Bobcats Travel West to Face Sac
1/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MONTANA STATE (11-7/3-2) at Sacramento State (7-11/1-4)
After a big home win over the Grizzlies on Saturday, the ¡¥Cats take to the road to face a pair of old nemeses. Sacramento State, Thursday¡¦s opponent, swept the ¡¥Cats last year and has beaten MSU in four of the last six games. NAU is tied with MSU and several others at 3-2, and has won 12 of the last 16 games against MSU. NEXT UP: Montana State hosts Eastern Washington (Thursday) and Portland State (Saturday) next weekend.
GAME FACTS
TIPOFF 8:05 pm MST
SITE Sacramento, CA
ARENA Hornet Gym
RADIO Bobcat Radio Network
(Kris Atteberry)
TELEVISION none
HIGHLIGHTS
ƒÜ Jason Erickson leads the Big Sky with 52 steals, and has at least one steal in 16 of MSU¡¦s 18 games
ƒÜ Mick Durham¡¦s 104 wins in league games is the most in Big Sky history
STREAKS
Ć Montana State has shot below 50% in seven straight games
Ć When the Bobcats shot 58% in the second half against Montana, it snapped a string of nine straight halves below 50%
ƒÜ Montana State has now won its home conference opener in all 14 of Mick Durham¡¦s seasons
NOTEWORTHY
Ć Montana State has forced three straight opponents into at least 18 turnovers, and have 69 takeaways in that stretch of games
Ć MSU has outrebounded only two Big Sky opponents
Ć Jason Erickson now has 1,068 career points, and is now in 26th in school history in scoring
The Bobcats Sacramento State
¡¥03-04 RECORD 11-7 7-11
Home/Road/Neu 8-3/1-3/2-1 6-3/1-8/0-0
Conf./Record Big Sky/3-2 Big Sky/1-4
HEAD COACH Mick Durham Jerome Jenkins
Alma Mater MSU/¡¦80 Regis/¡¦80
Overall/Years 214-178/14th 33-69/4th
At School/Years same same
vs Opponent vs. Sac: 10-5 vs. MSU: 4-2
Hm/Rd/Neu 7-1/3-4/0-0 3-0/2-1/0-0
SCHOOL INFO
Spirit colors Blue, gold Green, gold
Location Bozeman, MT Sacramento, CA
Enrollment 12,000 28,588
Arena Worthington Arena(7,000) Hornet Gym
SERIES CAPSULES
MSU vs. Sacramento State 13-6 (8-2/5-4/0-0)
PROJECTED MSU STARTERS Ht Wt Cl Pt Re A/B/S
F #33-Danny Faaborg 6-5 200 Sr 7.1 2.6 1.3a
F #24-Josh Barsh 6-3 195 Sr 3.7 2.2 2.1a
C #4-Calvin Ento 6-7 215 Sr 8.8 5.6 1.2a
G #11-Frank Brown 6-2 160 So 8.2 3.7 4.6a
G #10-Jason Erickson 6-3 185 Sr 17.2 2.7 2.8s
BOBCAT RESERVES
#3-Nick Dissly 6-4 205 Fr 9.8 3.6 1.0s
#5-Dennis Woodall 6-5 225 Jr 3.8 2.5 0.3s
#20-Carson Durr 6-6 200 Fr 1.0 0.6 0.2a
#22-Wes Morales 6-5 190 Sr 0.7 0.3 0.3a
#23-Marcus Clift 6-2 175 Fr 0.4 0.8 0.3a
#30-PJ Owsley 6-8 200 Fr 2.8 0.8 0.1b
#50-Martrel Johnson 6-5 225 Fr 0.5 0.8 0.3b
#52-Matt Towsley 7-0 255 Jr 10.2 4.8 1.1b
*-has used redshirt season +-transferred to MSU
From Bobcat Coach Mick Durham
On Sacramento State: ¡§Sacramento State really had our number last year. They cause us a lot of problems with their quickness on the perimeter and their athleticism on the boards. They always play very hard, and they have a couple of experienced shooters in (Joseth) Dawson and (Joel) Long back this year that redshirted last year. They can really shoot it.¡¨ On Northern Arizona: ¡§NAU has had a different kind of year, winning on the road and struggling at home, but they are still a very difficult team to beat in the Skydome. NAU has been a good-shooting team for a long time now, and this year¡¦s team is a lot like that. Aaron Bond is a real offensive threat, and they have good balance.¡¨ On the Bobcats: ¡§I thought we defended well last week, and we started to hit some jump shots. That was the biggest thing, we made some shots for the first time since conference play started. We¡¦ve done a good job changing defenses and keeping people off balance a little bit. We need to continue doing a good job on the boards, and we have to keep making shots.¡¨
SCOPING THE BOBCATS
Last Time Out
Jason Erickson scored 14 points, dished out five assists, and had four steals in leading Montana State to a 77-61 win over the Grizzlies on Saturday. Bobcat senior Danny Faaborg, from Bozeman, scored seven points in a crucial stretch to help thwart Montana¡¦s most serious rally, getting 12 points and five rebounds.
