Griz close grueling road stretch at Idaho

Montana at Idaho / Saturday / 8 p.m. (MT) / Moscow, Idaho

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For the second consecutive week, Montana will take a bus ride west on I-90, this time making a stop in Moscow, Idaho, to face the Vandals on Saturday evening. The longtime rivals have a deep history against each other, a series that dates back more than a century.

A year ago, the two teams met just once, a 79-77 overtime loss for the Griz in Moscow. Montana thought it might get a second crack at the Vandals in the postseason tournament, but Idaho, the No. 2 seed, was upset in the quarterfinals by No. 10 seed Southern Utah.

With one of the nation's most-veteran teams, the Vandals were the preseason favorites to win the league a year ago. This year, Montana will see a brand new look. The Vandals have six freshmen and two transfers, including a pair of freshmen starters. Overall, the Vandals returned just 6.9 percent of their scoring and 7.0 of their rebounding, including zero starters.

With an entirely new roster, the Vandals have struggled out of the gate, coming into Saturday with a 4-12 record overall, including a 1-4 mark in Big Sky play. They have lost eight of their last nine games.

While the Vandals have struggled, Montana recently learned that it can't overlook an opponent, regardless of their record. The Grizzlies suffered setbacks to Portland State and at Eastern Washington in the past two weeks; Idaho's lone conference win was to Eastern Washington, 74-71.

Idaho is led by junior Trevon Allen, who averages 15.2 points per game on .480 shooting. Freshman Cameron Tyson averages 14.1 points per game while shooting .438 from three-point range (34th in NCAA), while fellow freshman Jared Rodriguez is the team's leading rebounder, with 6.3 per game, in addition to 10.2 points.

The Vandals' top statistical category is turnovers, surrendering the ball just 12.5 times per game (68th in NCAA). However, they rarely force turnovers, with opponents averaging 9.6 per game against Idaho (-2.9 margin).

After being the only Big Sky team to play six conference games through the first 15 days – three of which were on the road – Montana had a full week to rest and prepare for Saturday night's showdown. While the week off has been much needed, Idaho has been off even longer, last playing on Jan. 10, and last leaving Moscow on Jan. 5.

Tipoff on Saturday is scheduled for 8 p.m. MT. Fans can catch the game on Pluto TV (ch. 242), WatchBigSky.com and the Grizzly Sports Radio Network.

SCOUTING IDAHO

Idaho is 4-12 this season, including 1-4 in Big Sky play. The Vandals have lost eight of their last nine games, with their lone win coming over Eastern Washington, 74-71, on Jan. 3.
Idaho's other Division-I win came against North Dakota, 67-54, on the road.
In Big Sky play, Idaho's .414 three-point shooting percentage leads the league.
Idaho has five players averaging at least 8.0 points per game, including three in double figures.
Junior Trevon Allen ranks fifth in Big Sky play with 18.6 points per game, shooting .559 from the floor (ninth) while dishing out 2.8 assists per game (10th). His .529 three-point field-goal percentage in Big Sky games ranks second in the league.
Freshman Cameron Tyson is already Idaho's all-time leader for three-pointers by a freshman. He ranks 28th nationally with 3.31 makes per game on .438 shooting (34th).
Freshman Jared Rodriguez had a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds at Northern Colorado on Jan. 5. He ranks sixth in Big Sky play for rebounding (6.6) and 10th for free-throw shooting (.842).
Idaho is the nation's only team to have zero returning starters on its roster. Its lone senior, Nate Sherwood, is expected to miss the entirety of the season.
Idaho has used nine different starting lineup combinations, with no player starting every game.
After winning 22 games in 2017-18, Idaho graduated six seniors. The Vandals returned just 6.9 percent of its scoring and 7.0 percent of its rebounding.

SERIES VS. THE VANDALS
The series between Montana and Idaho dates back more than a century, to the 1915-16 season. The Grizzlies have played Idaho more than any other opponent besides Montana State, and have beaten the Vandals more than any team aside from the Cats and Idaho State. Overall, Montana is 87-110 against Idaho, including 3-5 since the Vandals rejoined the conference in 2014. The Griz are looking to snap a three-game losing streak to the Vandals. Two of the losses have come in overtime, while the other was in the 2017 Big Sky quarterfinals.

