Bobcats Host EWU, PSU in Weekend Action
1/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Three teams in the middle of the jumbled Big Sky standings play in Worthington Arena this weekend, as the Bobcats host Eastern Washington and Portland State. Eight of the Big Sky’s nine teams enter this weekend’s action with three-to-five league losses. MSU stands only 2-4 against Division I opponents on its home floor, but both wins are in Big Sky play. Bobcat fans get a glimpse at Eastern’s sensational guard Rodney Stuckey, who leads the Big Sky in scoring and steals, and PSU’s bruising inside tandem of Anthony Washington and Scott Morrison.
GAME FACTS
Montana State vs. Eastern Wash.
DATE: February 1, 2007
TIPOFF: 7:05 pm
SITE: Bozeman
ARENA: Worthington Arena
RADIO: Bobcat Netw’k (Kris Atteberry)
VIDEO: BigSkyTV.org
LAST TIME: MSU 82-79, 12/28/06
Montana State vs. Portland State
DATE: February 3, 2007
TIPOFF: 7:05 pm
SITE: Bozeman
ARENA: Worthington Arena
RADIO: Bobcat Netw’k (Kris Atteberry)
VIDEO: BigSkyTV.org
LAST TIME: PSU 79-65, 12/30/06
HIGHLIGHTS
• The Bobcats shot 93% (39-for-42) from the free throw line last weekend
• Montana State has split both of its two-game league road trips this season, its only two traditional conference swings of 2007
• Nick Dissly has five 20-point scoring games this year, and has 35 rebounds in his last five games against Eastern Washington
STREAKS
• MSU had held the opponent to less than 50% shooting in 11 straight games before NAU shot 51% Saturday
• Mecklen Davis has hit 14 consecutive free throws, and leads the team at 81%
NOTEWORTHY
• MSU shot just 26% from three-point range (25-for-95) in the last four games
• Five of the last seven opponents out-rebounded the Bobcats
• Nick Dissly has 984 career points
• UNC is the only team to out-shoot MSU in a Bobcat win this year
From Bobcat Coach Brad Huse
On EWU: “Eastern Washington is a really hard team to prepare for. They have so many weapons, they can hurt you inside and outside, and Rocney Stuckey is the ultimate weapon.” On PSU: “Portland State is a lethal team, with Anthony Washington joining Scott Morrison inside. They have an inside-outside, outside-inside attack. They are very good on both accounts. Their size caused us problems last time.” On the Bobcats: “We’ll stay consistent with our game plan throughout the remainder of the season and do what we do well. At the same time, you have to know what worked against a team (the first time), and know that what worked the first time might not work the second time.”
EAGLES NOTES
Eastern’s incomparable Rodney Stuckey leads the Big Sky in scoring (24.0) and steals (2.6) and is second in assists (5.5)... Stuckey’s strong supporting cast is led by Paul Butorac (6.8 rpg, 3rd in BSC, and .638 FG%, 2nd)
VIKINGS NOTES
Dupree Lucas is among the league leaders with 13.7 points, 3.7 assists, 1.5 steals a game... Scott Morrison is fifth in the league in rebounds (6.7)
Last Time Out
NAU shot 57% in the second half and raced to an 86-76 win over the Bobcats on Saturday. The Lumberjacks raced away from MSU in a game that was tied at halftime with a 10-0 run early in the second half. Nick Dissly had 24 for the ‘Cats.
Three After Three
MSU has hit at least one three-pointer in the last 371 games. From 1986 to late ‘92-93 MSU rolled up 197 straight games with a trey, giving MSU at least one three in 568 of the last 569 games.
Holding On Tighter
MSU averaged 16.4 turnovers against its non-conference schedule, but has trimmed that to 13.5 a game against Big Sky foes.
Glasswork
Montana State’s rebounding stands as the team’s most pleasant surprise this season. MSU averages 35.4 boards a game, second in the league, and is fifth in the Big Sky in rebound margin +0.7). Last year, the ‘Cats stood fourth in rebounds (34.2) and seventh in rebound margin (-1.1). The Bobcats haven’t finished a season positive in rebound margin since 1998-99.
The Glass Master
Ted Morris has keyed MSU’s rebounding resurgence. He is second in the Big Sky with 7.4 boards a game, has led MSU in that category 14 times this year, and has at least five boards in the last six games.
Triple Threats
Two of MSU’s three in-state starters are moving up the school’s three-point charts.
7. 147 Justin Brown, 1998-01
8. 139 Nick Dissly, 2003-
10. 122 Johnny Mack, 1989-93
113 Casey Durham, 2004-
Pups
A pair of true freshmen helped key MSU’s comeback from a 14-point deficit at Northern Colorado Thursday. Danny Piepoli’s trey quelled the Bear rally that gave the home team its biggest lead, and Erik Rush scored a pair of baskets and grabbed five rebounds in the second half.
Road Kills
The Bobcats are 2-4 in league road games this year, part of a league-wide trend. Big Sky teams now stand 19-21 in conference play on the road this year.
Stalking 1,000
Nick Dissly has 986 career points, a pace that could give him more career points as a Bobcat of any Bozeman product.
