MSU Game Notes vs. Portland State
2/27/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
While the Bobcats enter Senior Weekend facing potentially the last two home games for four outstanding seniors, there is a lot more at stake in the Fieldhouse this weekend than throwing a farewell party. MSU faces a list of possibilities ranging from finishing third in the Big Sky all the way to missing the league tournament, and one of the most daunting tasks of the year is up first, as the Bobcats face a dominant (11-2 in the Big Sky) Portland State team looking to wrap up the league title in Worthington Arena for the second time in four years. With a win, MSU clinches a spot in the Big Sky Tournament.
THIS WEEK...
Montana State vs. Portland State
DATE - February 28, 2008
TIPOFF - 7:05 pm
SITE - Bozeman, MT
ARENA - Worthington Arena
RADIO - Bobcat Network (Jeff Lasky)
VIDEO - BigSkyTV.org
LAST TIME - PSU 96-85 at PSU, 2/2/08
Montana State vs. Northern Colorado
DATE - March 1, 2008
TIPOFF - 7:05 pm
SITE - Bozeman, MT
ARENA - Worthington Arena
RADIO - Bobcat Network (Jeff Lasky)
VIDEO - BigSkyTV.org
LAST TIME - MSU 70-67 at NC, 1/24/08
MISCELLANY...
• Portland State clinches its second Big Sky title in four years with its next win, or with a Weber State loss, and PSU clinched its last league crown in Worthington Arena with an 88-82 OT win over the Cats on 2/24/05
ON THE OFFENSE...
• MSU struggled to its worst scoring (49 points) and shooting (32.0%) games of the season last Thursday night at Idaho State • The Bobcats shot 10-for-10 from the line Saturday at Weber State, and remain 23rd in the nation in FT % • Montana State shot 38% from the floor last weekend, and continue to shoot far better at home (49.8%) than on the road (41.8%)
ON THE DEFENSE...
• Bobcat opponents shoot exactly 50% (124-of-208) in the last four games • Opponents shoot 44.1% against the Bobcats both in the Fieldhouse and on the road • MSU opponents shoot 47.6% from three-point range in the last 5 games
Last Time Out
Weber State overcame a 10-point halftime deficit by scoring on its first eight possessions of the second half en route to a 73-63 lead. Daviin Davis scored 17 points and Arturas Valeika grabbed 16 rebounds to lead the Wildcats, while Carlos Taylor led the Cats with 22 points.
Look Out Below
MSU is 3-6 against teams ahead of or tied with the Bobcats in the Big Sky standings, 4-1 against teams trailing MSU.
Three After Three
MSU has hit at least one three-pointer in its last 405 games. From 1986 to late ‘92-93 MSU rolled up a 197-game streak and has a three in 602 of the last 603.
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 2nd 192 (Danny Sprinkle is 1st, 263)
Assists 7th 325 (Tom Domako is 6th, 345)
Steals 4th 142 (Kwesi Coleman is 3rd, 155)
Swats
MSU averages 3.3 blocked shots a game this year, second in the league and slightly ahead of last year. Divaldo Mbunga (5th, 1.16) and Adrian Zamora (6th, 1.08) are among Big Sky leaders.
Free is Good
MSU shoots 74.8% from the free throw line, best in the Big Sky and 23rd nationally, after a 10-for-10 showing Saturday.
Turning the Turnstiles
Montana State leads the Big Sky, averaging 4,712 fans at its home games.
Tale of the Turnover
Turnovers played a key role in MSU’s weekend sweep. The Cats matched their season low with nine against NAU, then forced a season-high 23 vs. Sac State.
Acquaintances Old...
Montana State’s Senior Night opponent, Northern Colorado, is an old league-mate of the Bobcats. MSU and the Bears competed against each other in the Rocky Mountain Conference from 1937-56.
...and New
The Bobcats have struggled at times with the newer members of the Big Sky. In the 21st century, MSU is 18-20 against the teams admitted to the league in 1996-97.
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. (NOTE-Records unavailable before 1927, and during the ‘40s and ‘50s.)
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 41% 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%).