Montana's last win in the series came Jan. 5, 2017, 70-57 in Moscow. In that game, Ahmaad Rorie (19), Michael Oguine (14) and Bobby Moorehead (10) were all in double figures.

In four career games vs. the Vandals, Rorie is averaging 16.3 points. Oguine has scored in double figures in his last five games vs. Idaho, averaging 16.4 during that span. Moorehead had 13 points on 5-of-5 shooting against the Vandals in the 2016 Big Sky semifinals.

THE ROAD MORE TRAVELED
Montana hasn't had an easy start to its Big Sky schedule. The Grizzlies played four games in the first eight days before playing two more the following week, becoming the only school to play six games through the first 15 days.

Saturday will finally end a grueling stretch that has included seven road games over a nine-game period – all but the first two being in Big Sky play.

MOMENTUM-BUILDING WIN
Montana hopes it has put its two losses in the rear-view mirror and can build off of its statement victory at Northern Colorado on Jan. 12. The Bears entered the contests unbeaten in league play and atop the league, but were handled by the Grizzlies, trailing by as many as 30 points, including at least 20 points over the final 13:28 of the contest.

PRIDGETT RECOGNIZED
Sayeed Pridgett had a monumental week, leading to his first career Big Sky Conference Player of the Week award. The junior averaged 21.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 2.0 assists, but perhaps most impressive was his .818 shooting percentage (18-of-22, including 3-of-4 from deep).

In Montana's road win at Northern Colorado, Pridgett netted a season-high 26 points on 10-of-11 shooting. He scored Montana's first 11 points, helping the Grizzlies jump out to an early lead.

Big-time honor for @SP4THABOY!

📰 https://t.co/Ylxy7IS8pi #GrizHoops #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/fpnv3FyX98
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) January 15, 2019

GRIZ TRACKS

Montana is coming off a 24-point win at Northern Colorado. It was Montana's fifth win of the year by at least 20 points. Eight of Montana's 11 wins have come by double digits.
Idaho is the only Big Sky team Montana did not beat in 2018.
Montana has held opponents under their season scoring average in 15 of 17 games.
Montana is shooting .492 on the season (22nd in NCAA, 1st in Big Sky) and has made at least half of its shots 10 times.
Montana is the only Big Sky team to have four players rank in the top 20 for scoring. Five different Grizzlies have scored at least 20 points in a game this season and four have made 10 or more field goals.
Montana has out-rebounded its opponent in seven consecutive games. While Montana's 32.8 rebounding average ranks 11th in the Big Sky, the Grizzlies rank second by allowing just 32.6 rebounds per game (+0.2 margin). Additionally, through five conference games, Montana has a +4.8 margin.
Including Saturday, 12 of Montana's 18 games will have been played away from Missoula.
Montana has made at least eight three-pointers 10 times this season. The Grizzlies hit that number just four times in 2017-18.
Eight of Montana's top-nine free-throw percentages have come in the past eight games, moving up 55 spots in the NCAA rankings.
Jamar Akoh recorded his second double-double of Big Sky play at Northern Colorado. He is the only Big Sky player to rank in the top 10 in league play for scoring (16.7, 10th) and rebounding (8.7, fourth). He also ranks first for offensive rebounds (3.0), sixth for field-goal percentage (.590) and 12th for steals (1.2).
In addition to his 10.8 points per game (26th), Sayeed Pridgett and UNC's Jordan Davis are the only players to rank in the top 10 in league play for field-goal percentage, assists and steals.
Ahmaad Rorie ranks in the top 10 in five in league play for five statistical categories: assist-to-turnover ratio (scoring (15.6, fifth), assists (3.4, seventh)
is one of three Big Sky players to rank in the top 10 in league play for five categories: steals (1.8, third), assist-to-turnover ratio (2.5, fourth), minutes played (35.2, fifth), scoring (17.0, eighth) and assists (3.3, eighth).
Michael Oguine has scored in double figures in all six Big Sky games, including a team-high 18 at Eastern Washington. In addition to ranking 19th for scoring, he ranks in the top 15 for three-point shooting (.400) and offensive rebounds (1.7).
Sayeed Pridgett's .909 field-goal percentage at Northern Colorado (10-of-11) is the best by a Big Sky athlete during conference play. In addition to ranking 17th for scoring, he is one of two players to also rank in the top 15 for field-goal percentage (.590), assists (2.7) and steals (1.6).
Kendal Manuel ranks second in Big Sky play with a .944 free-throw percentage. He has made 12 attempts in a row and 21 of his last 22 dating back to the start of December.
Oguine (132) needs five steals to match Kevin Kriswell and move into fifth place in school history for career steals.
Montana began Big Sky play 3-0 for the third time in five seasons under Travis DeCuire and 10th time ever.
Montana's 7-4 non-conference record was its best since 2010-11, and came against the nation's 43rd-toughest schedule. More impressive, the Grizzlies had their full roster available just twice, most notably being without all-conference forward Jamar Akoh for seven games.
After being one of two teams to use the same starting lineup for every game in 2017-18, the Grizzlies have used four different combinations in 2018-19. However, they have used the same lineup in eight of their past 10 games.
Montana's home loss to Portland State (Jan. 5) was its first home loss since February 2017, snapping its 20-game home winning streak.
Montana's 4-0 start was its best since 1995-96.
Seven players have made their collegiate or Grizzly debuts.

