Bobcats vs. NAU/Sac St Game Notes
2/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MONTANA STATE (13-10/8-2) vs. Northern Ariz. (10-14/3-8), Sac State (9-15/5-6)
Montana State hits the road for the final time in the regular season, traveling to Northern Arizona Thursday and Sacramento State Saturday, still firmly in the Big Sky Conference title chase. The ‘Cats trail Portland State, 9-2 in league play, by a half-game entering this week’s action. The Bobcats have lost two straight in Flagstaff and three straight at Sacramento’s Hornet Gym.
GAME FACTS
TIP @NAU 7:05 pm MST
SITE Flagstaff, AZ
ARENA Walkup Skydome
RADIO Bobcat Network/Kris Atteberry
TV none
TIP @Sac 8:05 pm MST (7:05 PST)
SITE Sacramento, CA
ARENA Hornet Gym
RADIO Bobcat Network/Kris Atteberry
TV none
HIGHLIGHTS
* Montana State is 9-2 at home this season after starting the year 1-2 in Worthington Arena
* The ‘Cats have clinched their first winning record in Big Sky play since the championship season of 2002
STREAKS
* Montana State has won 10 straight games when shooting better than its opponet from the field
* Al Beye’s streak of blocking at least one shot in each of his games as a Bobcat ended against Montana on Sunday
NOTEWORTHY
* Senior center Matt Towsley (back) is doubtful for the rest of the season
* Mick Durham began his career with a 3-12 mark against UM, but since then is 11-7
* Thursday’s game between MSU and Northern Arizona features the two best three-point shooting teams in the Big Sky Conference
* The Bobcats have held Big Sky opponents to 39.3% shooting this year, the best field goal defense rate in the Big Sky
* MSU’s 16 turnovers Sunday was its fewest in the last five games
THIS WEEK
From Bobcat Coach Mick Durham
On Northern Arizona: “The loss of those two guards has really hurt NAU. It looks like (DeJuan) Stevens might be ready to play Thursday, so I imagine they’ll be excited to get him back. We all have to deal with injuries, but those two have been very costly. It’s hard to believe they’d be where they are without those injuries. NAU is a very capable team with veteran guys in the backcourt and young guys inside that are playing well.” On Sacramento State: “Saturday will be Jameel Pugh’s Senior Night, and they’re coming off a big road win. Sacramento State is as competitive a team as their is in our conference. Their six losses have been very, very close. Jameel Pugh and Jason Harris is a great one-two punch, and Jerome (Jenkins) has done a good job bringing this new team on. They have good young players that are playing well.” On the Bobcats: “I think this team senses the excitement of what’s going on and a feel for what’s in front of it and what it can accomplish. Our defensive numbers have been pretty good, and we’ve improved our rebounding, but I think we can still play better basketball. I’m hopeful that we can put together some complete games down the stretch. At this point, though, our defense has remained consistent throughout the conference season.”
NOTING THE LUMBERJACKS
As usual, Northern Arizona is the top shooting team in the Big Sky, leading the league in scoring offense (76.5), and three-point shooting (38.3%), and standing second in field goal percentage (46.5%) and free throw shooting (70.2%)... the Lumberjacks are led by the backcourt tandem of Kyle Feuerbach, first in the league in three-pointers made at 2.75, and Kelly Golob, sixth at 2.12.
NOTING THE HORNETS
Sacramento State played a pair of heart-stopping buzzer beaters last weekend, losing on a layup as time expired at Weber and winning in overtime on a similar play at Idaho State... the road win elevates the Hornets to fourth in the Big Sky at 5-6.
SCOPING THE BOBCATS
Last Time Out
On an all-time day in Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, Casey Durham -- who literally grew up in that building -- scored a game-high 18 points with two steals to lead MSU to a 72-62 win over Montana. All of Durham’s points came on three-pointers, and he had a hand in the defensive effort that limited UM to 39.6% shooting.
Three After Three
MSU has hit at least one three-pointer in the last 324 games. From 1986 to late ‘92-93 MSU rolled up 197 straight games with a trey, giving MSU at least one three in 521 of the last 522 games.
