Jabe Mullins delivered a pivotal 17-point performance Saturday night, steering Montana State Basketball to a hard-fought 74-69 win over Idaho State. The Bobcats (12-15, 7-7 Big Sky) leaned on Mullins’ precision from beyond the arc, where he hit 3-of-6 three-point attempts, while Brandon Walker added 15 points with clutch free-throw shooting.
Montana State’s offense thrived despite intense defensive pressure from the Bengals. Key contributions came from Max Agbonkpolo, who sank two critical three-pointers en route to 14 points. The Bobcats’ 45.3% field goal efficiency contrasted sharply with Idaho State’s reliance on star guard Dylan Darling, whose game-high 27 points weren’t enough to avoid the loss.
- Top Scorers: Mullins (17), Walker (15), Agbonkpolo (14)
- Idaho State Standouts: Dylan Darling (27 pts), Jake O’Neil (18 pts, 7 rebounds)
This Big Sky Conference showdown saw seven lead changes, with Montana State securing their advantage in the final three minutes through Walker’s flawless 7-of-8 free throws. Idaho State (11-13, 6-7) now faces tightened competition for playoff seeding ahead of Thursday’s matchup against Portland State.
Analysts highlight Mullins’ growing role as a perimeter threat, particularly in high-stakes games. “His ability to create space under pressure changed the momentum,” noted a courtside reporter during the broadcast. With this win, Montana State strengthens its case for a mid-tier conference tournament position.
Up next, the Bobcats host bitter rivals Montana in what could determine postseason trajectories. Meanwhile, Idaho State must regroup quickly to maintain its diminishing at-large bid hopes.