Saturday, January 7
Moscow, ID
8 p.m. MT
Montana State University
at
Idaho
Sam Neumann
Photo by: Dennis Hubbard
Bobcats Wrap Up Road Trip at Idaho on Saturday Night
1/7/2017 7:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MSU looks to slow high-scoring Vandal Victor Sanders
Brian Fish liked a lot of what he saw from Montana State defensively when the ball was nearest the floor in his team's loss at Eastern Washington on Thursday. But he knows its performance when the ball is launched toward the basket needs to improve for his team to beat Idaho on Saturday.
"I thought we defended well for long stretches (on Thursday)," Fish said. "But we need to rebound better. When the ball is in the air (after a shot, Idaho) thinks it belongs to them. We're going to have to compete for the ball (when it's shot)."
Montana State faces Idaho at 8 pm MST in the Cowan Spectrum, a basketball arena created with curtains inside the ASUI Kibbie Dome on the UI campus. Spectacular guard Victor Sanders, a senior who missed last year's game between these long-time rivals, leads the Vandals with 18.6 points. Brayon Blake anchors UI's inside attack with 10.3 points and 7.1 rebounds, but he did not play in the team's loss to Montana on Thursday.
"(Sanders) is a talented player, he can score in a lot of different ways, and really believes in himself," Fish said. "That's important."
One of the Big Sky's top scorers, Sanders shoots 45% from the floor and 40% from the three-point circle. Chad Sherwood and Trevon Allen provide scoring from deep, as well.
Much of Fish's emphasis has been on the defensive end in recent weeks. He likes the progress his team has made in that area in the break between semesters. "I think we've made a big jump in talking, in trusting each other," he said. "We still have to get better, but they're working hard and improving."
Tyler Hall continues to lead the Bobcat offense after pouring in 33 points Thursday, and Devonte Klines remains an ascending player. He scored 14 points on Thursday, the second straight game he's set a season high. The other three starters, though, combined for eight points, and Hall contributed more than half the team's total of 64.
"Idaho is really a strong defensive team," Fish said. "They're strong inside and they will pack it in and defend."
After Saturday's game against the Vandals, the Cats host North Dakota and Northern Colorado next weekend.
"I thought we defended well for long stretches (on Thursday)," Fish said. "But we need to rebound better. When the ball is in the air (after a shot, Idaho) thinks it belongs to them. We're going to have to compete for the ball (when it's shot)."
Montana State faces Idaho at 8 pm MST in the Cowan Spectrum, a basketball arena created with curtains inside the ASUI Kibbie Dome on the UI campus. Spectacular guard Victor Sanders, a senior who missed last year's game between these long-time rivals, leads the Vandals with 18.6 points. Brayon Blake anchors UI's inside attack with 10.3 points and 7.1 rebounds, but he did not play in the team's loss to Montana on Thursday.
"(Sanders) is a talented player, he can score in a lot of different ways, and really believes in himself," Fish said. "That's important."
One of the Big Sky's top scorers, Sanders shoots 45% from the floor and 40% from the three-point circle. Chad Sherwood and Trevon Allen provide scoring from deep, as well.
Much of Fish's emphasis has been on the defensive end in recent weeks. He likes the progress his team has made in that area in the break between semesters. "I think we've made a big jump in talking, in trusting each other," he said. "We still have to get better, but they're working hard and improving."
Tyler Hall continues to lead the Bobcat offense after pouring in 33 points Thursday, and Devonte Klines remains an ascending player. He scored 14 points on Thursday, the second straight game he's set a season high. The other three starters, though, combined for eight points, and Hall contributed more than half the team's total of 64.
"Idaho is really a strong defensive team," Fish said. "They're strong inside and they will pack it in and defend."
After Saturday's game against the Vandals, the Cats host North Dakota and Northern Colorado next weekend.
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