GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Chris Murray threw three touchdown passes and ran in another score Saturday to lead Montana State to a 49-21 win over North Dakota in the Big Sky Conference opener for both teams.

Murray was 15 of 19 for 174 yards, connecting with Wilson Brott and Jabarri Johnson on short scoring throws in the first half and with Kevin Kassis for a 44-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter. He added another 132 yards on the ground, including a fourth quarter touchdown from the 1 to cap the scoring.

Troy Andersen finished with 131 yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns, a short plunge from the 2 and a 27-yard scoring run in the fourth, as Montana State (1-2) raced out to a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter and never trailed. Also scoring for the Bobcats was Logan Jones with a 13-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

North Dakota (1-3) got its first points off an interception when Jake Disterhaupt picked off Murray and returned it 37 yards for the TD. Reid Taubenheim kicked a 37-yard field goal at the end of the first half to cut the deficit to 28-10, and Brady Oliveira had a 34-yard touchdown run in the third quarter with the Fighting Hawks getting the two-point conversion.

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