Boulder, CO -- (Sports Network) - Bobby Howard posted a game-high 24 points and nine rebounds to lead the Montana State Bobcats to a thrilling 85-82 overtime victory over the Colorado Buffaloes in a non-conference showdown at the Coors Events Center.

Danny Piepoli scored 19 points in the win for Montana State (1-1), while Divaldo Mbunga tallied 13 points to go with eight rebounds and Eric Rush added 12 points to go with nine boards.

The duo of Cory Higgins and Dwight Thorne II netted 21 points apiece to lead Colorado (1-1) in the losing effort, while Levi Knutson chipped in 12 points off the bench. Austin Dufault added 11 points for the Buffaloes.

The Buffaloes were held to just 39.1 percent from the floor during the first period of play, allowing the Bobcats to take a 37-30 lead into the break.

But Colorado rallied during the second stanza, connecting on 56.0 percent of its attempts from the field to take a 72-70 lead with seconds remaining. A second-chance basket by Howard with one second left on the clock sent the game into overtime for the Bobcats.

The Bobcats shot a blazing 66.7 percent from the floor in the extra frame, including an 8-of-12 effort at the charity stripe en route to the three-point victory.