With its first road win of the season under its belt, Montana State faces its sternest test to date on Saturday night, visiting explosive Oregon of the Pac 10. The Ducks played without starters Michael Dunigan and Joevan Catron in the team's loss to Montana last week, and both are questionable for Saturday. Bobcat coach Brad Huse found a couple extra cards in his hand in Wednesday's 70-66 win at San Francisco with the return of guards Will Bynum and Marquis Navarre. Navarre dished out a career-high eight assists against USF, while Bynum added three steals. Bobby Howard emerged as the story of the game, though, pouring in 21 points on 9-for-11 shooting, and grabbing six rebounds.
NEXT UP...
Montana State at Oregon
DATE: November 28, 2009
TIPOFF: 8:36 pm MST/7:36 pm PST
SITE: Eugene, OR
ARENA: McArthur Court
RADIO: Bobcat Network (Jeff Lasky)
VIDEO: Comcast
LAST TIME: UO 64-55, 1982-83
MISCELLANY...
* Montana State is 0-1 in its only visit to San Francisco, a 77-64 Dons win on December 1, 1998. The Bobcats returned the favor a week later in Worthington Arena, 81-66.
* The Bobcats finished 2008-09 with a 3-1 record in overtime games, beating Colorado, Oregon State and Utah Valley while losing at UCSB
* Bobby Howard's six career 20-point games have come against Boise State, Colorado, Oregon State, CS Fullerton, Weber State, and San Francisco
SERIES NOTES...
* Montana State lost in its last contest against Oregon, a 64-55 Ducks win on December 26, 1982, in Portland
* The last Bobcat win in the series was a 75-72 triumph at Eugene in 1972-73
ON THE OFFENSE...
* Montana State has turned the ball over 33 times in the last two games, including a season-high 19 against Southern Miss at home
* Erik Rush leads the Bobcats with 17 assists, 16 turnovers and six steals
ON THE DEFENSE...
* Defending Big Sky steals champion Will Bynum picked San Francisco clean on three occasions Wednesday
* MSU has held its last two opponents to 43% shooting