1,084 - Ed Exum, 1934-38
1,033 - Scott Koelzer, 1970-73
984 - Nick Dissly, 2003-07
First-Year Facts
Brad Huse is working against history during his first season as MSU’s head coach. Since 1960, only two of the school’s seven head coaches posted a winning mark in his first season... Huse is the third straight Bobcat basketball coach to have previously served as an MSU assistant... MSU has now been coached by a native Montanan for 17 straight years.
GAME FACTS
Montana State vs. Eastern Wash.
DATE: February 1, 2007
TIPOFF: 7:05 pm
SITE: Bozeman
ARENA: Worthington Arena
RADIO: Bobcat Netw’k (Kris Atteberry)
VIDEO: BigSkyTV.org
LAST TIME: MSU 82-79, 12/28/06
Montana State vs. Portland State
DATE: February 3, 2007
TIPOFF: 7:05 pm
SITE: Bozeman
ARENA: Worthington Arena
RADIO: Bobcat Netw’k (Kris Atteberry)
VIDEO: BigSkyTV.org
LAST TIME: PSU 79-65, 12/30/06
HIGHLIGHTS
• The Bobcats shot 93% (39-for-42) from the free throw line last weekend
• Montana State has split both of its two-game league road trips this season, its only two traditional conference swings of 2007
• Nick Dissly has five 20-point scoring games this year, and has 35 rebounds in his last five games against Eastern Washington
STREAKS
• MSU had held the opponent to less than 50% shooting in 11 straight games before NAU shot 51% Saturday
• Mecklen Davis has hit 14 consecutive free throws, and leads the team at 81%
NOTEWORTHY
• MSU shot just 26% from three-point range (25-for-95) in the last four games
• Five of the last seven opponents out-rebounded the Bobcats
• Nick Dissly has 984 career points
• UNC is the only team to out-shoot MSU in a Bobcat win this year
From Bobcat Coach Brad Huse
On EWU: “Eastern Washington is a really hard team to prepare for. They have so many weapons, they can hurt you inside and outside, and Rocney Stuckey is the ultimate weapon.” On PSU: “Portland State is a lethal team, with Anthony Washington joining Scott Morrison inside. They have an inside-outside, outside-inside attack. They are very good on both accounts. Their size caused us problems last time.” On the Bobcats: “We’ll stay consistent with our game plan throughout the remainder of the season and do what we do well. At the same time, you have to know what worked against a team (the first time), and know that what worked the first time might not work the second time.”
EAGLES NOTES
Eastern’s incomparable Rodney Stuckey leads the Big Sky in scoring (24.0) and steals (2.6) and is second in assists (5.5)... Stuckey’s strong supporting cast is led by Paul Butorac (6.8 rpg, 3rd in BSC, and .638 FG%, 2nd)
VIKINGS NOTES
Dupree Lucas is among the league leaders with 13.7 points, 3.7 assists, 1.5 steals a game... Scott Morrison is fifth in the league in rebounds (6.7)
Last Time Out
NAU shot 57% in the second half and raced to an 86-76 win over the Bobcats on Saturday. The Lumberjacks raced away from MSU in a game that was tied at halftime with a 10-0 run early in the second half. Nick Dissly had 24 for the ‘Cats.
Three After Three
MSU has hit at least one three-pointer in the last 371 games. From 1986 to late ‘92-93 MSU rolled up 197 straight games with a trey, giving MSU at least one three in 568 of the last 569 games.
Holding On Tighter
MSU averaged 16.4 turnovers against its non-conference schedule, but has trimmed that to 13.5 a game against Big Sky foes.
Glasswork
Montana State’s rebounding stands as the team’s most pleasant surprise this season. MSU averages 35.4 boards a game, second in the league, and is fifth in the Big Sky in rebound margin +0.7). Last year, the ‘Cats stood fourth in rebounds (34.2) and seventh in rebound margin (-1.1). The Bobcats haven’t finished a season positive in rebound margin since 1998-99.
The Glass Master
Ted Morris has keyed MSU’s rebounding resurgence. He is second in the Big Sky with 7.4 boards a game, has led MSU in that category 14 times this year, and has at least five boards in the last six games.
Triple Threats
Two of MSU’s three in-state starters are moving up the school’s three-point charts.
7. 147 Justin Brown, 1998-01
8. 139 Nick Dissly, 2003-
10. 122 Johnny Mack, 1989-93
113 Casey Durham, 2004-
Pups
A pair of true freshmen helped key MSU’s comeback from a 14-point deficit at Northern Colorado Thursday. Danny Piepoli’s trey quelled the Bear rally that gave the home team its biggest lead, and Erik Rush scored a pair of baskets and grabbed five rebounds in the second half.
Road Kills
The Bobcats are 2-4 in league road games this year, part of a league-wide trend. Big Sky teams now stand 19-21 in conference play on the road this year.
Stalking 1,000
Nick Dissly has 986 career points, a pace that could give him more career points as a Bobcat of any Bozeman product.
1,084 - Ed Exum, 1934-38
1,033 - Scott Koelzer, 1970-73
984 - Nick Dissly, 2003-07
First-Year Facts
Brad Huse is working against history during his first season as MSU’s head coach. Since 1960, only two of the school’s seven head coaches posted a winning mark in his first season... Huse is the third straight Bobcat basketball coach to have previously served as an MSU assistant... MSU has now been coached by a native Montanan for 17 straight years.
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