MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Terrell Brown scored 23 points and Paul Egwuonwu added 13 with 13 rebounds as Montana State used a late surge to put away Central Michigan 59-54 Friday night.

The Bobcats (1-3) trailed by as much as 13 during the first half, but crawled back to tie the game at 40 midway through the second half on an Egwuonwu jumper.

Brown helped spark a run with a four-point play and two jumpers as Montana State jumped ahead to take a 50-42 lead with 3:25 remaining.

The Chippewas (2-3) cut the deficit to three after Braylon Rayson hit a layup, but the Bobcats made nine of their last 10 free throw attempts in the final minute to hold the lead.

Brown was 7 of 12 from the field and hit a trio of 3-pointers.

Rayson led Central Michigan with 15 points, and Chris Fowler and Josh Kozinski each had nine.