The Three Company
This year’s Bobcat team has not been afraid to cast away from three-point range. MSU has hit 7.6 treys a game, the best rate in the Big Sky, and has attempted 535 three-pointers, also the most in the conference. MSU tied school records by hitting 14 and attempting 35 three-pointers against Wyoming.
The Magic Number
The Bobcats are 106-15 when scoring at least 80 points since ‘93-94.
Rebounding Remarks
Montana State has struggled in rebounding most of the season, but it appears that the team is making headway. MSU has moved up to sixth in the Big Sky in rebound margin (-2.9, ahead of Sac State and Idaho State), largely on the strength of a solid performance of late. MSU outrebounded ISU 41-to-25 and league-leading Weber 42-to-31, and was within two of UM.
Rebounding Redux
It’s true that the Bobcats outrebounded only one of its first seven Big Sky opponents. However, MSU has been even or positive in rebound margin in five of the 10 league games, and are virtually even in rebounding in home games.
Window Cleaner
Marvin Moss has been MSU’s top board man. His 7.2 average is third in the BSC.
Clean Sweeps
Montana State has swept three Big Sky opponents this year -- Weber State, Idaho State, and Montana -- after not registering a single sweep last year. The wins on the Weber-ISU trip was MSU’s first road sweep in three years.
The Further the Better
Half of Montana State’s 72 points against the Grizzlies on Sunday came from beyond the three-point circle.
Mick’s Milestones
Mick Durham owns two Big Sky records that are likely to stand the test of time. Durham’s Bobcats have won 230 games, the most in conference history, including 115 conference tilts, also a league best.
Road Kills
MSU’s three road wins to open the league matches the total for the previous two years combined (two in 2003, one in ‘04).
Turnover Turnarounds
Montana State has endured three major trends in turnovers this season...
Record TOs Forced Margin
First 6 1-5 17.7 15.5 -1.2
Next 11 8-3 12.9 14.7 +1.8
Last 5 4-2 17.1 16.0 -1.1
More D-D-D-Defense
Since Washington State shot 52% in the first half in the season opener, MSU has held its opponent to below 50% shooting in 36 of the 43 halves, and below 40% in 18 of those halves.
Where the Action Is
MSU has taken 41% of its field goal attempts (535-of-1,277) from beyond the three-point arc, and has scored 33% of its points (528 of 1,530) from deep.
ONE-LINERS
On the Offense...
Montana State shot 50% from the field in three of the 13 non-conference games, but has reached that mark in four of its 10 conference contests... MSU has been held below 40% shooting 10 times... the Bobcats had topped 70% from the line in three of the last seven games... while Al Beye and Dennis Woodall are shooting 24% (9-for-42) from the line, the rest of the team is 67% (229-for-342)... the Bobcats averaged 17.7 turnovers a game in the first seven outings, but have reduced the season average to 15.5.
On the Defense...
Only CSU and UWGB -- in back-to-back games -- have shot better than 50% against the ‘Cats... Montana State has held seven of its 10 Big Sky opponents to 40% shooting or less... the ‘Cats have averaged four blocks a game since Al Beye joined the starting lineup, and had eight against NAU... the Bobcats have 80 steals in the last 10 games... MSU’s two 20-turnover games came against Washington State (Pac 10) and Nebraska (Big 12).
Lineup Notes
Montana State used five different starting lineups in the team’s 13-game non-conference schedule, but has started each league game the same way... Nick Dissly, who missed the NU game, was the last player to start every game at the same position... Branden Miller and Marvin Moss are the only Bobcats to start each game... MSU has used four different starting centers... two different Bobcats have started at both guard positions... MSU is 12-8 since Ja’Ron Jefferson joined the starting lineup.
Playoff Possibilities
Montana State’s win over the Grizzlies on Sunday brought the ‘Cats to within a game of clinching a top four finish in the Big Sky standings... any combination of one MSU win or one Eastern Washington loss the rest of the way would give MSU no worse than a first-round home game in the league tourney... the Bobcats remain within a half-game of league-leading Portland State in the chase for the Big Sky regular season title... MSU plays at NAU and Sac State this weekend, and hosts Portland State and Eastern Washington in the final week of the season, while PSU closes its home season on Thursday against Idaho State then closes the year with the Montana State-Montana road trip... the first two teams to clinch Big Sky tourney berths this year were Portland State and Montana State, the teams excluded from last year’s post-season event
Montana State hits the road for the final time in the regular season, traveling to Northern Arizona Thursday and Sacramento State Saturday, still firmly in the Big Sky Conference title chase. The ‘Cats trail Portland State, 9-2 in league play, by a half-game entering this week’s action. The Bobcats have lost two straight in Flagstaff and three straight at Sacramento’s Hornet Gym.