Single-Season Sensations
Category Current Player Next on the List
Points: 19th-Carlos Taylor, 506 Bill Brickhouse, 21st, 502
3 FG: NR-Casey Durham, 61 Danny Sprinkle, 10th, 62
Blocks: NR-Divaldo Mbunga, 34 D. Michaels, 10th, 39
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
THIS WEEK...
Montana State vs. Portland State
DATE - February 28, 2008
TIPOFF - 7:05 pm
SITE - Bozeman, MT
ARENA - Worthington Arena
RADIO - Bobcat Network (Jeff Lasky)
VIDEO - BigSkyTV.org
LAST TIME - PSU 96-85 at PSU, 2/2/08
Montana State vs. Northern Colorado
DATE - March 1, 2008
TIPOFF - 7:05 pm
SITE - Bozeman, MT
ARENA - Worthington Arena
RADIO - Bobcat Network (Jeff Lasky)
VIDEO - BigSkyTV.org
LAST TIME - MSU 70-67 at NC, 1/24/08
MISCELLANY...
• Portland State clinches its second Big Sky title in four years with its next win, or with a Weber State loss, and PSU clinched its last league crown in Worthington Arena with an 88-82 OT win over the Cats on 2/24/05
ON THE OFFENSE...
• MSU struggled to its worst scoring (49 points) and shooting (32.0%) games of the season last Thursday night at Idaho State • The Bobcats shot 10-for-10 from the line Saturday at Weber State, and remain 23rd in the nation in FT % • Montana State shot 38% from the floor last weekend, and continue to shoot far better at home (49.8%) than on the road (41.8%)
ON THE DEFENSE...
• Bobcat opponents shoot exactly 50% (124-of-208) in the last four games • Opponents shoot 44.1% against the Bobcats both in the Fieldhouse and on the road • MSU opponents shoot 47.6% from three-point range in the last 5 games
Last Time Out
Weber State overcame a 10-point halftime deficit by scoring on its first eight possessions of the second half en route to a 73-63 lead. Daviin Davis scored 17 points and Arturas Valeika grabbed 16 rebounds to lead the Wildcats, while Carlos Taylor led the Cats with 22 points.
Look Out Below
MSU is 3-6 against teams ahead of or tied with the Bobcats in the Big Sky standings, 4-1 against teams trailing MSU.
Three After Three
MSU has hit at least one three-pointer in its last 405 games. From 1986 to late ‘92-93 MSU rolled up a 197-game streak and has a three in 602 of the last 603.
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 2nd 192 (Danny Sprinkle is 1st, 263)
Assists 7th 325 (Tom Domako is 6th, 345)
Steals 4th 142 (Kwesi Coleman is 3rd, 155)
Swats
MSU averages 3.3 blocked shots a game this year, second in the league and slightly ahead of last year. Divaldo Mbunga (5th, 1.16) and Adrian Zamora (6th, 1.08) are among Big Sky leaders.
Free is Good
MSU shoots 74.8% from the free throw line, best in the Big Sky and 23rd nationally, after a 10-for-10 showing Saturday.
Turning the Turnstiles
Montana State leads the Big Sky, averaging 4,712 fans at its home games.
Tale of the Turnover
Turnovers played a key role in MSU’s weekend sweep. The Cats matched their season low with nine against NAU, then forced a season-high 23 vs. Sac State.
Acquaintances Old...
Montana State’s Senior Night opponent, Northern Colorado, is an old league-mate of the Bobcats. MSU and the Bears competed against each other in the Rocky Mountain Conference from 1937-56.
...and New
The Bobcats have struggled at times with the newer members of the Big Sky. In the 21st century, MSU is 18-20 against the teams admitted to the league in 1996-97.
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. (NOTE-Records unavailable before 1927, and during the ‘40s and ‘50s.)
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 41% 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%).
Single-Season Sensations
Category Current Player Next on the List
Points: 19th-Carlos Taylor, 506 Bill Brickhouse, 21st, 502
3 FG: NR-Casey Durham, 61 Danny Sprinkle, 10th, 62
Blocks: NR-Divaldo Mbunga, 34 D. Michaels, 10th, 39
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
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