Thursday, March 7
Bozeman, MT
8:00 p.m.
Montana State University
vs
NORTHERN ARIZONA
Christian Moon and the Bobcats host NAU Thursday
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcats Kick Off Crucial Weekend with NAU on Thursday
3/6/2013 2:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MSU, Lumberjacks each bring 8-10 league mark into weekend play
The importance of college basketball games either fall or rise precipitously as the season's end nears. Count the three teams converging on Worthington Arena in the latter category.
MSU Game Notes vs. NAU
Montana State prepares to entertain Northern Arizona on Thursday and Sacramento State on Saturday afternoon, with each of the three teams standing 8-10 in Big Sky play. Those three join Northern Colorado (9-10) and Southern Utah (8-10) as five teams battling for the final four spots in this year's seven-team Big Sky Conference Tournament. Tipoff Thursday is 8:05 pm.
Huse knows what's at stake. “Our post-season has begun,” he says. “That's what it's about right now. These games are our season, you can't deny that. There's obviously a lot of importance each night, and that's what you play for. A lot of teams are out of contention, out of the hunt, at all levels, right now. It's good to be playing for something.”
Like most Big Sky teams, the Lumberjacks are fueled by an explosive guard corps. Senior Gabe Rogers has terrified Big Sky defenses for years now, and his senior campaign has been no different. He averages 17.9 points a game, also dishing out nearly two assists an outing. Freshman DeWayne Russell has been a revelation for the Lumberjacks, pouring in 14.7 points a game while grabbing 2.5 rebounds and helping on 3.3 baskets each time out.
“Teams in our league have really gone small this year,” said MSU coach Brad Huse. “Teams are using lineups with three, sometimes four guards, and we've faced all-guard lineups on occasion this year. Northern Arizona's three-guard lineups has been very effective. It creates matchup problems for us defensively.”
Acknowledging that it also creates matchup difficulties for the opponent on the other end of the court, Huse lauded the play of forward Flavien Davis, who scored a career-high 30 points against Montana Saturday. “Flavien missed a couple of games for a family funeral and had trouble getting back into the groove he'd found. But Saturday he had all parts of his game working, and we need him to keep playing at a high level.”
Huse also looks to his defense to continuing at a high level, which it has approached in holding three straight opponents under 50 percent shooting. Prior to that, three straight foes had topped 60%. “We got knocked off track defensively when Paul (Egwuonwu, MSU's starting center) and Flavien were out of the lineup, but I don't think we lost who we are defensively. We have played hard throughout, and that's the important factor for us.”
After Thursday's 8 pm game, MSU hosts Sacramento State for Senior Day on Saturday at 2:35 pm.
MSU Game Notes vs. NAU
Montana State prepares to entertain Northern Arizona on Thursday and Sacramento State on Saturday afternoon, with each of the three teams standing 8-10 in Big Sky play. Those three join Northern Colorado (9-10) and Southern Utah (8-10) as five teams battling for the final four spots in this year's seven-team Big Sky Conference Tournament. Tipoff Thursday is 8:05 pm.
Huse knows what's at stake. “Our post-season has begun,” he says. “That's what it's about right now. These games are our season, you can't deny that. There's obviously a lot of importance each night, and that's what you play for. A lot of teams are out of contention, out of the hunt, at all levels, right now. It's good to be playing for something.”
Like most Big Sky teams, the Lumberjacks are fueled by an explosive guard corps. Senior Gabe Rogers has terrified Big Sky defenses for years now, and his senior campaign has been no different. He averages 17.9 points a game, also dishing out nearly two assists an outing. Freshman DeWayne Russell has been a revelation for the Lumberjacks, pouring in 14.7 points a game while grabbing 2.5 rebounds and helping on 3.3 baskets each time out.
“Teams in our league have really gone small this year,” said MSU coach Brad Huse. “Teams are using lineups with three, sometimes four guards, and we've faced all-guard lineups on occasion this year. Northern Arizona's three-guard lineups has been very effective. It creates matchup problems for us defensively.”
Acknowledging that it also creates matchup difficulties for the opponent on the other end of the court, Huse lauded the play of forward Flavien Davis, who scored a career-high 30 points against Montana Saturday. “Flavien missed a couple of games for a family funeral and had trouble getting back into the groove he'd found. But Saturday he had all parts of his game working, and we need him to keep playing at a high level.”
Huse also looks to his defense to continuing at a high level, which it has approached in holding three straight opponents under 50 percent shooting. Prior to that, three straight foes had topped 60%. “We got knocked off track defensively when Paul (Egwuonwu, MSU's starting center) and Flavien were out of the lineup, but I don't think we lost who we are defensively. We have played hard throughout, and that's the important factor for us.”
After Thursday's 8 pm game, MSU hosts Sacramento State for Senior Day on Saturday at 2:35 pm.
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