GAME FACTS
TIP @NAU 7:05 pm MST
SITE Flagstaff, AZ
ARENA Walkup Skydome
RADIO Bobcat Network/Kris Atteberry
TV none
TIP @Sac 8:05 pm MST (7:05 PST)
SITE Sacramento, CA
ARENA Hornet Gym
RADIO Bobcat Network/Kris Atteberry
TV none
HIGHLIGHTS
* Montana State is 9-2 at home this season after starting the year 1-2 in Worthington Arena
* The ‘Cats have clinched their first winning record in Big Sky play since the championship season of 2002
STREAKS
* Montana State has won 10 straight games when shooting better than its opponet from the field
* Al Beye’s streak of blocking at least one shot in each of his games as a Bobcat ended against Montana on Sunday
NOTEWORTHY
* Senior center Matt Towsley (back) is doubtful for the rest of the season
* Mick Durham began his career with a 3-12 mark against UM, but since then is 11-7
* Thursday’s game between MSU and Northern Arizona features the two best three-point shooting teams in the Big Sky Conference
* The Bobcats have held Big Sky opponents to 39.3% shooting this year, the best field goal defense rate in the Big Sky
* MSU’s 16 turnovers Sunday was its fewest in the last five games
THIS WEEK
From Bobcat Coach Mick Durham
On Northern Arizona: “The loss of those two guards has really hurt NAU. It looks like (DeJuan) Stevens might be ready to play Thursday, so I imagine they’ll be excited to get him back. We all have to deal with injuries, but those two have been very costly. It’s hard to believe they’d be where they are without those injuries. NAU is a very capable team with veteran guys in the backcourt and young guys inside that are playing well.” On Sacramento State: “Saturday will be Jameel Pugh’s Senior Night, and they’re coming off a big road win. Sacramento State is as competitive a team as their is in our conference. Their six losses have been very, very close. Jameel Pugh and Jason Harris is a great one-two punch, and Jerome (Jenkins) has done a good job bringing this new team on. They have good young players that are playing well.” On the Bobcats: “I think this team senses the excitement of what’s going on and a feel for what’s in front of it and what it can accomplish. Our defensive numbers have been pretty good, and we’ve improved our rebounding, but I think we can still play better basketball. I’m hopeful that we can put together some complete games down the stretch. At this point, though, our defense has remained consistent throughout the conference season.”
NOTING THE LUMBERJACKS
As usual, Northern Arizona is the top shooting team in the Big Sky, leading the league in scoring offense (76.5), and three-point shooting (38.3%), and standing second in field goal percentage (46.5%) and free throw shooting (70.2%)... the Lumberjacks are led by the backcourt tandem of Kyle Feuerbach, first in the league in three-pointers made at 2.75, and Kelly Golob, sixth at 2.12.
NOTING THE HORNETS
Sacramento State played a pair of heart-stopping buzzer beaters last weekend, losing on a layup as time expired at Weber and winning in overtime on a similar play at Idaho State... the road win elevates the Hornets to fourth in the Big Sky at 5-6.
SCOPING THE BOBCATS
Last Time Out
On an all-time day in Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, Casey Durham -- who literally grew up in that building -- scored a game-high 18 points with two steals to lead MSU to a 72-62 win over Montana. All of Durham’s points came on three-pointers, and he had a hand in the defensive effort that limited UM to 39.6% shooting.
Three After Three
MSU has hit at least one three-pointer in the last 324 games. From 1986 to late ‘92-93 MSU rolled up 197 straight games with a trey, giving MSU at least one three in 521 of the last 522 games.
The Three Company
This year’s Bobcat team has not been afraid to cast away from three-point range. MSU has hit 7.6 treys a game, the best rate in the Big Sky, and has attempted 535 three-pointers, also the most in the conference. MSU tied school records by hitting 14 and attempting 35 three-pointers against Wyoming.
