GREELEY, Colo. (AP) -- Marvin Moss scored 16 points and Branden

Miller and Ja'Ron Jefferson added 15 points each as Montana State

rallied past Northern Colorado 83-69 Thursday night.

Carson Durr had three 3-pointers and 10 points in the second

half for Montana State (2-3) of the Big Sky Conference. The Bobcats

shot 54 percent from the field and were 6-of-11 on 3-pointers in

the second half.

Michael Gordy scored 17 points, Kirk Archibeque had 14 points

and Sean Taibi added 11 points for Northern Colorado (0-7), an

independent that will join the Big Sky Conference next year.

The Bears hurt themselves by shooting 16-for-29 from the free

throw line. They opened the season with seven losses for the first

time since the 1954-55 season.

Trailing by three midway through the second half, Durr hit

consecutive 3-pointers to put Montana State ahead 62-59. While

Northern Colorado managed only a free throw by Gordy over the next

three minutes, Miller had two jumpers in an 8-1 run, and the

Bobcats extended their lead to 70-60 with 6:29 left.

Durr's third 3-pointer of the half extended the lead to 73-62.

Taibi got the Bears as close as 77-69 with a jumper and free throw

with 1:51 left, but they never scored again.

Archibeque had 10 points and Northern Colorado shot 52 percent

from the field to take a 38-35 lead at halftime.

Northern Colorado hasn't beaten a Big Sky team since Dec. 2,

1977.