# 1995–96 Montana State Bobcats men's basketball team

The 1995–96 Montana State Bobcats men's basketball team represented Montana State University as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 1995–96 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by head coach Mick Durham, the Bobcats finished in 1st place in the Big Sky regular season standings. The team won the Big Sky tournament and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Playing as No. 13 seed in the West region, Montana State was handled by No. 4 seed and eventual National runner-up Syracuse, 88–55, in the opening round.

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site city, state |
| Non-conference Regular season ||||||
| Nov 10, 1995* | | Simon Frazer University | W 79–65 | 1–0 | Brick Breeden Fieldhouse Bozeman, Montana |
| November 25, 1995* | | Minnesota-Morris | W 99-64 | 2-0 | Brick Breeden Fieldhouse Bozeman, Montana |
| November 30, 1995* | | Alcorn St | W 87-79 | 3–0 | Davey Whitney Complex Lorman, Mississippi |
| Dec 3, 1995* | | Eastern Michigan | L 71-95 | 3–1 | Bowen Field House Ypsilanti, Michigan |
| Dec 6, 1995* | | Gonzaga | W 58–56 | 4–1 | Brick Breeden Fieldhouse Bozeman, Montana |
| Dec 14, 1995* | | at Nevada | L 84–86 | 4–2 | Lawlor Events Center Reno, Nevada |
| Dec 16, 1995* | | Southern Utah | W 81–51 | 5–2 | Brick Breeden Fieldhouse Bozeman, Montana |
| Dec 23, 1995* | | Alcorn State | W 121–69 | 6–2 | Brick Breeden Fieldhouse Bozeman, Montana |
| Dec 29, 1995* | | Butler Bobcat Holiday Stores Classic | W 84–59 | 7–2 | Brick Breeden Fieldhouse Bozeman, Montana |
| Dec 30, 1995* | | Drexel Bobcat Holiday Stores Classic | L 62–68 | 7–3 | Brick Breeden Fieldhouse Bozeman, Montana |
| Jan 3, 1996* | | at Texas Tech | L 67–86 | 7–4 | Lubbock Municipal Coliseum Lubbock, Texas |
| Jan 5, 1996* | | Sacramento State | W 90–47 | 8–4 | Brick Breeden Fieldhouse Bozeman, Montana |
| Jan 7, 1996* | | at TCU | L 96–98 $^{3OT}$ | 8–5 | Daniel-Meyer Coliseum Fort Worth, Texas |
| Big Sky Regular season ||||||
| Jan 12, 1996 | | Weber State | W 90–71 | 9–5 (1–0) | Brick Breeden Fieldhouse Bozeman, Montana |
| Jan 13, 1996* | | Northern Arizona | W 87–58 | 10–5 (2–0) | Brick Breeden Fieldhouse Bozeman, Montana |
| Jan 20, 1996 | | Montana | W 72–65 | 11–5 (3–0) | Brick Breeden Fieldhouse Bozeman, Montana |
| Jan 26, 1996 | | at Idaho State | W 89–65 | 12–5 (4–0) | Holt Arena Pocatello, Idaho |
| Jan 27, 1996 | | at Boise State | L 61–69 | 12–6 (4–1) | BSU Pavilion Boise, Idaho |
| Feb 2, 1996 | | Eastern Washington | W 85–66 | 13–6 (5–1) | Brick Breeden Fieldhouse Bozeman, Montana |
| Feb 3, 1996 | | Idaho | W 78–70 | 14–6 (6–1) | Brick Breeden Fieldhouse Bozeman, Montana |
| Feb 29, 1996 | | at Idaho | W 81–78 | 18–8 (10–3) | Cowan Spectrum Moscow, Idaho |
| Mar 2, 1996 | | at Eastern Washington | W 92–64 | 19–8 (11–3) | Reese Court Cheney, Washington |
| Big Sky tournament ||||||
| Mar 8, 1996* | (1) | (6) Idaho Semifinals | W 91–66 | 20–8 | Brick Breeden Fieldhouse Bozeman, Montana |
| Mar 9, 1996* | (1) | (2) Weber State Championship | W 81–70 | 21–8 | Brick Breeden Fieldhouse Bozeman, Montana |
| NCAA Tournament ||||||
| Mar 14, 1996* | (13 W) | vs. (4 W) No. 15 Syracuse First round | L 55–88 | 21–9 | University Arena Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. W=West. ||||||