Montana State University
at Eastern Washington
Bobcats Head to Cheney for Crucial Contest Against Eastern Washington
2/22/2011 4:20:08 PM | Men's Basketball
MSU heads to Northwest for key two-game road trip
Facing a pivotal three-game stretch to decide its post-season fate, Montana State heads to the Northwest for a crucial Thursday night tilt with Eastern Washington, followed by Saturday's visit to Portland State. MSU and the Eagles enter Thursday's matchup tied for fifth in the Big Sky at 5-9, battling for a spot in the league's top six and a corresponding berth in the conference tournament. On Saturday, MSU enters one of the teams tied for seventh, Portland State, although the Vikings are ineligible for the league tournament. PSU and Idaho State, next Wednesday's MSU regular season finale, are tied for Sacramento State for seventh in the league. Two of those five teams will play themselves into the league tournament, while the other three will see their season end next week.
NEXT UP...
Montana State vs. Eastern Wash.
DATE February 24, 2011
TIPOFF 8:05 pm MT/7:05 pm PT
SITE Cheney, WA
ARENA Reese Court
RADIO Bobcat Network (Jeff Lasky)
TV Big Sky TV
LAST TIME MSU 71-59, 1/16/11 in Bozeman
MISCELLANY...
• Montana State's 11.9 turnovers per game is the 38th-best mark in the country
SERIES NOTES...
• EWU won two straight and six of the last eight vs. the Cats in Cheney
• PSU has won six of the last seven against MSU in Portland
ON THE OFFENSE...
• MSU has not shot 50% in a game since NAU in Bozeman, its only game over 50% from the field against a DI opponent
• The Cats have shot below 40% from the floor in the last six straight games
• The Bobcats turn the ball over only 11.9 times a game, the best rate in the Big Sky and 43rd-best in the nation
• MSU has just 45 turnovers in the last five games
• Seniors Bobby Howard and Erik Rush combine to score 813 of the team's 1,809 points (45%)
• Of MSU's 1,809 points, 34% (621) have been scored on three-point shots
ON THE DEFENSE...
• After a five-game stretch allowing foes to shoot 67% after halftime, last week's opponents shot 37% (16-for-43)
• Four of MSU's last seven opponents shot better than 50% from the floor
• MSU's last six opponents shoot 49-for-103 (47.6%) from the arc
