Photo by: Garrett Becker
Bobcat Hoops Makes Strides as 2019-20 Season Closes
3/19/2020 5:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Montana State men's basketball team had its season come to an unexpected end without a loss in the Big Sky Tournament a week ago, but achieved several new marks not seen in the past decade
BOZEMAN, Mont. - Montana State was set to make its debut at the 2020 Big Sky Tournament on Thursday, March 12, at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho. The Bobcats' season came to an end before it began in the quarterfinals, which was set to pit MSU against Portland State, when the Big Sky Conference canceled the remainder of the championships due to the evolving COVID-19 public health threat.
The Bobcats entered the tournament as the No. 5 seed. MSU clinched a bye and spot in the quarterfinals with a 73-65 victory over Southern Utah in Bozeman on March 5. The automatic spot in the quarterfinals served as the first time MSU had earned a bye in the conference tournament since the league moved to a neutral site. The Bobcats had previously earned byes in Big Sky tournaments in 1988, 1996, 2002 and 2005.
The end to the 2019-20 basketball season resulted in MSU completing its schedule with a 16-15 overall record. The winning record was the first for the program since the 2009-10 season when the Bobcats finished 15-14 overall. MSU's spot in the quarterfinals of the Big Sky Tournament was just its third in the previous 15 seasons.
MSU's 16 overall wins tied for the most for the program since the 2001-02 slate which saw the Bobcats win the Big Sky Conference's regular season championship by going 20-10 overall and 12-2 in the Big Sky. The Bobcats also had 16 wins in 2016-17. This season's overall winning record was their third since MSU's last regular season title, which includes 2009-10 and the 2003-04 squad that finished 14-13.
MSU had one of its best win outputs under a first-year coach in nearly half a century. Led by Danny Sprinkle in his debut season, the 16 victories were the most for a first-year MSU coach since Hank Anderson guided the 1972-73 team to a 17-9 mark.
Senior Harald Frey and junior Jubrile Belo each were honored by the Big Sky on Tuesday, March 10, as All-Conference selections. Frey was selected to the Big Sky's First Team for the first time in his career. Belo, a Third-Team honoree, was named the conference's Newcomer of the Year. Belo became just the second Bobcat to earn the award, joining Damir Latovic who won it in 2002.
Frey became the program's record holder in consecutive games played and started with 127 during MSU's Senior Day game versus Northern Colorado on March 7. The Oslo, Norway, native completed his fourth season in Blue and Gold third among all-time Bobcats in points (1,890) and second in assists (514), free throws made (456) and 3-pointers (270). He finished 12th on the Big Sky's all-time scoring list and seventh in assists.
He served as MSU's leader in several categories during his senior season. His 159 free throws were the third most in a single season and his 87.4% clip from the line was the fifth best mark. He narrowly finished outside MSU's top five in marks by a senior in points (516), steals (46), assists (142) and 3-pointers (61).
MSU finished with one of its best home schedules when it comes to attendance. The Bobcats hosted 14 games in Worthington Arena and averaged 3,463 fans per contest. The average was the Bobcats' highest in over a decade. MSU saw an average of 4,767 fans in 2008, while the 2005-06 slate had 3,596 per game.
The Bobcats went 16-4 this season when allowing 70 points or less to an opponent. That mark was the most since the 'Cats held 23 foes to 70 or less during the 2001-02 slate.
The Bobcats entered the tournament as the No. 5 seed. MSU clinched a bye and spot in the quarterfinals with a 73-65 victory over Southern Utah in Bozeman on March 5. The automatic spot in the quarterfinals served as the first time MSU had earned a bye in the conference tournament since the league moved to a neutral site. The Bobcats had previously earned byes in Big Sky tournaments in 1988, 1996, 2002 and 2005.
The end to the 2019-20 basketball season resulted in MSU completing its schedule with a 16-15 overall record. The winning record was the first for the program since the 2009-10 season when the Bobcats finished 15-14 overall. MSU's spot in the quarterfinals of the Big Sky Tournament was just its third in the previous 15 seasons.
MSU's 16 overall wins tied for the most for the program since the 2001-02 slate which saw the Bobcats win the Big Sky Conference's regular season championship by going 20-10 overall and 12-2 in the Big Sky. The Bobcats also had 16 wins in 2016-17. This season's overall winning record was their third since MSU's last regular season title, which includes 2009-10 and the 2003-04 squad that finished 14-13.
MSU had one of its best win outputs under a first-year coach in nearly half a century. Led by Danny Sprinkle in his debut season, the 16 victories were the most for a first-year MSU coach since Hank Anderson guided the 1972-73 team to a 17-9 mark.
Senior Harald Frey and junior Jubrile Belo each were honored by the Big Sky on Tuesday, March 10, as All-Conference selections. Frey was selected to the Big Sky's First Team for the first time in his career. Belo, a Third-Team honoree, was named the conference's Newcomer of the Year. Belo became just the second Bobcat to earn the award, joining Damir Latovic who won it in 2002.
Frey became the program's record holder in consecutive games played and started with 127 during MSU's Senior Day game versus Northern Colorado on March 7. The Oslo, Norway, native completed his fourth season in Blue and Gold third among all-time Bobcats in points (1,890) and second in assists (514), free throws made (456) and 3-pointers (270). He finished 12th on the Big Sky's all-time scoring list and seventh in assists.
He served as MSU's leader in several categories during his senior season. His 159 free throws were the third most in a single season and his 87.4% clip from the line was the fifth best mark. He narrowly finished outside MSU's top five in marks by a senior in points (516), steals (46), assists (142) and 3-pointers (61).
MSU finished with one of its best home schedules when it comes to attendance. The Bobcats hosted 14 games in Worthington Arena and averaged 3,463 fans per contest. The average was the Bobcats' highest in over a decade. MSU saw an average of 4,767 fans in 2008, while the 2005-06 slate had 3,596 per game.
The Bobcats went 16-4 this season when allowing 70 points or less to an opponent. That mark was the most since the 'Cats held 23 foes to 70 or less during the 2001-02 slate.
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