Montana St. Outshoots USD, 76-66

The Ferch brothers, Shann and Kral, combined for 39 points to lead Montana State to a 76-66 nonconference victory over the University of San Diego Monday in front of 4,743 at Brick Breeden Field House at Bozeman.

It was the second straight road loss for USD.

Nils Madden was the lone bright spot for USD, hitting 8 of 8 from the field. But Madden played only 26 minutes before fouling out with 17 points and 8 rebounds, both team highs.

“They were quicker than us and we were bigger than them,” USD Coach Hank Egan said. “We didn’t take advantage of our size.”

The Toreros’ big man, 7-0 center Scott Thompson, made 4 of 19 from the field and finished with 9 points and 7 rebounds against the shorter Bobcats (2-2). Paul Leonard added 12 points for USD (2-2).

The Ferch brothers, meanwhile, dominated the game. Shann, a 6-2 sophomore guard, led all players with 20 points and 5 assists. He was 3 of 6 from the three-point line. Kral, a 6-3 senior forward, added 19 points. The pair combined for 13-of-19 shooting from the field.

The Toreros took a 12-11 lead, but Shann hit a three-point shot from the right side and the Bobcats never trailed again. Montana State, which shot 50% from the field in the first half, pulled to a 34-26 halftime advantage.

With 8:50 remaining in the game, USD cut the Bobcats’ lead to 56-49 when Steve Krallman completed a three-point play after being fouled on a layup. But Montana State countered with three straight three-point baskets by Shann, guard Ray Willis and Kral during the next 1:39 to outscore USD, 9-2, and take its biggest lead of the game, 65-51.

USD could get no closer than seven points late in the game.

“Montana State is an excellent shooting team and they made their shots when they needed to,” Egan said. “Offensively we couldn’t sustain anything.”

The Toreros play San Diego State at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Sports Arena.