🎥 Yesterday's highlights, and there were plenty of good ones! 🎥#GrizHoops #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/m6aLw6JzIz
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) January 13, 2019

DOMINANT DEFENSE
Perhaps the most telling stat for Montana's success relies, to no surprise, on its defense. In 16 games, Montana's opponents have been held below their season scoring average in 14 of them. Over the past two victories, Montana has held its two opponents (Sacramento State and Northern Colorado) more than 16 points below their average.

Montana's defense can be felt across the board. The Grizzlies rank first in Big Sky play for field-goal defense (.415) and rebounding defense (30.2), second for scoring defense (70.7) and three-point defense (.325), and fourth for steals (1.2).

Collectively, Montana's defense went up against the 12th-toughest offensive schedule in the country during non-conference, with three of its opponents ranking in the top 20 nationally for scoring: Georgia Southern (87.0 points per game, 11th), Creighton (84.8, 14th) and South Dakota State (84.7, 16th). During an eight-game stretch from Dec. 3-Jan. 3, Montana held its opponents to 63.1 points per game.

HOT SHOOTING
Montana remains one of the top shooting teams in the country, shooting .492 from the field. The figure leads the Big Sky and ranks 22nd nationally. The Grizzlies have made at least half of their shots in 10 games this season, including six consecutive games from Nov. 12 through Dec. 3 and four of six Big Sky games.

Three starters are shooting over .500, including junior Sayeed Pridgett, who ranks 37th in the NCAA (.582).

OFFENSIVE WEAPONS
Not only does Montana hold one of the nation's top field-goal percentages, but the Grizzlies are also getting production from multiple weapons. Montana is the only school to have four players rank in the top 20 in the Big Sky for scoring: Ahmaad Rorie (17.0, eighth), Jamar Akoh (16.7, 10th), Sayeed Pridgett (13.8, 17th) and Michael Oguine (13.2, 19th).

THREE-POINT IMPROVEMENT
One of Montana's only Achilles' heels during the 2017-18 season was its lack of ability to shoot from deep. The Grizzlies made just 5.5 treys per game a year ago, a figure which ranked 331st nationally. A year later, Montana is now averaging 8.3 threes per game and is hitting at a .362 clip (83rd). The Grizzlies have made at least eight three-pointers in 10 of 17 games this season. The team reached that total just four times in all of 2017-18.

MOVING UP THELADDER
Michael Oguine and Ahmaad Rorie both joined the 1,000-point scoring club last year, and continue to move up the school's all-time scoring list. Oguine moved into the No. 9 spot earlier this month, while Rorie joined him last week.

Montana is one of 15 schools nationally who have two 1,000-point scorers on its current roster. Both are expected to finish their careers in the top five.

Complete Game Notes in PDF format, including more notes, charts and player pages

Always representing the 406 and Griz nation https://t.co/Aj9LDfKZeY
— will cherry (@willcherry5) January 14, 2019

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Players Mentioned

Jamar Akoh

Kendal Manuel

Bobby Moorehead

Michael Oguine

Sayeed Pridgett

Ahmaad Rorie

University of Montana Athletics