Montana State opens the second half of the Big Sky season the way it opened the first - with a crucial conference home game. Making the turn at 5-3, the Bobcats host the team directly ahead in the standings, the red-hot Grizzlies. Montana enters the second half of the league season 7-1 and hot on the heels of league-leading Northern Colorado (7-0). Reigning Big Sky Player of the Week Brian Qvale leads the Grizzlies, and rolled up 17 points and 18 rebounds against the Bobcats in last Saturday's 75-61 UM win over MSU in Missoula. Guard Will Cherry provided a lightning-flash spark against the Bobcats, finishing with 16 points, while Art Steward led all scorers with 19. Erik Rush continues to quietly churn out tremendous performances for the Bobcast, averaging 15.7 points. He enters Saturday's game with 998 career points.
MSU Game Notes vs. Montana
NEXT UP...
Montana State vs. Montana
DATE January 29, 2011
TIPOFF 7:05 pm
SITE Bozeman, MT
ARENA Worthington Arena
RADIO Bobcat Network (Jeff Lasky)
TV Montana's New Network (Derek Buerkle, Aslan Hodges)
LAST TIME UM 75-61 on 1/22/11 in Missoula
MISCELLANY...
• MSU has trailed at halftime in three straight games
• MSU is 5-0 when turning the ball over less than 10 times, 8-1 when recording more assists than turnovers
• The Cats have more rebounds than the opponent in four straight games, with a +30 margin in that span
SERIES NOTES...
• The Bobcats have split the four matchups between Brad Huse and Wayne Tinkle in Bozeman
ON THE OFFENSE...
• Montana State has not shot 50% from the field in a game since Northern Arizona (52.8%)
• The Cats turn the ball over only 12.3 times per game, best rate in the Big Sky and 53rd-best in the nation
•
Erik Rush has either scored or assisted on 34% of MSU's field goals
• Of MSU's 1,381 points, 35% (489) have been scored on three-point shots
ON THE DEFENSE...
• MSU has held its last three opponents to 40.1% shooting, with two of the three shooting under 40%
• The Bobcats' nine steals at Sac State matched MSU's single-game high against Division I competition