The Three Company
MSU has hit at least one three-pointer in the last 293 games. From 1986 to late ¡¥92-93 MSU rolled up 197 straight games with a trey, giving MSU at least one three in 491 of the last 492 games.
The Magic Number
The Bobcats are 104-15 when scoring at least 80 points since ¡¥93-94.
More Magic
MSU scored 80 points in five straight early-January games, a first for the ¡¥Cats since January 1994.
Eating Glass
Rebounding has been a pretty solid indicator of Montana State¡¦s success this season. The Bobcats are 2-6 when the opponent grabs more rebounds than MSU, 9-1 when the ¡¥Cats are even or positive in rebounds.
The Difference Maker
The ¡¥Cats have been outrebounded in only four of the 18 games in which center Matt Towsley -- who missed three December games with a back injury -- has played.
Bozeman Bombers
Bobcat basketball fans were feeling some hometown love on Saturday. Three current varsity Bobcats prepped at Bozeman High, and all three -- PJ Owsley, Nick Dissly, and Danny Faaborg -- hit at least one three-pointer against the Grizzlies.
Newbies
Bobcat coach Mick Durham is leading the youngest of his 14 Bobcat teams during the 2003-04 season. Eight of MSU¡¦s 13 varsity players did not play on the Bobcat varsity a year ago. To counter that, however, four of the five Bobcat starters have previously seen action in the starting lineup for Montana State
Freebies
Jason Erickson has shot 88% from the free throw line this year, the best mark in the conference, but other Bobcats have struggled from the line. MSU has shot just 63% as a team, and six of the seven players other than Erickson with at least 10 attempts are shooting below 65%. The four that join Erickson as starters combine to shoot 54% from the line.
Swattin¡¦...
The Bobcats have improved in the shot-blocking category this year. Montana State has 43 blocked shots through 18 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 139 steals through 18 games, an average of 7.7 a game. Last year, the ¡¥Cats averaged 5.3 steals per game. Jason Erickson has a league-high 51 steals -- 2.8 per game -- or more half of his career total before this season (98).
Shooting Woes
MSU brought the league¡¦s top field goal percentage into the conference season, but has shot a league-low 39.8% from the floor through four conference games.
Upside Down
In the 20 Big Sky Conference games this season, the road team has won 11 times.
After a big home win over the Grizzlies on Saturday, the ¡¥Cats take to the road to face a pair of old nemeses. Sacramento State, Thursday¡¦s opponent, swept the ¡¥Cats last year and has beaten MSU in four of the last six games. NAU is tied with MSU and several others at 3-2, and has won 12 of the last 16 games against MSU. NEXT UP: Montana State hosts Eastern Washington (Thursday) and Portland State (Saturday) next weekend.
GAME FACTS
TIPOFF 8:05 pm MST
SITE Sacramento, CA
ARENA Hornet Gym
RADIO Bobcat Radio Network
(Kris Atteberry)
TELEVISION none
HIGHLIGHTS
ƒÜ Jason Erickson leads the Big Sky with 52 steals, and has at least one steal in 16 of MSU¡¦s 18 games
ƒÜ Mick Durham¡¦s 104 wins in league games is the most in Big Sky history
STREAKS
Ć Montana State has shot below 50% in seven straight games
Ć When the Bobcats shot 58% in the second half against Montana, it snapped a string of nine straight halves below 50%
ƒÜ Montana State has now won its home conference opener in all 14 of Mick Durham¡¦s seasons
NOTEWORTHY
Ć Montana State has forced three straight opponents into at least 18 turnovers, and have 69 takeaways in that stretch of games
Ć MSU has outrebounded only two Big Sky opponents
Ć Jason Erickson now has 1,068 career points, and is now in 26th in school history in scoring
The Bobcats Sacramento State
¡¥03-04 RECORD 11-7 7-11
Home/Road/Neu 8-3/1-3/2-1 6-3/1-8/0-0
Conf./Record Big Sky/3-2 Big Sky/1-4
HEAD COACH Mick Durham Jerome Jenkins
Alma Mater MSU/¡¦80 Regis/¡¦80
Overall/Years 214-178/14th 33-69/4th
At School/Years same same
vs Opponent vs. Sac: 10-5 vs. MSU: 4-2
Hm/Rd/Neu 7-1/3-4/0-0 3-0/2-1/0-0
SCHOOL INFO
Spirit colors Blue, gold Green, gold
Location Bozeman, MT Sacramento, CA
Enrollment 12,000 28,588
Arena Worthington Arena(7,000) Hornet Gym
SERIES CAPSULES
MSU vs. Sacramento State 13-6 (8-2/5-4/0-0)
PROJECTED MSU STARTERS Ht Wt Cl Pt Re A/B/S
F #33-Danny Faaborg 6-5 200 Sr 7.1 2.6 1.3a
F #24-Josh Barsh 6-3 195 Sr 3.7 2.2 2.1a
C #4-Calvin Ento 6-7 215 Sr 8.8 5.6 1.2a
