BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Marquise Navarre scored a career-high 22 points, and Bobby Howard added 21 points and nine rebounds Friday night as Montana State opened Big Sky Conference play with an 87-63 rout of previously unbeaten Northern Colorado.
Navarre scored 12 points in the first half and led MSU (3-3, 1-0) on a 15-2 run that turned a six-point deficit into a 28-21 lead. The Bobcats led 35-33 at halftime, but scored the first nine points of the second half and never let the Bears (7-1, 0-1) get closer than six the rest of the way.
Navarre's previous career best was 14 points against Boise State in 2008. MSU, which hit 10 of 25 from beyond the 3-point arc, had five players score in double figures.
Senior guard Will Figures had 24 points to lead UNC, but he was the only Bears player in double figures.