Monday, February 7
Pocatello, ID
6 p.m.
Montana State University
at
Idaho State
RaeQuan Battle
Photo by: Andrew Pedersen
Men’s Hoops Takes on Idaho State Monday at 6 PM in Pocatello
2/6/2022 3:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Montana State makes its way north on Interstate 15 on its current road trip to face Idaho State Monday for a 6 p.m. tipoff versus the Bengals in Reed Gym
| Montana State Bobcats (17-5, 9-2) vs. Idaho State Bengals (4-16, 2-9) | |
| Date and Time | Sunday, Feb. 7 - 6 p.m. MT |
| Location | Pocatello, Idaho |
| Site | Reed Gym |
| Stream | ESPN+ |
| Radio | KMMS 1450 AM | Bobcat Sports Radio Network |
| Listen Live | Varsity Network app |
| Live Stats | ISUBengals.com |
| Montana State | Game Notes | Men's Basketball Home Page |
| Idaho State | Men's Basketball Home Page |
POCATELLO, Idaho – Montana State makes its way north on Interstate 15 on its current road trip to face Idaho State Monday for a 6 p.m. tipoff versus the Bengals in Reed Gym. The matchup follows a rare victory MSU picked up in Ogden over Weber State on Saturday.
The Bobcats shot over 50% from the field and led for over 38 minutes in the contest en route to a 78-57 win. MSU held a strong offensive WSU unit to just 36% shooting while picking up just its second win in 13 previous visits to the Dee Events Center. The victory was MSU's 10th ever in Ogden, while Danny Sprinkle improved to 3-3 in his coaching coaching career against the Wildcats.
MSU was led by four double-digit scorers in the matchup in Xavier Bishop, Jubrile Belo, Amin Adamu and RaeQuan Battle. Bishop's 18 points improved his team-leading Big Sky scoring average to 14.5 while he surpassed 1,650 career points. Belo moved to third in MSU history in blocks (105) with Al Beye and is second on the team averaging 14.2 points in Big Sky games. Amin Adamu improved his league scoring average to 12.9 points thanks to 12 alone in the first half in Ogden. Battle, who is shooting 53.3% in league play, registered his fifth straight game scoring 10-plus points. Also factoring in was Abdul Mohamed who had a near double-double (9/9).
Montana State enters Monday's outing in Pocatello riding an eight-game win streak and having won 13 of its last 14 contests. The eight straight victories are the most since 2002 when that squad had nine consecutive wins. MSU is currently 17-5 overall this season. That mark through 22 games is MSU's best since the 1986-87 season when that group began the year with a similar mark, eventually opening the season 20-5 overall.
The Bobcats' 9-2 start in Big Sky play is also one of their best this century. MSU also opened the 2001-02 ledger with the same record and closed out league play by finishing 12-2 to claim the conference's regular season title. That team went 20-10 overall.
Montana State has a positive winning percentage in true away contests this season with a 7-4 record. The Bobcats have won six straight road games, a span that is the longest for the program during its Division I era. The 'Cats have only recorded three positive winning percentages in away contests in its Big Sky history which includes 2002 (6-1), 1995 (7-4) and 1988 (8-6).
Sprinkle helped the Bobcats through a strong four-year as a player and now he's doing it at a historical level guiding the program. Sprinkle is the first Bobcat coach to reach 46 wins before the end of his third season in over 84 years. His 46-30 mark only trails Brick Breeden who from 1935-38 led the Bobcats to a 50-23 mark.
MSU is currently ranked 123rd in the NCAA's Net Rankings. The ranking is the highest for MSU since 2002 and is among the best for the Bobcats ever, trailing their RPI at the end of the 1987 (63rd), 1996 (72nd) and 2002 (97th) seasons.
Idaho State enters Monday's meeting with some positive momentum after ending a 22-game skid to Montana behind an 86-63 rout on Saturday. ISU and MSU meet for the second time this year. MSU's 60-40 win on New Year's Day was the lowest point total the Bobcats have given up in two seasons. The Bobcats have won seven straight over the Bengals and lead the all-time 118-87, but are 42-60 in Pocatello.
Montana State's game versus Idaho State 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.
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/ Men's BasketballBobcat Insider TV Show
Thursday, March 03
Inside The Brick (Amin Adamu)
Friday, November 05
Inside The Brick (Nick Gazelas)
Monday, November 01
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