G #11-Frank Brown 6-2 160 So 8.2 3.7 4.6a
G #10-Jason Erickson 6-3 185 Sr 17.2 2.7 2.8s
BOBCAT RESERVES
#3-Nick Dissly 6-4 205 Fr 9.8 3.6 1.0s
#5-Dennis Woodall 6-5 225 Jr 3.8 2.5 0.3s
#20-Carson Durr 6-6 200 Fr 1.0 0.6 0.2a
#22-Wes Morales 6-5 190 Sr 0.7 0.3 0.3a
#23-Marcus Clift 6-2 175 Fr 0.4 0.8 0.3a
#30-PJ Owsley 6-8 200 Fr 2.8 0.8 0.1b
#50-Martrel Johnson 6-5 225 Fr 0.5 0.8 0.3b
#52-Matt Towsley 7-0 255 Jr 10.2 4.8 1.1b
*-has used redshirt season +-transferred to MSU
From Bobcat Coach Mick Durham
On Sacramento State: ¡§Sacramento State really had our number last year. They cause us a lot of problems with their quickness on the perimeter and their athleticism on the boards. They always play very hard, and they have a couple of experienced shooters in (Joseth) Dawson and (Joel) Long back this year that redshirted last year. They can really shoot it.¡¨ On Northern Arizona: ¡§NAU has had a different kind of year, winning on the road and struggling at home, but they are still a very difficult team to beat in the Skydome. NAU has been a good-shooting team for a long time now, and this year¡¦s team is a lot like that. Aaron Bond is a real offensive threat, and they have good balance.¡¨ On the Bobcats: ¡§I thought we defended well last week, and we started to hit some jump shots. That was the biggest thing, we made some shots for the first time since conference play started. We¡¦ve done a good job changing defenses and keeping people off balance a little bit. We need to continue doing a good job on the boards, and we have to keep making shots.¡¨
SCOPING THE BOBCATS
Last Time Out
Jason Erickson scored 14 points, dished out five assists, and had four steals in leading Montana State to a 77-61 win over the Grizzlies on Saturday. Bobcat senior Danny Faaborg, from Bozeman, scored seven points in a crucial stretch to help thwart Montana¡¦s most serious rally, getting 12 points and five rebounds.
The Three Company
MSU has hit at least one three-pointer in the last 293 games. From 1986 to late ¡¥92-93 MSU rolled up 197 straight games with a trey, giving MSU at least one three in 491 of the last 492 games.
The Magic Number
The Bobcats are 104-15 when scoring at least 80 points since ¡¥93-94.
More Magic
MSU scored 80 points in five straight early-January games, a first for the ¡¥Cats since January 1994.
Eating Glass
Rebounding has been a pretty solid indicator of Montana State¡¦s success this season. The Bobcats are 2-6 when the opponent grabs more rebounds than MSU, 9-1 when the ¡¥Cats are even or positive in rebounds.
The Difference Maker
The ¡¥Cats have been outrebounded in only four of the 18 games in which center Matt Towsley -- who missed three December games with a back injury -- has played.
Bozeman Bombers
Bobcat basketball fans were feeling some hometown love on Saturday. Three current varsity Bobcats prepped at Bozeman High, and all three -- PJ Owsley, Nick Dissly, and Danny Faaborg -- hit at least one three-pointer against the Grizzlies.
Newbies
Bobcat coach Mick Durham is leading the youngest of his 14 Bobcat teams during the 2003-04 season. Eight of MSU¡¦s 13 varsity players did not play on the Bobcat varsity a year ago. To counter that, however, four of the five Bobcat starters have previously seen action in the starting lineup for Montana State
Freebies
Jason Erickson has shot 88% from the free throw line this year, the best mark in the conference, but other Bobcats have struggled from the line. MSU has shot just 63% as a team, and six of the seven players other than Erickson with at least 10 attempts are shooting below 65%. The four that join Erickson as starters combine to shoot 54% from the line.
Swattin¡¦...
The Bobcats have improved in the shot-blocking category this year. Montana State has 43 blocked shots through 18 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 139 steals through 18 games, an average of 7.7 a game. Last year, the ¡¥Cats averaged 5.3 steals per game. Jason Erickson has a league-high 51 steals -- 2.8 per game -- or more half of his career total before this season (98).
Shooting Woes
MSU brought the league¡¦s top field goal percentage into the conference season, but has shot a league-low 39.8% from the floor through four conference games.
Upside Down
In the 20 Big Sky Conference games this season, the road team has won 11 times.
Wednesday, June 10
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Friday, March 13
