CASPER, Wyo. (AP) – Divaldo Mbunga scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Montana State survived a late Wyoming rally for a 79-72 win at the Wyoming Shootout on Saturday.
Mbunga helped put the game away with six free throws in the final 3 minutes after Brandon Ewing scored six straight Wyoming points to give the Cowboys a 64-62 lead.
Carlos Taylor and Casey Durham each scored 14 points for MSU (5-4), and Phil Friesen added 10. Ryan Dermody led Wyoming (4-4) with 17 points.
Ewing finished with 14 points and nine assists. Travis Nelson added 14 points, and Eric Platt scored 11.
The Bobcats got ahead 14-7 on an 8-0 run that included six straight points by Bobby Howard.
Wyoming responded with a 13-1 run later in the first half and took a 31-27 lead at the half. Montana State opened the second half with a 19-9 run to take a 46-40 lead with 13:40 to go.
Ewing converted a three-point play with 8:34 remaining that put the Cowboys back up 55-52, but Mbunga scored four straight to help the Bobcats regain a 58-55 lead.
The win ends MSU’s 11-game losing streak to the Cowboys.