead Bobcats over Griz

MISSOULA — Darius Brown II scored 23 points and Raequan Battle hit three big free throws in the final 39 seconds as Montana State down Montana 67-64 in a Big Sky Conference men’s basketball game.

Battle finished with 18 points, and helped the Bobcats (13-8, 6-2 Big Sky) survive after Montana jumped in front in the final 2:16, first on two Brandon Whitney free throws that made it 59-57, then 62-59 on a Dischon Thomas 3-pointer.

Whitney’s jumper with 52 seconds left had the Grizzlies in front 64-62, but it didn’t last: Lonnell Martin was whistled for a foul on Battle’s 3-point attempt, and the Bobcat guard made all three free throws.

Montana (9-11, 3-5) called time, but Aanen Moody missed a jumper with nine seconds left and, after two free throws by Brown, Moody missed a desperation three.

Moody scored 21 points for the Grizzlies and Whitney added 17. Thomas had 14. Josh Bannan took just five shots and scored five points.

Jubrile Belo added 11 points for the Cats.

MONTANA STATE — Fuller 0-5 2-2 2, Osobor 3-4 2-3 8, Brown II 9-13 3-3 23, Belo 3-8 5-5 11, Battle 7-12 4-4 18, Patterson 0-0 0-0 0, Ford III 2-3 0-0 4, Lecholat 0-2 1-2 1. Totals 24-47 17-19 67.

MONTANA — Moody 6-14 6-6 21, Whitney 7-9 3-3 17, Bannon 2-5 1-2 5, Anderson 0-0 2-2 2, Thomas 5-12 2-2 14, Martin 2-6 0-0 5, Vazquez 0-3 0-0 0, Nap 0-0 0-0 0, Oke 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-49 14-16 64.

Halftime score: MSU 35, Montana 29.

3-point goals — MSU 2-10 (Brown 2-3, Battle 0-2, Lecholat 0-2, Fuller 0-2, Ford 0-1), UM 6-17 (Moody 3-7, Thomas 2-6, Martin 1-3, Vazquez 0-1). Rebounds — MSU 19 (Belo 5), UM 33 (Bannan 7). Fouls — MSU 18, UM 20. Fouled out — Anderson.

Blocks — MSU 3 (Belo 2, Lecholat), UM 1 (Martin). Steals — MSU 4 (Brown 2), UM 3 (3 with 1). Assists — MSU 4 (Brown 2), UM 9 (Whitney 4, Bannan 4). Turnovers — MSU 8, UM 14.