MSU Faces Defending Champs
1/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MONTANA STATE (9-6) vs. Weber State (7-7)
After gaining a split on its conference-opening road trip through Oregon and Washington last weekend, the Bobcats host defending Big Sky champ Weber State and battle-tough Idaho State this weekend. ISU opened the league season on Saturday by topping Weber State. Six of the eight Big Sky teams have one win, and all four teams that played two games are 1-1. NEXT UP: The ‘Cats host Idaho State Saturday at 7:05 pm.
GAME FACTS
TIPOFF 7:05 pm MST
SITE Bozeman, MT
ARENA Worthington Arena
RADIO Bobcat Radio Network
(Kris Atteberry)
TELEVISION none
HIGHLIGHTS
l Jason Erickson leads the Big Sky with 40 steals, and has at least one steal in 13 of MSU’s 15 games l The Bobcats have won all 13 of Mick Durham’s conference home openers
STREAKS
l Montana State has turned the ball over at least 20 times in two straight l The Bobcats have won five straight home games l MSU has held three straight opponents to less than 43% shooting
NOTEWORTHY
l Montana State shot 3-for-29 (11%) from three-point range last weekend, and 40-for-99 (.444) from the floor l MSU has been outrebounded in only two of the 10 games in which center Matt Towsley has played l The ‘Cats lost for the first time Saturay when grabbing more rebounds than the opponent l Jason Erickson now has 1,014 career points after becoming the 31st Bobcat to score 1,000 points
The Bobcats Weber State
‘03-04 RECORD 9-6 7-7
Home/Road/Neu 6-2/1-3/2-1 4-2/1-4/2-1
Conf./Record Big Sky/1-1 Big Sky/0-1
HEAD COACH Mick Durham Joe Cravens
Alma Mater MSU/’80 Texas-Arlington/’95
Overall/Years 212-177/14th 139-100/9th
At School/Years same 84-48/5th
vs Opponent vs. WSU: 11-19 vs. MSU: 6-10
8-6/2-12/1-1 1-6/4-2/1-2
SCHOOL INFO
Colors Blue, gold Royal purple, white
Location Bozeman, MT Ogden, UT
Enrollment 12,000 18,000
Arena Worthington Arena(7,000) Dee Events Center
SERIES CAPSULES
MSU vs. Weber State 28-62 (22-21/5-38/1-3)
PROJECTED MSU STARTERS Ht Wt Cl Pt Re A/B/S
F #33-Danny Faaborg 6-5 200 Sr 6.9 2.5 1.3a
F #24-Josh Barsh 6-3 195 Sr 3.5 1.9 2.1a
C #4-Calvin Ento 6-7 215 Sr 8.1 5.5 1.1a
G #11-Frank Brown 6-2 160 So 8.5 3.7 4.3a
G #10-Jason Erickson 6-3 185 Sr 17.0 2.7 3.2a
BOBCAT RESERVES
#3-Nick Dissly 6-4 205 Fr 10.7 3.9 1.6a
#5-Dennis Woodall 6-5 225 Jr 3.9 2.5 0.2s
#20-Carson Durr 6-6 200 Fr 0.6 0.6 0.1a
#22-Wes Morales 6-5 190 Sr 0.7 0.3 0.3a
#23-Marcus Clift 6-2 175 Fr 0.3 0.8 0.3a
#30-PJ Owsley 6-8 200 Fr 2.8 0.9 0.1a
#50-Martrel Johnson 6-5 225 Fr 0.5 0.8 0.3b
#52-Matt Towsley 7-0 255 Jr 11.3 4.8 1.3b
*-has used redshirt season +-transferred to MSU
Last Time Out
Eastern Washington used runs of 11-2 and 13-0 to race past the Bobcats 70-55 in Cheney on Saturday. Eastern forced 22 Bobcat turnovers, and limited the ‘Cats to 42% shooting. Danny Faaborg scored 10 points, as did Jason Erickson, who has now scored double-figures in each of MSU’s 15 games. The loss snapped a six-game Bobcat winning streak.
The Three Company
MSU has hit at least one three-pointer in the last 291 games. From 1986 to late ‘92-93 MSU rolled up 197 straight games with a trey, giving MSU at least one three in 488 of the last 489 games.
