Weber State’s Season Ends In Double Overtime Thriller Against Montana State

BOISE – The Weber State Wildcats faced off against the Montana State Bobcats in Idaho Central Arena at the Big Sky basketball tournament on Tuesday.

The Wildcats last game was a narrow 6-point victory over the Sacramento State Hornets. The Bobcats last game was a convincing 11-point win over the Northern Colorado Bears.

After the top-seeded Eagles lost their first game of the tournament, the Bobcats are the odds-on favorite to win the Big Sky conference tournament.

First Half

Steven Verplancken Jr. opened up scoring for the Wildcats with a wing three-point shot.

.@Stevenv_jr 3️⃣ to get things started! #WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/99gihPN39r

— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) March 8, 2023

Montana State answered with a 6-0 run to take their first lead of the night.

A tough shot by Dillon Jones and a three from KJ Cunningham gave WSU the lead right back.

KJ for 3️⃣!

📺 ESPN2#WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/rvHGnOliJu

— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) March 8, 2023

Neither team could gain much leverage early on as they traded baskets. After the first ten minutes of the opening half, the game was tied at 14.

Verplancken and Jones combined for 13 of Weber State’s first 16 points.

There were 5 lead changes in the first 15 minutes of the game.

Dyson Koehler finishes and the Wildcats regain the lead! #WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/UQj3hCyBME

— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) March 8, 2023

Neither team had opened a multi-possession lead until Verplancken hit a transition three off an assist from Cunningham.

Another Steven V for 3️⃣!

Wildcats up 4! #WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/R8IvpVxhPp

— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) March 8, 2023

At the end of the first half, the Wildcats led by one, 25-24.

Weber State with a halftime lead over Montana State in Boise! #WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/Xva9jXtU67

— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) March 8, 2023

Second Half

Verplancken scored the first basket of the second half for the Wildcats.

The fadeaway jumpshot gave Verplancken his 12th point. He led all scorers.

Cunningham hit a tough mid-range jumpshot despite a foul by Montana State’s RaeQuan Battle.

KJ AND ONE! #WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/2UP2lbTKoP

— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) March 8, 2023

Cunningham came down on the following possession and got another and-one. This time on a drive to the basket.

KJ AND ONE…AGAIN!#WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/ohaScQQHQs

— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) March 8, 2023

Jones converted a three-point play after a step-through move.

DJ 💪#WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/4id5D3tWza

— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) March 8, 2023

The Bobcats tied the game at 40 with 12 minutes left in regulation.

Dillon Jones’ tournament struggles continued. He shot 4/17 in the first 30 minutes of the game.

Jones was able to remain impactful outside of his shooting percentage.

That’s double-double No. 20 for Dillon Jones this season, third-most of any player in the country! #WeAreWeber

— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) March 8, 2023

MSU put together a few stops to take a multi-possession lead.

FLEX ON ‘EM, GREAT!!#GoCatsGo | @GreatOsobor pic.twitter.com/OTvUAsgD23

— Montana State Men’s Basketball (@MSUBobcatsMBB) March 8, 2023

The Wildcats got to the free throw line on three straight possessions to drop the lead to 1.

With four minutes left, WSU regained the lead.

DJ gives the Wildcats the lead!

WSU up 46-45 | 3:56 to play!#WeAreWeber

— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) March 8, 2023

A trip to the free throw line with less than two minutes left gave the Bobcats a one-point lead.

Weber State answered with their own trip to the charity stripe. Jones hit one of two to tie the game at 48.

After forcing an errant pass, the Wildcats missed a shot in the paint which gave MSU a chance to win with any score.

Here’s the situation:

It’s 48-all with 17.9 seconds left.

We have the ball.

Both teams are in the double-bonus, we have one timeout left.

Here. We. Go.

— Montana State Men’s Basketball (@MSUBobcatsMBB) March 8, 2023

Jubrile Belo air-balled a three from the top of the key.

The Wildcats were left with 1.4 seconds to get a shot off. Dyson Koehler missed his half-court attempt.

The score was tied at 48 at the end of regulation.

LET’S GO TO OVERTIME IN BOISE!

Wildcats and Bobcats tied 48-48

See it on ESPN2! #WeAreWeber

— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) March 8, 2023

Weber State and Montana State Go Into Overtime

The first five shots of overtime didn’t find the bottom of the net. Both teams were visibly fatigued.

Verplancken hit a jumper to tie the game after Montana State’s Battle gave them the lead.

Steven ties it up! #WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/YBIiwMvnxA

— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) March 8, 2023

With less than a minute left, the game was tied at 52.

Cunningham missed a three which gave MSU another chance to win at the buzzer.

Darius Brown II missed his last-second attempt for the win.

The Bobcats and Wildcats headed into a second overtime, tied at 52.

OH MY!

How about another overtime!

Weber State and Montana State tied 52-52 after the 1st OT! #WeAreWeber

— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) March 8, 2023

Weber State Men’s Basketball Season Ends In Double Overtime

Jones and Brown traded trips to the free-throw line to open the second overtime.

Battle hit a huge three to give Montana State a three-point lead.

RAE WILL NOT BE DENIED#GoCatsGo | @RaeQuanBattle pic.twitter.com/CmsCnwy8xA

— Montana State Men’s Basketball (@MSUBobcatsMBB) March 8, 2023

Junior Ballard checked into the game and immediately got a layup to go. His shot tied the game at 58.

Verplancken missed a mid-range jumpshot with 15 seconds left. The Bobcats had their third chance at the last shot of the period.

RaeQuan Battle threw down a dunk off an alley-oop to give Montana State a 2-point lead with one second left.

IT’S NOT A MSU GAME WITHOUT A RAEQUAN BATTLE ALLEY OOP! pic.twitter.com/yCgbvPrqIY

— Montana State Men’s Basketball (@MSUBobcatsMBB) March 8, 2023

Verplancken’s three was blocked and Montana State secured the win, 60-58.

Chandler Holt is a Digital Sports Producer for KSLSports.com, specializing in all things basketball and football. Follow Chandler on Twitter at @ChandlerHoltKSL.

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