Montana State Makes Quick Trip to Idaho to Face Vandals

Thursday, January 6

Moscow, ID

7 p.m.

Montana State University

Idaho

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Jubrile Belo

Photo by: Garrett Becker

1/4/2022 2:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Montana State is set to travel for a single-game road trip to Moscow, Idaho, as the Bobcats get set to take on the Vandals Thursday. MSU returns home for its next two contests with the first Cat-Griz matchup of the season on deck for the ‘Cats at 5 p.m. Sunday.

By: Andrew Pedersen

Montana State Bobcats (10-5) vs. Idaho Vandals (3-8)
Date and Time	Thursday, Jan. 6 - 7 p.m. MT
Location	Moscow, Idaho
Site	ICCU Arena
Stream	ESPN+
Radio	KMMS 1450 AM \| Bobcat Sports Radio Network
Listen Live	Varsity Network app
Live Stats	GoVandals.com
Montana State	Game Notes \| Men's Basketball Home Page
Idaho	Men's Basketball Home Page

BOZEMAN, Mont. – Montana State is set to travel for a single-game road trip to Moscow, Idaho, as the Bobcats prepare to take on the Vandals Thursday. MSU returns home for its next two contests with the first Cat-Griz matchup of the season on deck for the 'Cats at 5 p.m. Sunday.

The Bobcats head into the Thursday contest with a 10-5 overall record and sit 2-2 in Big Sky Conference play. MSU dropped an 85-75 decision to Weber State on Dec. 30 despite the margin being within a single possession entering the final minute of action. The Bobcats responded with a 60-40 home win over Idaho State on New Year's Day.

MSU opened its Big Sky slate on Dec. 2 at Northern Colorado. The Bobcats held a 64-62 advantage over the Bears with 17 seconds left, but the Bears used a putback by Kor Jongkuch as the buzzer sounded to send the game to overtime. UNC, which currently leads the league standings at 3-0, eventually defeated MSU 77-75. The Bobcats led by as many as 20 in the second half over Sacramento State on Dec. 4, but had to hold off a Hornets comeback late to escape The Nest with a 68-66 win.

Montana State leads the all-time series over Idaho 67-51. The Bobcats had a six-game winning streak over the Vandals before Idaho defeated MSU in the first of two games in Moscow last season on Feb. 26, 74-69. The 'Cats responded with a 71-61 win over the Vandals two days later to split the season series.

Idaho is scheduled to play its first game in nearly three weeks when the Vandals host the Bobcats. The Vandals last played on Dec. 18 when they defeated SAGU AIC, 84-55, before their next three contests were canceled due to COVID-19 issues. The Vandals are 3-8 overall with all of their victories coming at home in the inaugural season of ICCU Arena. One of their wins was in 98-84 fashion over South Dakota State on Dec. 8, a team MSU fell 91-74 to in Brookings.

Idaho ranks as the second-best 3-point shooting team in the conference with a 37.6% clip, while Idaho holds opponents to 30.6% from deep. Mikey Dixon leads the Vandals offensively scoring 16.3 points per game. Philip Pepple Jr. blocks a Big Sky-leading 1.7 shots per contest.

The Bobcats continue to be paced by their customary starting lineup of Amin Adamu, Jubrile Belo, Xavier Bishop, Tyler Patterson and Abdul Mohamed. Four of those Bobcats have started in every game while Patterson has started in each contest but one. Each of the five players is averaging more than 25 minutes per game on the court, while Belo (13.7), Bishop (11.7) and Adamu (10.7) are averaging double digits in scoring through 15 games.

While Bishop surpassed the 1,500-career point total versus Portland on Dec. 19, he hit the 450-assist total for his career in MSU's win over Idaho State. Two other Bobcats are also closing in on achievements. Adamu stands at 824 points and is on pace for 1,000 in his career. Belo is closer to that career mark with 933 points.

Team trends continue to stand out for the Bobcats. MSU is 10-2 this year when an opponent shoots under 50%, including a 9-1 mark when the 'Cats outshoot their foe. The Bobcats are also 9-0 when they keep an opponent to scoring less than 70 points.

Montana State's game against Idaho will be streamed on ESPN+. The game will also be broadcast on the Bobcat Radio Network on KMMS 1450 AM as well as on the Varsity Network app. Links for live streams, live stats and radio coverage are available on the men's basketball schedule page on msubobcats.com.