Montana travels to Weber State for 1st time in 2 years

Montana at Weber State / Thursday / 7 p.m. / Ogden, Utah

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Montana and Weber State, the top two programs in the history of the Big Sky Conference, have played each other for more than five decades, since the series began during the 1962-63 season. For the first 55 years, the two teams met at least twice – once in Missoula and once in Weber – with a third matchup in the Big Sky Championship also occurring many seasons.

Last spring, however, playing an 18-game league schedule, marked the first time the Grizzlies did not travel to Ogden. Montana and Weber State played just once, a 75-57 Griz home win.

Montana will make its first trip to Ogden in two years this week, facing third-place Weber State on Thursday night. As is often the case between the two top teams, the Grizzlies expect a packed arena and a great game.

"They have a great team and a great environment," head coach Travis DeCuire said. "This is the point of the schedule where I looked at it and said, 'This is going to be fun.'"

Montana and Weber State rank No. 1 and 2 in the Big Sky Conference for all-time wins, conference championships, NCAA tournament appearances and attendance. This season is no different, with Montana currently leading the league at 10-2, and Weber State not far behind at 9-4.

Including its home win last month, Montana has beat Weber State three consecutive times, but wins have been harder to come by in Ogden. The Grizzlies won their most-recent game at the Dee Events Center, in 2016-17, but prior to that, they had lost 12 consecutive regular-season games at Weber State (the only exception came in 2009-10, when Montana beat Weber State in the tournament championship game).

On paper, the game has plenty to offer. Montana (+12.8) and Weber State (+6.7) have the top two scoring margins in the Big Sky. Both teams shoot better than .490 from the field – top two – and hold opponents below .430 shooting – also top two. Additionally, the two teams have the two best rebounding numbers and two of the three best scoring figures.

"Our attention to detail was at a high level," DeCuire said, referencing last month's win over the Wildcats, which featured a 20-0 Griz run in the first half. "We made a minor adjustment to our ball-screen defense, and I think that's why they went so long without a basket. We also had a very high level of respect for their players, individually and collectively, which led to great focus and mental preparation."

Tipoff Thursday is slated for 7 p.m. Fans can watch the game on Pluto TV (ch. 235) or WatchBigSky.com, or listen to the game through the Grizzly Sports Radio Network.

Congratulations on a well-deserved honor, @SP4THABOY!

The junior averaged 20.0 points on .842 shooting last week, in addition to 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals. #GrizHoops #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/EC3V8cvqq8
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) February 13, 2019

SCOUTING WEBER STATE

Weber State sits in third place in the Big Sky Conference at 9-4 (15-9 overall). The Wildcats, though are just 2-3 since playing at Montana on Jan. 26.
WSU ranks in the top 35 nationally for scoring (80.5 points per game) and shooting (.481). The Wildcats also rank highly for free-throw percentage (43rd), blocked shots (45th) and scoring margin (71st).
WSU is limiting opponents to just .300 shooting from beyond the arc, a figure which ranks 20th in the NCAA.
Senior Brekkott Chapman is the only Big Sky player to average at double-double, averaging 13.1 points and a league-best 10.2 rebounds per game. He also ranks in the top 10 for blocked shots (1.8 per game, second), shooting (.492, 10th) and three-pointers made (1.8 per game, 13th).
Overall, Chapman ranks in the top 50 nationally for rebounding and blocked shots, including 10th, with 7.96 defensive rebounds per game.
Junior Jerrick Harding ranks second in league play with 21.9 points per game. He also ranks third for free-throw percentage (.893), third for minutes played, fourth for steals (1.5) and eighth for three-pointers (2.0).
WSU is one of three schools to have multiple players rank in the top 10 in the Big Sky for rebounding. In addition to Chapman, senior Zach Braxton averages 6.7 boards per game. He averages 10.9 points (29th) on a league-best .662 shooting.
WSU has three players averaging at least 1.0 blocked shots per game.
Randy Rahe is in his 13th season in Ogden. The veteran coach owns more than 260 wins during that time. The Wildcats have been to the postseason in nine of his 12 seasons, including the NCAA tournament three times.

SERIES VS. THE WILDCATS

Montana is 58-70 all-time against Weber State, winning three in a row in the series.
Five of the past six games in the series have been decided by seven points or fewer.
Travis DeCuire is 5-4 vs. the Wildcats.
In four games vs. the Wildcats, Ahmaad Rorie is averaging 19.5 points per game, scoring at least 20 on three occasions.
Michael Oguine also has a 20-point performance (21 at Weber State in 2016), while totaling at least eight rebounds in each of the past four contests vs. the Wildcats.
Jamar Akoh had a double-double with 25 points and 10 rebounds last month vs. Weber State. In his first meeting vs. the Wildcats, last March, he totaled 12 points, six rebounds and three assists.
The Griz and Wildcats have met in the conference tournament in six of the past nine seasons. Overall, the two teams have played 13 times in the Big Sky tournament, including seven times in the title game.

