MSU Game Notes vs. NAU
2/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MONTANA STATE (13-10/5-5) vs. Northern Arizona (15-9/7-4)
With a challenging three-game road trip in its rear view mirror, Montana State faces a daunting home opponent on Thursday when Northern Arizona comes calling. The Lumberjacks snapped a three-game skein Sunday afternoon by topping Eastern Washington, maintaining their status as one of the teams remaining in contention for the Big Sky regular season title. The Bobcats emerge from the three-game road stretch in the middle of the conference pack at 5-5, battling for a berth, and advantageous seeding, in the Big Sky Tournament.
THIS WEEK...
Montana State vs. Northern Arizona
DATE - February 14, 2008
TIPOFF - 7:05 pm
SITE - Bozeman, MT
ARENA - Worthington Arena
RADIO - Bobcat Network (Jeff Lasky)
VIDEO - Big Sky TV.org
LAST TIME - NAU 78-58 on 1/12 at NAU
Montana State vs. Sacramento State
DATE - February 17, 2008
TIPOFF - 2:05 pm
SITE - Bozeman, MT
ARENA - Worthington Arena
RADIO - Bobcat Network (Jeff Lasky)
VIDEO - Altitude
LAST TIME - NAU 78-58 on 1/12 at NAU
MISCELLANY...
• Carlos Taylor (four) is the only Big Sky player with more than one 30-point game this season
• NAU has beaten the Bobcats twice in a row in Worthington Arena
ON THE OFFENSE...
• In all games, MSU leads the Big Sky Conference in scoring (74.6)
• After out-scoring its opponents in six straight second halves, Portland State and Montana turned those tables on MSU in the Bobcats’ last two outings
• The Bobcats shoot 75.2% from the line, best in the Big Sky and tied for 23rd nationally
• MSU’s 12.9 turnovers per conference game is the second-lowest rate in the league
ON THE DEFENSE...
• Montana’s 72% shooting in the second half Saturday was the best half against the Bobcats this year
• The Cats allowed 184 points in its last 2 games after surrendering less than 70 in the previous four outings
• MSU leads the Big Sky in three-point defense (33.3%) and in blocks (3.2)
Last Time Out
Montana State couldn’t overcome Montana’s blistering second-half shooting, falling to the Grizzlies 88-76 in Missoula on Saturday. Grizzly center Andrew Strait posted a performance befitting a standout senior, scoring 20 points to lead UM.
Three After Three
MSU has hit at least one three-pointer in its last 401 games. From 1986 to late ‘92-93 MSU rolled up a 197-game streak and has a three in 598 of the last 599.
Watch This
Senior guard Casey Durham continues to move up MSU’s record lists. Here is a look at his current record-chasing status...
Three-point FG 3rd 180 (Pete Conway is 2nd, 188)
Assists 7th 318 (Tom Domako is 6th, 345)
Steals 5th 133 (Chris Conway is 4th, 137)
Swats
After swatting 3.2 shots a game last year, the Bobcats turn away the same number this year, best in the Big Sky. MSU blocks 3.9 shots a game in league play, the best mark in the loop. Divaldo Mbunga (5th, 1.13) and Adrian Zamora (6th, 1.09) are among Big Sky leaders.
Free is Good
MSU leads the Big Sky in free throw shooting at 75.2%. The Bobcats stand tied for 23rd nationally in FT percentage.
Turning the Turnstiles
Montana State continues to lead the Big Sky Conference in attendance, drawing 4,685 to its home men’s games this year.
Troubling Trends
NAU coach Mike Adras is 3-5 in Worthington Arena, but has won two straight... Sacramento State coach Jerome Jenkins has more wins against MSU (10) than against any other two Big Sky schools combined... Nine of Sac State’s 37 league wins since 2001 are vs. MSU.
Thirty... Something!
Carlos Taylor has scored at least 30 points four times this season, the second-highest total in school history. He is the only Big Sky player with multiple 30-pointers this season. (MSU’s recorded history dates to 1927, with several seasons in the ‘40s and ‘50s unavailable.)
30-pt games: 70 vs. colleges, 3 vs. independents
Consecutive 30-pointers: 4 times (Nate Holmstadt, 2 straight, 96-97; Tom Domako, 2, 87-88; Willie Weeks, 4, 70-71; Jack Gillespie, 2, 67-68). 30-pointers, season: 5-Tom Storm, 1967. 30-pointers, career: 9-Tom Storm, 1965-67
It’s the Rims
While the Bobcats shoot 42% from the floor away from Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, MSU hits 49% of its shots at home. Ironically, Bobcat Division I opponents shoot well in the Fieldhouse (46%).
Second Half Surprise
Montana’s 72% shooting against the Bobcats in the second half Saturday is easily the best mark against MSU after intermission this year (Boise shot 67%), and also stands as the single-best shooting half by a Bobcat opponent this year.
Yakimania
Branden Johnson and Andrew Strait share this year’s unofficial Yakima Cup, as both the MSU forward and UM center swept Eastern Washington (and forward Jack Loofburrow) while splitting the Cat-Griz rivalry down the middle. Those three players are the Big Sky’s Yakima products.
Catching Up with Carlos
Here is a look at the historical significance of Carlos Taylor’s 34-point outbursts against the Grizzlies and Sac State...