The Magic Number
The Bobcats are 104-15 when scoring at least 80 points since ‘93-94.
More Magic
MSU has scored 80 points in five straight for the first time since January 1994.
Eating Glass
Rebounding has been a pretty solid indicator of Montana State’s success this season. The Bobcats are 1-5 when the opponent grabs more rebounds than MSU, 7-1 when the ‘Cats are even or positive in rebounds. In Montana State’s losses, the Bobcats have been outrebounded by an average margin of 12 boards a game, while the team’s rebounding margin in wins is three to the good.
The Difference Maker
Matt Towsley has played in 10 games for the Bobcats, missing three with a back injury. Only twice -- in MSU’s loss at Florida, and in the win at Portland State -- have the Bobcats been outrebounded in a game in which Towsley has played. Newbies Bobcat coach Mick Durham is leading the youngest of his 14 Bobcat teams into the 2003-04 season. MSU’s roster features eight players out of 13 that did not play on the Bobcat varsity a year ago. In spite of that, however, four of the five Bobcat starters have previously seen action in the starting lineup for Montana State, including Jason Erickson, who has 52 starts. Six of MSU’s 13 varsity players -- which does not include redshirt Casey Durham, who is also a freshman -- are true or redshirt freshmen.
Freebies
Jason Erickson has shot 88% from the free throw line this year, the second-best mark in the conference, but other than Jason the Bobcats have struggled from the line. MSU has shot just 63% as a team, and six of the seven players on the team other than Erickson are shooting below 65%.
Swattin’...
The Bobcats have improved in the shot-blocking category this year. Montana State has 39 blocked shots through 15 games, including 16 by Matt Towsley. Last year, MSU blocked 50 shots all season.
...and Swipin’
Montana State has had sticky fingers this year. The Bobcats have 107 steals through 15 games, an average of 7.1 a game. Last year, the ‘Cats averaged 5.3 steals per game. Jason Erickson has a league-high 40 steals -- 2.9 per game -- or nearly half of his career total before this season (98).
The Ol’ Switcharoo
Montana State won last Thursday for the first this season when it was outrebounded, and lost on Saturday for the first time when the team outrebounded its opponent.
After gaining a split on its conference-opening road trip through Oregon and Washington last weekend, the Bobcats host defending Big Sky champ Weber State and battle-tough Idaho State this weekend. ISU opened the league season on Saturday by topping Weber State. Six of the eight Big Sky teams have one win, and all four teams that played two games are 1-1. NEXT UP: The ‘Cats host Idaho State Saturday at 7:05 pm.
GAME FACTS
TIPOFF 7:05 pm MST
SITE Bozeman, MT
ARENA Worthington Arena
RADIO Bobcat Radio Network
(Kris Atteberry)
TELEVISION none
HIGHLIGHTS
l Jason Erickson leads the Big Sky with 40 steals, and has at least one steal in 13 of MSU’s 15 games l The Bobcats have won all 13 of Mick Durham’s conference home openers
STREAKS
l Montana State has turned the ball over at least 20 times in two straight l The Bobcats have won five straight home games l MSU has held three straight opponents to less than 43% shooting
NOTEWORTHY
l Montana State shot 3-for-29 (11%) from three-point range last weekend, and 40-for-99 (.444) from the floor l MSU has been outrebounded in only two of the 10 games in which center Matt Towsley has played l The ‘Cats lost for the first time Saturay when grabbing more rebounds than the opponent l Jason Erickson now has 1,014 career points after becoming the 31st Bobcat to score 1,000 points
The Bobcats Weber State
‘03-04 RECORD 9-6 7-7
Home/Road/Neu 6-2/1-3/2-1 4-2/1-4/2-1
Conf./Record Big Sky/1-1 Big Sky/0-1
HEAD COACH Mick Durham Joe Cravens
Alma Mater MSU/’80 Texas-Arlington/’95
Overall/Years 212-177/14th 139-100/9th
At School/Years same 84-48/5th
