Weber State University Athletics
Tuesday, March 7
Boise, ID
9:00 p.m.
Weber State University
58
vs
60
#2 Montana State
Photo by: Robert Casey
Weber State falls in double overtime heartbreaker in Big Sky semifinals
3/8/2023 1:11:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Montana State beats the Wildcats 60-58 in double overtime.
BOISE, Idaho - Weber State suffered a heartbreaking 60-58 double overtime loss to Montana State in a slugfest late Tuesday night in the semifinals of the Big Sky Tournament.Â
Montana State advances to the championship game for the second-straight year and will take on Northern Arizona in the championship game.Â
The game saw 15 ties and 17 lead changes and neither team led by more than six points.Â
Weber State led for much of the first half and led by six points late, before MSU closed the half on a 5-0 run, which gave WSU a 25-24 lead at the break.Â
The Wildcats went up 40-38 with 13:27 to play when MSU responded with a 7-0 run and led 45-40. Weber State responded with a 7-0 run of its own and regained the lead at 47-40 with 3:30 to play. The game was tied 48-48 after regulation.Â
The two teams each scored four points in the first overtime to force a second extra period at 52-52. In the second overtime, Montana State scored on an alley-oop dunk with one second to play to clinch the win.Â
It's the second-straight year the Wildcats have suffered a close loss to Montana State in the Big Sky semifinals.Â
Both teams struggled from the field, both shooting 34 percent from the field. The Wildcats were just 3 of 16 from 3-point range. WSU won the rebounding edge 38-36 and forced 17 MSU turnovers.Â
"Our team was locked defensively all night and completed on every possession," said WSU head coach Eric Duft. "Montana State just made one more play than we did. Things didn't go well on offense but it didn't stop us from competing. I couldn't be more proud of our group and what we accomplished."
Dillon Jones once again led Weber State with 18 points and 16 rebounds for his 20th double-double of the season and he played all 50 minutes of the game.Â
Steven Verplancken scored 14 points with two 3-pointers and dished out two assists.Â
KJ Cunningham added nine points, grabbed a career-high seven rebounds, and had two assists.Â
Weber State is now 18-15 overall. The Wildcats will wait to see if they receive an invitation to a postseason tournament.Â
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Montana State advances to the championship game for the second-straight year and will take on Northern Arizona in the championship game.Â
The game saw 15 ties and 17 lead changes and neither team led by more than six points.Â
Weber State led for much of the first half and led by six points late, before MSU closed the half on a 5-0 run, which gave WSU a 25-24 lead at the break.Â
The Wildcats went up 40-38 with 13:27 to play when MSU responded with a 7-0 run and led 45-40. Weber State responded with a 7-0 run of its own and regained the lead at 47-40 with 3:30 to play. The game was tied 48-48 after regulation.Â
The two teams each scored four points in the first overtime to force a second extra period at 52-52. In the second overtime, Montana State scored on an alley-oop dunk with one second to play to clinch the win.Â
It's the second-straight year the Wildcats have suffered a close loss to Montana State in the Big Sky semifinals.Â
Both teams struggled from the field, both shooting 34 percent from the field. The Wildcats were just 3 of 16 from 3-point range. WSU won the rebounding edge 38-36 and forced 17 MSU turnovers.Â
"Our team was locked defensively all night and completed on every possession," said WSU head coach Eric Duft. "Montana State just made one more play than we did. Things didn't go well on offense but it didn't stop us from competing. I couldn't be more proud of our group and what we accomplished."
Dillon Jones once again led Weber State with 18 points and 16 rebounds for his 20th double-double of the season and he played all 50 minutes of the game.Â
Steven Verplancken scored 14 points with two 3-pointers and dished out two assists.Â
KJ Cunningham added nine points, grabbed a career-high seven rebounds, and had two assists.Â
Weber State is now 18-15 overall. The Wildcats will wait to see if they receive an invitation to a postseason tournament.Â
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Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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