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BOISE, Idaho — Raequan Battle scored 17 points off the bench, including 13 of 14 free throws, as top-seeded Montana State rallied late to hold off Weber State 69-66 in a Big Sky Conference semifinal in Boise, Idaho.
Amin Amanu added 15 points for the Bobcats (26-7), and teammate Xavier Bishop supplied 14 points, five rebounds and two assists.
Dillon Jones had 18 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals for the Wildcats, who led by as many as eight before the Bobcats rallied.
Koby McEwen added 17 points and three steals for Weber State, which got 11 points, five rebounds and three blocked shots from Dontay Bassett.
Jones' putback basket with 14 seconds pulled Weber State as close as 68-66. But Battle made 1 of 2 free throws, and game-tying attempts by McEwen and Jones rimmed out in the final 10 seconds for the Wildcats (21-12).
After the loss, Weber State coach Randy Rahe complimented his players, who led 37-31 at halftime and by one with as little as 3:57 to go in a game Montana State never led by more than four.
"I've been doing this 16 years; this team cared as much about winning and about each other as maybe any team I've ever had," Rahe said. "I love them for it. I wish they had a better fate, because I think we deserved better. But that's the way the ball bounces, and it didn't work out.
"I absolutely love this team."
"I love this team"- @CoachRandyRahepic.twitter.com/lnRklhCXuI
— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) March 12, 2022