vs Opponent vs. WSU: 11-19 vs. MSU: 6-10
8-6/2-12/1-1 1-6/4-2/1-2
SCHOOL INFO
Colors Blue, gold Royal purple, white
Location Bozeman, MT Ogden, UT
Enrollment 12,000 18,000
Arena Worthington Arena(7,000) Dee Events Center
SERIES CAPSULES
MSU vs. Weber State 28-62 (22-21/5-38/1-3)
PROJECTED MSU STARTERS Ht Wt Cl Pt Re A/B/S
F #33-Danny Faaborg 6-5 200 Sr 6.9 2.5 1.3a
F #24-Josh Barsh 6-3 195 Sr 3.5 1.9 2.1a
C #4-Calvin Ento 6-7 215 Sr 8.1 5.5 1.1a
G #11-Frank Brown 6-2 160 So 8.5 3.7 4.3a
G #10-Jason Erickson 6-3 185 Sr 17.0 2.7 3.2a
BOBCAT RESERVES
#3-Nick Dissly 6-4 205 Fr 10.7 3.9 1.6a
#5-Dennis Woodall 6-5 225 Jr 3.9 2.5 0.2s
#20-Carson Durr 6-6 200 Fr 0.6 0.6 0.1a
#22-Wes Morales 6-5 190 Sr 0.7 0.3 0.3a
#23-Marcus Clift 6-2 175 Fr 0.3 0.8 0.3a
#30-PJ Owsley 6-8 200 Fr 2.8 0.9 0.1a
#50-Martrel Johnson 6-5 225 Fr 0.5 0.8 0.3b
#52-Matt Towsley 7-0 255 Jr 11.3 4.8 1.3b
*-has used redshirt season +-transferred to MSU
Last Time Out
Eastern Washington used runs of 11-2 and 13-0 to race past the Bobcats 70-55 in Cheney on Saturday. Eastern forced 22 Bobcat turnovers, and limited the ‘Cats to 42% shooting. Danny Faaborg scored 10 points, as did Jason Erickson, who has now scored double-figures in each of MSU’s 15 games. The loss snapped a six-game Bobcat winning streak.
The Three Company
MSU has hit at least one three-pointer in the last 291 games. From 1986 to late ‘92-93 MSU rolled up 197 straight games with a trey, giving MSU at least one three in 488 of the last 489 games.
The Magic Number
The Bobcats are 104-15 when scoring at least 80 points since ‘93-94.
More Magic
MSU has scored 80 points in five straight for the first time since January 1994.
Eating Glass
Rebounding has been a pretty solid indicator of Montana State’s success this season. The Bobcats are 1-5 when the opponent grabs more rebounds than MSU, 7-1 when the ‘Cats are even or positive in rebounds. In Montana State’s losses, the Bobcats have been outrebounded by an average margin of 12 boards a game, while the team’s rebounding margin in wins is three to the good.
The Difference Maker
Matt Towsley has played in 10 games for the Bobcats, missing three with a back injury. Only twice -- in MSU’s loss at Florida, and in the win at Portland State -- have the Bobcats been outrebounded in a game in which Towsley has played. Newbies Bobcat coach Mick Durham is leading the youngest of his 14 Bobcat teams into the 2003-04 season. MSU’s roster features eight players out of 13 that did not play on the Bobcat varsity a year ago. In spite of that, however, four of the five Bobcat starters have previously seen action in the starting lineup for Montana State, including Jason Erickson, who has 52 starts. Six of MSU’s 13 varsity players -- which does not include redshirt Casey Durham, who is also a freshman -- are true or redshirt freshmen.
Freebies
Jason Erickson has shot 88% from the free throw line this year, the second-best mark in the conference, but other than Jason the Bobcats have struggled from the line. MSU has shot just 63% as a team, and six of the seven players on the team other than Erickson are shooting below 65%.
Swattin’...
The Bobcats have improved in the shot-blocking category this year. Montana State has 39 blocked shots through 15 games, including 16 by Matt Towsley. Last year, MSU blocked 50 shots all season.
...and Swipin’
Montana State has had sticky fingers this year. The Bobcats have 107 steals through 15 games, an average of 7.1 a game. Last year, the ‘Cats averaged 5.3 steals per game. Jason Erickson has a league-high 40 steals -- 2.9 per game -- or nearly half of his career total before this season (98).
The Ol’ Switcharoo
Montana State won last Thursday for the first this season when it was outrebounded, and lost on Saturday for the first time when the team outrebounded its opponent.
Thursday, August 27
Monday, August 24
Monday, August 24
Wednesday, June 10
