Dissly Breaks Out, Leads Cats to 'W'
12/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nick Dissly hadn't hit a three-pointer since the season-opener. He hadn't scored in about 60 minutes of basketball. But when Montana State's sophomore forward sank a three-pointer two minutes into Thursday's win over Utah Valley State, any pressure that had built melted away.
"Throughout my career the first shot sort of sets the tone for the rest of the game," Dissly said. "After I made (the three-pointer) I started feeling it, and I went on a little spurt early."
Dissly scored a game-high 21 points against UVSC on 8-for-12 shooting. His efficient shooting led the 'Cats to the 50% from the field for the first time this season, and Dissly set the offensive tone.
"He does so many things for us," Durham said. "He's running the court. He's fast, and running the floor is something we've emphasized. I thought that was a key tonight, he got some things by running the floor."
Dissly has a feeling his offensive struggles from the first three games -- in which he scored just 16 points, five less than he had on Thursday -- are behind him. "Personally I was not ready to play in the first three games. I was not ready. I should have been, but I wasn't."
While Dissly isn't using it as an excuse, Durham said the sophomore forward has battled injuries early in the season. "He has been pretty dinged up," Durham said.
While Dissly is just a sophomore, Durham said the team will lean on his experience. "Nick is a year older and he's been through a whole season averaging 19 minutes a game as a freshman," Durham said. "He's a veteran sophomore. We're going to rely on him."
Dissly's contributions aren't singularly offensive. "I'm really excited about what Nick's doing on defense," Durham said. "He's becoming a pretty complete player."
"Throughout my career the first shot sort of sets the tone for the rest of the game," Dissly said. "After I made (the three-pointer) I started feeling it, and I went on a little spurt early."
Dissly scored a game-high 21 points against UVSC on 8-for-12 shooting. His efficient shooting led the 'Cats to the 50% from the field for the first time this season, and Dissly set the offensive tone.
"He does so many things for us," Durham said. "He's running the court. He's fast, and running the floor is something we've emphasized. I thought that was a key tonight, he got some things by running the floor."
Dissly has a feeling his offensive struggles from the first three games -- in which he scored just 16 points, five less than he had on Thursday -- are behind him. "Personally I was not ready to play in the first three games. I was not ready. I should have been, but I wasn't."
While Dissly isn't using it as an excuse, Durham said the sophomore forward has battled injuries early in the season. "He has been pretty dinged up," Durham said.
While Dissly is just a sophomore, Durham said the team will lean on his experience. "Nick is a year older and he's been through a whole season averaging 19 minutes a game as a freshman," Durham said. "He's a veteran sophomore. We're going to rely on him."
Dissly's contributions aren't singularly offensive. "I'm really excited about what Nick's doing on defense," Durham said. "He's becoming a pretty complete player."
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