Congratulations, @CoachDeCuire! We're proud to have you as our coach!#GrizHoops #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/6ho1K13kIY
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) February 10, 2019

GRIZ TRACKS

Montana has won a season-best seven consecutive games. During the streak, the Grizzlies have trailed for less than 14 total minutes, and never by more than four points.
Opponents are averaging just 68.1 points per game during UM's seven game winning streak.
Montana is guaranteed to finish the season at least .500 for the 11th consecutive season.
Montana has won six of its past seven true road contests, including three in a row.
Montana's win over Eastern Washington last Saturday was the 100th career win for Travis DeCuire. In four-plus seasons, he is 100-55, becoming the third-fastest Griz coach to reach that milestone.
Montana is one of 14 teams nationally to rank in the top 100 for both scoring offense and scoring defense.
Montana has held opponents under their season scoring average in 19 of 23 games this season.
Montana is shooting .487 on the season (20th in NCAA, 1st in Big Sky), and has made at least half of its shots 12 times.
Conversely, Montana has held opponents under .400 shooting eight times (8-0).
Montana has forced at least nine turnovers in 74 consecutive games.
Over the past six games, Montana is averaging just 8.7 turnovers per game. The Grizzlies rank 55th nationally for turnovers per game and turnover margin.
Eleven of Montana's 17 wins have come by double digits, including six by at least 20 points.
Montana is the only Big Sky team to have four players rank in the top 25 for scoring. Five different Grizzlies have scored at least 20 points in a game this season.
Montana has made at least eight three-pointers 14 times this season. The Grizzlies hit that number just four times in 2017-18.
Overall, Montana is shooting .372 from deep (54th in the NCAA), including .460 (23-for-50) over the past two games.
Montana has out-rebounded its opponent in 12 of its past 13 games (with the only exception being Weber State). During Big Sky play, the Grizzlies lead the Big Sky with a +5.4 rebounding margin and allowing just 31.0 rebounds per game. Through 10 games, largely without forward Jamar Akoh, they ranked last with 30.6 rebounds per game and a -2.5 margin.
Montana is 11-0 on the year when scoring at least 80 points.
Montana is 16-1 on the season when shooting a better percentage than its opponent, with the only exception being in a win over Weber State last month.
With a veteran group, four starters have played in 100 or more career games.
Junior Sayeed Pridgett was named the Big Sky Player of the Week on Tuesday after averaging 20.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in wins over Idaho and Eastern Washington, while shooting .842 from the floor. Overall, his .583 shooting percentage on the season ranks 34th nationally.
With his next basket, Michael Oguine will pass Wayne Tinkle on the school's all-time scoring list, moving into seventh place. He will become the 19th active player in the NCAA to record 1,500 career points and 600 career rebounds. He also ranks in the top five in school history for steals.
Over his past three games, senior Donaven Dorsey is averaging 14.3 points per game, scoring in double figures each contest. Over his first 17 games as a Griz, he averaged 4.5 points per game.
Jamar Akoh is the only player to rank in the top eight of the Big Sky for scoring, rebounding and shooting. He also leads the league for steals.
Senior Ahmaad Rorie is averaging a 3.6 assist-to-turnover ratio during UM's win streak, including 10 assists and one turnover in two victories last week.
Junior Kendal Manuel ranks second in Big Sky play with a .906 free-throw percentage, making 10 in a row dating back to Feb. 2.
Senior Bobby Moorehead is coming off of one of the best performances of his career, recording his second double-double, with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
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 11 of their past 13 games.
Montana's 4-0 start was its best since 1995-96.
Seven players have made their collegiate or Grizzly debuts.
Montana has won 24 of its past 25 home games dating back to February 2017.

A LOOK AT THE STANDINGS
With four weeks remaining in the regular season, Montana is in a good spot, having won seven consecutive games. The Grizzlies are alone in first place, a half-game ahead of Northern Colorado and 1.5 games up on Weber State. Montana beat both teams in the initial head-to-head meeting.

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

🎥 The sights and sounds that led to a thrilling win over Eastern Washington last night! 🎥#GrizHoops #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/ZzhxELiKcq
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) February 10, 2019

Montana travels to Weber State for 1st time in 2 years

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Players Mentioned

Jamar Akoh

Donaven Dorsey

Kendal Manuel

Bobby Moorehead

Michael Oguine

Sayeed Pridgett

Ahmaad Rorie

University of Montana Athletics

Montana travels to Weber State for 1st time in 2 years

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jamar Akoh

Donaven Dorsey

Kendal Manuel

Bobby Moorehead

Michael Oguine

Sayeed Pridgett

Ahmaad Rorie

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