Single-Game Scoring, MSU History: T21st
Single-Game Scoring, FH History: T23rd
Single-Game Scoring in FH by a Bobcat: 14th
Single-Game Scoring vs. UM: 4th
With a challenging three-game road trip in its rear view mirror, Montana State faces a daunting home opponent on Thursday when Northern Arizona comes calling. The Lumberjacks snapped a three-game skein Sunday afternoon by topping Eastern Washington, maintaining their status as one of the teams remaining in contention for the Big Sky regular season title. The Bobcats emerge from the three-game road stretch in the middle of the conference pack at 5-5, battling for a berth, and advantageous seeding, in the Big Sky Tournament.
THIS WEEK...
Montana State vs. Northern Arizona
DATE - February 14, 2008
TIPOFF - 7:05 pm
SITE - Bozeman, MT
ARENA - Worthington Arena
RADIO - Bobcat Network (Jeff Lasky)
VIDEO - Big Sky TV.org
LAST TIME - NAU 78-58 on 1/12 at NAU
Montana State vs. Sacramento State
DATE - February 17, 2008
TIPOFF - 2:05 pm
SITE - Bozeman, MT
ARENA - Worthington Arena
RADIO - Bobcat Network (Jeff Lasky)
VIDEO - Altitude
LAST TIME - NAU 78-58 on 1/12 at NAU
MISCELLANY...
• Carlos Taylor (four) is the only Big Sky player with more than one 30-point game this season
• NAU has beaten the Bobcats twice in a row in Worthington Arena
ON THE OFFENSE...
• In all games, MSU leads the Big Sky Conference in scoring (74.6)
• After out-scoring its opponents in six straight second halves, Portland State and Montana turned those tables on MSU in the Bobcats’ last two outings
• The Bobcats shoot 75.2% from the line, best in the Big Sky and tied for 23rd nationally
• MSU’s 12.9 turnovers per conference game is the second-lowest rate in the league
ON THE DEFENSE...
• Montana’s 72% shooting in the second half Saturday was the best half against the Bobcats this year
• The Cats allowed 184 points in its last 2 games after surrendering less than 70 in the previous four outings
• MSU leads the Big Sky in three-point defense (33.3%) and in blocks (3.2)
Last Time Out
Montana State couldn’t overcome Montana’s blistering second-half shooting, falling to the Grizzlies 88-76 in Missoula on Saturday. Grizzly center Andrew Strait posted a performance befitting a standout senior, scoring 20 points to lead UM.
Three After Three
MSU has hit at least one three-pointer in its last 401 games. From 1986 to late ‘92-93 MSU rolled up a 197-game streak and has a three in 598 of the last 599.
Watch This
Senior guard Casey Durham continues to move up MSU’s record lists. Here is a look at his current record-chasing status...
Three-point FG 3rd 180 (Pete Conway is 2nd, 188)
Assists 7th 318 (Tom Domako is 6th, 345)
Steals 5th 133 (Chris Conway is 4th, 137)
Swats
After swatting 3.2 shots a game last year, the Bobcats turn away the same number this year, best in the Big Sky. MSU blocks 3.9 shots a game in league play, the best mark in the loop. Divaldo Mbunga (5th, 1.13) and Adrian Zamora (6th, 1.09) are among Big Sky leaders.
Free is Good
MSU leads the Big Sky in free throw shooting at 75.2%. The Bobcats stand tied for 23rd nationally in FT percentage.
Turning the Turnstiles
Montana State continues to lead the Big Sky Conference in attendance, drawing 4,685 to its home men’s games this year.
Troubling Trends
NAU coach Mike Adras is 3-5 in Worthington Arena, but has won two straight... Sacramento State coach Jerome Jenkins has more wins against MSU (10) than against any other two Big Sky schools combined... Nine of Sac State’s 37 league wins since 2001 are vs. MSU.
Thirty... Something!
Carlos Taylor has scored at least 30 points four times this season, the second-highest total in school history. He is the only Big Sky player with multiple 30-pointers this season. (MSU’s recorded history dates to 1927, with several seasons in the ‘40s and ‘50s unavailable.)
30-pt games: 70 vs. colleges, 3 vs. independents
Consecutive 30-pointers: 4 times (Nate Holmstadt, 2 straight, 96-97; Tom Domako, 2, 87-88; Willie Weeks, 4, 70-71; Jack Gillespie, 2, 67-68). 30-pointers, season: 5-Tom Storm, 1967. 30-pointers, career: 9-Tom Storm, 1965-67
It’s the Rims
While the Bobcats shoot 42% from the floor away from Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, MSU hits 49% of its shots at home. Ironically, Bobcat Division I opponents shoot well in the Fieldhouse (46%).
Second Half Surprise
Montana’s 72% shooting against the Bobcats in the second half Saturday is easily the best mark against MSU after intermission this year (Boise shot 67%), and also stands as the single-best shooting half by a Bobcat opponent this year.
Yakimania
Branden Johnson and Andrew Strait share this year’s unofficial Yakima Cup, as both the MSU forward and UM center swept Eastern Washington (and forward Jack Loofburrow) while splitting the Cat-Griz rivalry down the middle. Those three players are the Big Sky’s Yakima products.
Catching Up with Carlos
Here is a look at the historical significance of Carlos Taylor’s 34-point outbursts against the Grizzlies and Sac State...
Single-Game Scoring, MSU History: T21st
Single-Game Scoring, FH History: T23rd
Single-Game Scoring in FH by a Bobcat: 14th
Single-Game Scoring vs. UM: 4th
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
