Tuesday, March 7
Reno, NV
9:05 p.m. MT
Montana State University
vs
Southern Utah
MSU's lone senior Quinton Everett
Bobcats Open Big Sky Tournament Play Against Southern Utah
3/6/2017 10:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MSU looks for first league tourney win since 2009
RENO, Nevada - Awards are nice. Regular season achievements are terrific. But for Montana State freshman Harald Frey, what matters begins Tuesday.
"We're in Reno for the (Big Sky) Tournament," the newly-minted league freshman of the year said after his team's final real tune-up on Monday. "This is what's important."
Frey and the Bobcats face Southern Utah at 9 pm MT on Tuesday in the First Round of the Big Sky Conference Men's Basketball Championship Tournament. The Cats enter play as the sixth seed, while SUU is 11th. MSU defeated the Thunderbirds 83-78 in Cedar City four weeks ago.
"It's March and everything's magnified," said Bobcat coach Brian Fish. "Every win counts triple. We played Southern Utah a month ago we we'll have to get familiar with them but at this time of year everyone knows everyone and it's a matter of going out and playing well."
Those factors matter little when the Cats take the floor Tuesday. Montana State seeks its first tournament win since wins at Montana and at Weber State in 2009. MSU has never met Southern Utah in the post-season, but stands 8-7 all-time as the Big Sky Tourney's sixth seed.
While unanimous All-Big Sky First Team choice Tyler Hall – the 2016 Big Sky Freshman of the Year – teams with Frey to give MSU the first-ever back-to-back selections in that category, Southern Utah is not without its stars. Randy Onwuasor earned the league's award for top newcomer, and he edged Hall by two points for Big Sky scoring honors. He shone for SUU in a rebuilding campaign during which the team finished 5-26 but was outscored by less than eight points a game.
For the Bobcats, rebounding and free throws remain a key. The team was edged on the boards and blasted at the line in Saturday's loss at Weber State, which snapped the team's second five-game winning streak of the season. MSU is 9-0 this season when shooting more free throws than the opponent. Southern Utah finished two boards a game better than the Cats in rebounding margin during league play.
The winner of the Southern Utah (5-26 overall, 3-15 in Big Sky play) vs. Montana State (16-15, 11-7) game meets Weber State on Thursday at 9 pm MT. The loser is eliminated. Audio and video of the game is available at meubobcats.com.
"We're in Reno for the (Big Sky) Tournament," the newly-minted league freshman of the year said after his team's final real tune-up on Monday. "This is what's important."
Frey and the Bobcats face Southern Utah at 9 pm MT on Tuesday in the First Round of the Big Sky Conference Men's Basketball Championship Tournament. The Cats enter play as the sixth seed, while SUU is 11th. MSU defeated the Thunderbirds 83-78 in Cedar City four weeks ago.
"It's March and everything's magnified," said Bobcat coach Brian Fish. "Every win counts triple. We played Southern Utah a month ago we we'll have to get familiar with them but at this time of year everyone knows everyone and it's a matter of going out and playing well."
Those factors matter little when the Cats take the floor Tuesday. Montana State seeks its first tournament win since wins at Montana and at Weber State in 2009. MSU has never met Southern Utah in the post-season, but stands 8-7 all-time as the Big Sky Tourney's sixth seed.
While unanimous All-Big Sky First Team choice Tyler Hall – the 2016 Big Sky Freshman of the Year – teams with Frey to give MSU the first-ever back-to-back selections in that category, Southern Utah is not without its stars. Randy Onwuasor earned the league's award for top newcomer, and he edged Hall by two points for Big Sky scoring honors. He shone for SUU in a rebuilding campaign during which the team finished 5-26 but was outscored by less than eight points a game.
For the Bobcats, rebounding and free throws remain a key. The team was edged on the boards and blasted at the line in Saturday's loss at Weber State, which snapped the team's second five-game winning streak of the season. MSU is 9-0 this season when shooting more free throws than the opponent. Southern Utah finished two boards a game better than the Cats in rebounding margin during league play.
The winner of the Southern Utah (5-26 overall, 3-15 in Big Sky play) vs. Montana State (16-15, 11-7) game meets Weber State on Thursday at 9 pm MT. The loser is eliminated. Audio and video of the game is available at meubobcats.com.
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