Thursday, January 3
BOZEMAN
7 pm
Montana State University
vs
Portland State
Harald Frey enters Thursday's game a dozen points from 1,000
Photo by: Andrew Pedersen
GAME #13: Bobcats Host Fast-Paced, Pressure-Oriented Portland State Thursday
1/3/2019 3:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Montana State plays first home game in 37 days
BOZEMAN, Montana – Brian Fish knows one thing for certain about Montana State's Big Sky home opener against Portland State on Thursday at 7 pm. "They're clean," the fifth-year coach said of Montana State's home uniforms. "We haven't worn those white jerseys in a while."
Montana State's first home game in 37 days brings Portland State and its frenetic style to Worthington Arena. The Vikings play an up-tempo style focusing on pressure defense and an aggressive offensive approach. The Vikings have shot the ball nearly 200 times more than their opponents, and more than one-third of the team's field goal attempts originate beyond the three-point circle. The team's shot surplus arises from the ability to create turnovers and grab rebounds.
"When you look at their ability to rebound and their ability to turn you over," Fish said, "they're a challenge. They're going to press, they're going to get after you. Their rebound margin is one of the best in the country. Barret (Peery, PSU head coach) does a really good job with his team."
The Vikings own a rebound margin of +11.4, and a turnover margin of +2.8. Portland State averages 19.3 offensive rebounds a game, only six rebounds fewer than its opponents' defensive rebounding average. Robert McCoy leads the way with 6.5 boards a contest, while Jamie Orme gets 5.8. Four Vikings have at least 15 steals on the season.
While Portland State has played only one road game in the last 35 days, the Vikings have dropped four straight games. Northern Colorado earned a 73-60 win in Viking Pavilion on Monday to drop PSU's record to 5-7, 0-1 in Big Sky play. The Bobcats earned a road split to open Big Sky play, winning at Southern Utah before dropping a New Year's Eve matinee at Northern Arizona.
While veteran guards Tyler Hall (18.4 points per game) and Harald Frey (21.5 points over the last four games) continue to pace the Bobcats, the process of player development over the season's first two months has led Fish to aggressive player usage in recent weeks. Sophomore Devin Kirby has become a mainstay for the Cats, leading the team with 6.2 rebounds per game, while classmate Lassi Nikkarinen has developed into a solid backup point guard. True freshmen forwards Zeke Quinlan (team-high 11.2 rebounds per 40 minutes) and Quentin Guliford (21 points in the last three games) have provided a boost.
"It's a long gauntlet," Fish said of the Big Sky Conference season. "It's a 20-game conference schedule, so you really need depth over that long a stretch. We'll probably continue (that trend) as we go through the season."
Tipoff Thursday is 7 pm in Worthington Arena.
#GoCatsGo
Montana State's first home game in 37 days brings Portland State and its frenetic style to Worthington Arena. The Vikings play an up-tempo style focusing on pressure defense and an aggressive offensive approach. The Vikings have shot the ball nearly 200 times more than their opponents, and more than one-third of the team's field goal attempts originate beyond the three-point circle. The team's shot surplus arises from the ability to create turnovers and grab rebounds.
"When you look at their ability to rebound and their ability to turn you over," Fish said, "they're a challenge. They're going to press, they're going to get after you. Their rebound margin is one of the best in the country. Barret (Peery, PSU head coach) does a really good job with his team."
The Vikings own a rebound margin of +11.4, and a turnover margin of +2.8. Portland State averages 19.3 offensive rebounds a game, only six rebounds fewer than its opponents' defensive rebounding average. Robert McCoy leads the way with 6.5 boards a contest, while Jamie Orme gets 5.8. Four Vikings have at least 15 steals on the season.
While Portland State has played only one road game in the last 35 days, the Vikings have dropped four straight games. Northern Colorado earned a 73-60 win in Viking Pavilion on Monday to drop PSU's record to 5-7, 0-1 in Big Sky play. The Bobcats earned a road split to open Big Sky play, winning at Southern Utah before dropping a New Year's Eve matinee at Northern Arizona.
While veteran guards Tyler Hall (18.4 points per game) and Harald Frey (21.5 points over the last four games) continue to pace the Bobcats, the process of player development over the season's first two months has led Fish to aggressive player usage in recent weeks. Sophomore Devin Kirby has become a mainstay for the Cats, leading the team with 6.2 rebounds per game, while classmate Lassi Nikkarinen has developed into a solid backup point guard. True freshmen forwards Zeke Quinlan (team-high 11.2 rebounds per 40 minutes) and Quentin Guliford (21 points in the last three games) have provided a boost.
"It's a long gauntlet," Fish said of the Big Sky Conference season. "It's a 20-game conference schedule, so you really need depth over that long a stretch. We'll probably continue (that trend) as we go through the season."
Tipoff Thursday is 7 pm in Worthington Arena.
#GoCatsGo
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