Bobcats Head to Missoula for Cat-Griz II
2/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Two teams jostling for position in the Big Sky Conference meet in Missoula Saturday, as the Bobcats and Grizzlies get together with just a game separating the two. Chosen by many as the preseason Big Sky favorites, Montana rallied for a road win at Eastern Washington on Sunday and begins a three-game homestand against MSU. The Bobcats won at EWU Thursday before falling 96-85 at Portland State Saturday. This week’s game offers an interesting contrast. MSU enters the game second in the league in field goal defense (league games only), while Montana is second in shooting percentage.
THIS WEEK...
Montana State vs. Montana
DATE February 9, 2008
TIPOFF 7:05 pm
SITE Missoula, MT
ARENA Dahlberg Arena
RADIO Bobcat Network (Jeff Lasky)
VIDEO Montana’s News Stations
LAST TIME MSU 74-58, 1/5/08 @ MSU
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
MISCELLANY...
• Carlos Taylor’s fourth 30-point game of the season Saturday leaves him one from the MSU single-season record • MSU has lost two straight and four of its last five in Missoula
ON THE OFFENSE...
• In all games, MSU leads the Big Sky Conference in scoring, while Montana leads the league in scoring defense • Portland State was the first Bobcat opponent in six games to outscore Montana State in the second half • The Bobcats lead the Big Sky in free throw shooting at 75.0% in all games, a stand among the nation’s top 30 in that category • MSU’s 13.0 turnovers per conference game is the second-lowest rate in the league
ON THE DEFENSE...
• Montana State stands second in the Big Sky in FG percentage defense
Portland State has scored exactly 96 points on MSU’s last two trips to the Stott Center • MSU leads the Big Sky in three-point defense (32.0%) and in blocks (3.2)
Last Time Out
Portland State exploded for a 17-3 run early in the second half to take control and run away with a 96-85 win over MSU in the Stott Center on Saturday. Jeremiah Dominguez scored 28 points to lead the Vikings, who have scored 96 points in back-to-back games against the Cats.
Three After Three
MSU has hit at least one three-pointer in the last 400 games. From 1986 to late ‘92-93 MSU rolled up a 197-game streak and has a three in 597 of the last 598.
Watch This
By assisting on 10 of MSU’s 49 field goals last weekend, senior guard Casey Durham moved into seventh place on MSU’s career assists list. Here is a look at Durham’s current record-chasing status...
Three-point FG 3rd 178 (Pete Conway is 2nd, 188)
Assists 7th 315 (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 3.3 shots a game this year, best in the Big Sky. MSU blocks 4.1 shots a game in league play, the best mark in the loop. Divaldo Mbunga (5th, 1.2) and Adrian Zamora (6th, 1.1) are among Big Sky leaders.
Free is Good
MSU leads the Big Sky in free throw shooting at 74.4%. The Bobcats stand 33rd nationally in free throw 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. In its four conference home games, MSU has attracted an average crowd of 5,638.5, the best total in the league. In its four conference road games, MSU has played in front of a cumulative total of 5,874 fans.
Half the Story
If Montana State played only 20 minute games this season, it would be in trouble. As it is, on aggregate the second 20 minutes have been MSU’s best. MSU’s shooting improves from 41.5% to 48.8% after halftime, while its defense makes a similar step up, from allowing 45.6% to 40.2%.
Thirty... Something!
Carlos Taylor has scored at least 30 points four times this season, the second-highest total in school history. Below is a look at Montana State’s recorded history of 30-point games, dating to 1927 (with several seasons missing in the 1940s 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 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%).
Yakimania
Saturday’s Cat-Griz game marks the final meeting of the Big Sky’s three Yakima, Wash., products in the regular season. So far this year, Branden Johnson and Andrew Strait are each 2-0 against Eastern Washington’s Jack Loofburrow, while Johson helped the Cats to a win over Montana and Andrew Strait back on January 5. Johnson and Loofburrow played at Eisenhower, while UM’s Andrew Strait represents West Valley HS.
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. Montana
DATE February 9, 2008
TIPOFF 7:05 pm
SITE Missoula, MT
ARENA Dahlberg Arena
RADIO Bobcat Network (Jeff Lasky)
VIDEO Montana’s News Stations
LAST TIME MSU 74-58, 1/5/08 @ MSU
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
MISCELLANY...
• Carlos Taylor’s fourth 30-point game of the season Saturday leaves him one from the MSU single-season record • MSU has lost two straight and four of its last five in Missoula
ON THE OFFENSE...
• In all games, MSU leads the Big Sky Conference in scoring, while Montana leads the league in scoring defense • Portland State was the first Bobcat opponent in six games to outscore Montana State in the second half • The Bobcats lead the Big Sky in free throw shooting at 75.0% in all games, a stand among the nation’s top 30 in that category • MSU’s 13.0 turnovers per conference game is the second-lowest rate in the league
ON THE DEFENSE...
• Montana State stands second in the Big Sky in FG percentage defense
Portland State has scored exactly 96 points on MSU’s last two trips to the Stott Center • MSU leads the Big Sky in three-point defense (32.0%) and in blocks (3.2)
Last Time Out
Portland State exploded for a 17-3 run early in the second half to take control and run away with a 96-85 win over MSU in the Stott Center on Saturday. Jeremiah Dominguez scored 28 points to lead the Vikings, who have scored 96 points in back-to-back games against the Cats.
Three After Three
MSU has hit at least one three-pointer in the last 400 games. From 1986 to late ‘92-93 MSU rolled up a 197-game streak and has a three in 597 of the last 598.
Watch This
By assisting on 10 of MSU’s 49 field goals last weekend, senior guard Casey Durham moved into seventh place on MSU’s career assists list. Here is a look at Durham’s current record-chasing status...
Three-point FG 3rd 178 (Pete Conway is 2nd, 188)
Assists 7th 315 (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 3.3 shots a game this year, best in the Big Sky. MSU blocks 4.1 shots a game in league play, the best mark in the loop. Divaldo Mbunga (5th, 1.2) and Adrian Zamora (6th, 1.1) are among Big Sky leaders.
Free is Good
MSU leads the Big Sky in free throw shooting at 74.4%. The Bobcats stand 33rd nationally in free throw 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. In its four conference home games, MSU has attracted an average crowd of 5,638.5, the best total in the league. In its four conference road games, MSU has played in front of a cumulative total of 5,874 fans.
Half the Story
If Montana State played only 20 minute games this season, it would be in trouble. As it is, on aggregate the second 20 minutes have been MSU’s best. MSU’s shooting improves from 41.5% to 48.8% after halftime, while its defense makes a similar step up, from allowing 45.6% to 40.2%.
Thirty... Something!
Carlos Taylor has scored at least 30 points four times this season, the second-highest total in school history. Below is a look at Montana State’s recorded history of 30-point games, dating to 1927 (with several seasons missing in the 1940s 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 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%).
Yakimania
Saturday’s Cat-Griz game marks the final meeting of the Big Sky’s three Yakima, Wash., products in the regular season. So far this year, Branden Johnson and Andrew Strait are each 2-0 against Eastern Washington’s Jack Loofburrow, while Johson helped the Cats to a win over Montana and Andrew Strait back on January 5. Johnson and Loofburrow played at Eisenhower, while UM’s Andrew Strait represents West Valley HS.
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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