The Magic Number
The Bobcats are 106-15 when scoring at least 80 points since ‘93-94.
Rebounding Remarks
Montana State has struggled in rebounding most of the season, but it appears that the team is making headway. MSU has moved up to sixth in the Big Sky in rebound margin (-2.9, ahead of Sac State and Idaho State), largely on the strength of a solid performance of late. MSU outrebounded ISU 41-to-25 and league-leading Weber 42-to-31, and was within two of UM.
Rebounding Redux
It’s true that the Bobcats outrebounded only one of its first seven Big Sky opponents. However, MSU has been even or positive in rebound margin in five of the 10 league games, and are virtually even in rebounding in home games.
Window Cleaner
Marvin Moss has been MSU’s top board man. His 7.2 average is third in the BSC.
Clean Sweeps
Montana State has swept three Big Sky opponents this year -- Weber State, Idaho State, and Montana -- after not registering a single sweep last year. The wins on the Weber-ISU trip was MSU’s first road sweep in three years.
The Further the Better
Half of Montana State’s 72 points against the Grizzlies on Sunday came from beyond the three-point circle.
Mick’s Milestones
Mick Durham owns two Big Sky records that are likely to stand the test of time. Durham’s Bobcats have won 230 games, the most in conference history, including 115 conference tilts, also a league best.
Road Kills
MSU’s three road wins to open the league matches the total for the previous two years combined (two in 2003, one in ‘04).
Turnover Turnarounds
Montana State has endured three major trends in turnovers this season...
Record TOs Forced Margin
First 6 1-5 17.7 15.5 -1.2
Next 11 8-3 12.9 14.7 +1.8
Last 5 4-2 17.1 16.0 -1.1
More D-D-D-Defense
Since Washington State shot 52% in the first half in the season opener, MSU has held its opponent to below 50% shooting in 36 of the 43 halves, and below 40% in 18 of those halves.
Where the Action Is
MSU has taken 41% of its field goal attempts (535-of-1,277) from beyond the three-point arc, and has scored 33% of its points (528 of 1,530) from deep.
ONE-LINERS
On the Offense...
Montana State shot 50% from the field in three of the 13 non-conference games, but has reached that mark in four of its 10 conference contests... MSU has been held below 40% shooting 10 times... the Bobcats had topped 70% from the line in three of the last seven games... while Al Beye and Dennis Woodall are shooting 24% (9-for-42) from the line, the rest of the team is 67% (229-for-342)... the Bobcats averaged 17.7 turnovers a game in the first seven outings, but have reduced the season average to 15.5.
On the Defense...
Only CSU and UWGB -- in back-to-back games -- have shot better than 50% against the ‘Cats... Montana State has held seven of its 10 Big Sky opponents to 40% shooting or less... the ‘Cats have averaged four blocks a game since Al Beye joined the starting lineup, and had eight against NAU... the Bobcats have 80 steals in the last 10 games... MSU’s two 20-turnover games came against Washington State (Pac 10) and Nebraska (Big 12).
Lineup Notes
Montana State used five different starting lineups in the team’s 13-game non-conference schedule, but has started each league game the same way... Nick Dissly, who missed the NU game, was the last player to start every game at the same position... Branden Miller and Marvin Moss are the only Bobcats to start each game... MSU has used four different starting centers... two different Bobcats have started at both guard positions... MSU is 12-8 since Ja’Ron Jefferson joined the starting lineup.
Playoff Possibilities
Montana State’s win over the Grizzlies on Sunday brought the ‘Cats to within a game of clinching a top four finish in the Big Sky standings... any combination of one MSU win or one Eastern Washington loss the rest of the way would give MSU no worse than a first-round home game in the league tourney... the Bobcats remain within a half-game of league-leading Portland State in the chase for the Big Sky regular season title... MSU plays at NAU and Sac State this weekend, and hosts Portland State and Eastern Washington in the final week of the season, while PSU closes its home season on Thursday against Idaho State then closes the year with the Montana State-Montana road trip... the first two teams to clinch Big Sky tourney berths this year were Portland State and Montana State, the teams excluded from last year’s post-season event
Wednesday, August 19
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