OZEMAN, Mont. – Northwest ran into a tough road test Monday afternoon, falling 93-54 to Montana State Bobcats at Worthington Arena as the Eagles closed out non-conference play.

Despite the final score, Northwest continued to compete throughout the game and showed resilience against a deep and experienced Bobcat squad. The Eagles were led offensively by Rashid Potter, who finished with 12 points and five rebounds, while Cameron Downie added 11 points. Downie also provided a spark off the bench in the second half, scoring eight straight points during a late stretch for Northwest.

Northwest Eagles faced an early challenge as Montana State opened the game with a strong defensive push, holding the Eagles scoreless for the first nine minutes. Even after falling behind early, Northwest responded with a 7-0 run midway through the first half, trimming the deficit and showing improved ball movement and defensive energy. The Eagles went into halftime trailing 46-20 after battling through a difficult shooting half.

Coming out of the locker room, Northwest looked to reset and continued to attack offensively against the Bobcats' pressure defense. Downie's scoring burst late in the second half highlighted the Eagles' continued effort and refusal to back down, even as Montana State maintained control of the game.

Montana State shot efficiently on the day and controlled the rebounding margin, but the contest provided valuable experience for a Northwest team facing a physical Division I opponent on the road. The Eagles will now turn their attention forward, using the lessons learned from Monday's match-up as they prepare for the next conference games.