Robert Ford III
Photo by: Larry Lawson/Portland State Athletics
Bobcats Bolster 2023-24 Roster with Experienced Division I Players
5/15/2023 3:26:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Robert Ford III and Chika Nduka, a Portland transfer, give Matt Logie's first Bobcat team a veteran presence
BOZEMAN, Montana – Matt Logie began building Montana State's 2023-24 with a pair of players boasting Division I experience, the first-year Bobcat men's basketball coach announced Monday.
Chika Nduka, a 6-5 junior forward from the University of Portland, becomes the first player to officially join Logie's initial Bobcat team. Bobcat point guard Robert Ford III also announced his plans to return to MSU for his senior season. "I am thrilled to welcome Chika to the Montana State Bobcat family, and excited that Robert will play his senior season here," Logie said. "They are proven college players who have their best basketball in front of them."
A Seattle native, Nduka averaged 5.7 points and 3.8 rebounds a game for the Pilots last season, and 7.8 points with 5.6 boards as a freshman in 2021-22. He shot 57.6% from the floor and 58.1% from the line last season, finishing his Pilots career shooting 6-18 from the three-point circle and 52.6% from the floor. He played in 34 games with 19 starts as a freshman, 10 games with no starts last season.
Nduka played against the Bobcats twice in 2021-22, scoring four points with three rebounds, an assist and a turnover on November 26, 2021 on a neutral court before getting six points with three boards and a steal on December 19, 2021 in Bozeman. He logged career highs of 15 points against Pepperdine and 14 rebounds against Bushnell in 2021-22.
"Chika is someone whom we'd admired from afar due to his continued improvement and production at the University of Portland," Logie said. "He brings with him two years of productive WCC experience, a winner's mentality and the versatility in the front court to play effectively with a variety of players around him."
Ford III transferred to MSU from Idaho State a year ago, and played in all 35 Bobcat games last season, starting two. He averaged 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds in his first season with the Cats, dishing out 64 assists with 33 steals and 44 turnovers. He posted season highs of 12 points against Northern Colorado and Eastern Washington last year, and in 2020-21 started all 24 games for ISU with 11.4 points and 7.2 rebounds a game. He earned Honorable Mention All-Big Sky honors. In 2021-22 he played in the Bengals' first nine games before an injury cut his season short. The Portland, Oregon native began his collegiate career at Clackamas Community College (2018-20).
"We are very excited that Robert will be returning for his final season here at MSU," Logie said. "As an integral part of last year's NCAA tournament team, he brings an experience level and toughness to our back court that will continue to be greatly appreciated. Robert has been an all-conference player in the Big Sky Conference and is now healthy after overcoming injuries last season. I'm excited to help Robert continue to grow as a player and leader during this transition and know that his best basketball as a Bobcat is in front of him."
Logie said that Nduka and Ford III bring foundational traits to the Bobcat program. "Most importantly, Chika and Robert are tremendously high character kids and will be great representatives of MSU and the Bozeman community as we continue to compete for Big Sky Championships," he said.
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Chika Nduka, a 6-5 junior forward from the University of Portland, becomes the first player to officially join Logie's initial Bobcat team. Bobcat point guard Robert Ford III also announced his plans to return to MSU for his senior season. "I am thrilled to welcome Chika to the Montana State Bobcat family, and excited that Robert will play his senior season here," Logie said. "They are proven college players who have their best basketball in front of them."
A Seattle native, Nduka averaged 5.7 points and 3.8 rebounds a game for the Pilots last season, and 7.8 points with 5.6 boards as a freshman in 2021-22. He shot 57.6% from the floor and 58.1% from the line last season, finishing his Pilots career shooting 6-18 from the three-point circle and 52.6% from the floor. He played in 34 games with 19 starts as a freshman, 10 games with no starts last season.
Nduka played against the Bobcats twice in 2021-22, scoring four points with three rebounds, an assist and a turnover on November 26, 2021 on a neutral court before getting six points with three boards and a steal on December 19, 2021 in Bozeman. He logged career highs of 15 points against Pepperdine and 14 rebounds against Bushnell in 2021-22.
"Chika is someone whom we'd admired from afar due to his continued improvement and production at the University of Portland," Logie said. "He brings with him two years of productive WCC experience, a winner's mentality and the versatility in the front court to play effectively with a variety of players around him."
Ford III transferred to MSU from Idaho State a year ago, and played in all 35 Bobcat games last season, starting two. He averaged 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds in his first season with the Cats, dishing out 64 assists with 33 steals and 44 turnovers. He posted season highs of 12 points against Northern Colorado and Eastern Washington last year, and in 2020-21 started all 24 games for ISU with 11.4 points and 7.2 rebounds a game. He earned Honorable Mention All-Big Sky honors. In 2021-22 he played in the Bengals' first nine games before an injury cut his season short. The Portland, Oregon native began his collegiate career at Clackamas Community College (2018-20).
"We are very excited that Robert will be returning for his final season here at MSU," Logie said. "As an integral part of last year's NCAA tournament team, he brings an experience level and toughness to our back court that will continue to be greatly appreciated. Robert has been an all-conference player in the Big Sky Conference and is now healthy after overcoming injuries last season. I'm excited to help Robert continue to grow as a player and leader during this transition and know that his best basketball as a Bobcat is in front of him."
Logie said that Nduka and Ford III bring foundational traits to the Bobcat program. "Most importantly, Chika and Robert are tremendously high character kids and will be great representatives of MSU and the Bozeman community as we continue to compete for Big Sky Championships," he said.
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