Scrimmage slated for Tuesday
10/26/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The University of Montana will hold its annual Maroon-Silver Scrimmage Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 6:00 p.m., Adams Center???s Dahlberg Arena. The women???s scrimmage is expected to start between 7:30 and 7:45 p.m.
Both scrimmages are free to the public.
"We???ve had a very solid first week-and-a-half of practice, marred a little bit by some illness and injury," said fourth year Griz head coach Wayne Tinkle. "But, we are hoping before our first game (at home against North Dakota) on Nov. 13th that we will back at 100 percent.
"I like our balance inside and out, and the intensity and focus that our guys have brought to practice over the last week-and-a-half ," Tinkle said. "We are excited to get in front of the public tomorrow. It is always nice for our guys to get some of the jitters out of the way. It will be a fun night for us, coupled with the Lady Griz and their scrimmage.
"We are looking forward to using the scrimmage to get better," he said. "That???s been our motto ??? try to get better every day."
This season Montana returns three starters, eight lettermen, a redshirt, one junior college transfer, and three prep players. Returning starters are guards Anthony Johnson and Ryan Staudacher, along with forward Jack McGillis.
Johnson led the Big Sky in scoring a year ago and was a first team all-league pick. The 6-3, 210-pound senior averaged 21.4 points a game in Big Sky games last season. Staudacher, a 6-4, 210-pound senior, is a prolific outside shooter and will be starting for his third season in a row. McGillis is one of three players to start all 29 games last season.
Also back are 6-11 junior center Brian Qvale, 6-4 junior guard Michael Taylor, 7-0 sophomore forward Derek Selvig, 6-1 sophomore guard Shawn Stockton, 6-3 senior forward Vassy Banny, and 6-7, redshirt freshman forward Mathias Ward.
The Griz added Raason Young, a 6-6 forward and transfer from Hagerstown Community College in Maryland, along with high school additions Will Cherry, a 6-1 guard from Oakland, Calif., (McClymonds HS), 6-9 forward Eric Hutchison from Longview, Wash., (Mark Morris HS), and 6-0 guard Ryan Nelson from Seeley Lake, Mont. (Seeley-Swan HS).
Montana will play an exhibition game on Friday, Nov. 6, hosting Lewis and Clark in a 7:05 p.m. contest in Dahlberg Arena.
