Historic programs to meet in semis

Montana vs. Weber State / Friday / 5:30 p.m. / Boise, Idaho

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Montana. Weber State. Two historic programs meeting in the Big Sky tournament once again.

It's fitting that the Griz and Wildcats will meet up on the hardwood on Friday. The two teams rank No. 1 and 2 in Big Sky Conference history for total wins, conference titles and NCAA tournament berths. The numbers are magnetized in the conference tournament, with both teams winning more than 40 tourney games; the next-closest team is Idaho, at 17.

Montana has been in the conference championship game 19 times, winning it all on 10 occasions. Weber State has gotten there 18 times and won it all 10 times. No other school has played in more than eight title games or won more than four.

For the seventh time in the past 10 years, Montana and Weber State will play in the Big Sky tournament, and the winner earns a trip to the championship game once again.

Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Friday and can be watched on Eleven Sports, Pluto TV (channel 231) and WatchBigSky.com, and across the Grizzly Radio Network.

SCOUTING WEBER STATE

Weber State is 18-14 overall on the season. The Wildcats finished 11-9 in Big Sky play, going 4-8 down the stretch after beginning 7-1.
WSU ranks 31^st nationally, averaging 80.2 points per game.
The Wildcats score at a high rate but are also efficient, ranking in the top 65 nationally for field-goal percentage, three-point percentage and free-throw percentage.
WSU also ranks in the top 100 nationally for scoring margin, turnovers forced and blocked shots.
On Thursday in an 81-71 win over Portland State, the Wildcats held the Vikings to 34.3 percent shooting, including 17.2 percent from deep. The Wildcats forced 18 turnovers and won despite being out-rebounded by 18.
Junior Jerrick Harding led all players with 23 points, one of five Wildcats in double figures. Michael Kozak had a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards.
Harding earned first-team All-Big Sky recognition for the second time. He ranks 21^st nationally with 21.9 points per game. He also ranks in the top 25 nationally for free-throw percentage (.871) and ranks second in the Big Sky with 1.5 steals per game.
Senior Brekkot Chapman nearly averaged a double-double through Big Sky play, averaging 13.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game (third), in addition to 1.5 blocks per game (fourth). He shot .490 from the field and .424 from deep and earned All-Big Sky honorable mention status.
Junior Cody John ranks in the top 10 in Big Sky play for scoring (14.5 per game) and field-goal percentage (.482). He also earned All-Big Sky honorable mention status.
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 and Weber State are meeting in the Big Sky tournament for the seventh time in the past 10 seasons. The Grizzlies are 7-2 in those matchups.
Overall, the two teams have met 13 times in the tournament prior to Friday, with the Griz owning a 7-6 record. The two teams have met in the finals eight times (4-4) and five in the semis (3-2). Montana has won three straight in the semifinal round, and is 7-2 overall since 1995.
Montana has won four consecutive games in the series vs. Weber State, its best stretch since winning eight in a row form 1989-93.
In five games vs. the Wildcats, Ahmaad Rorie is averaging 18.2 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 five contests vs. the Wildcats.
In February in Ogden, Sayeed Pridgett scored a career-high 29 points.

We took care of business today. Back at it tomorrow!

📰 https://t.co/9TTTegNyLQ #GrizHoops #GoGriz #BigSkyInBoise pic.twitter.com/s7uYhJv2nL
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) March 15, 2019

GOING FOR 51
In its illustrious history, Montana has never had as much success as the Grizzlies have had in the past two seasons. In addition to back-to-back regular-season Big Sky championships, the Grizzlies have won 50 combined games over the past two seasons. A win Friday would give them No. 51, which would be more than any two-year stretch ever. Teams from 1991 and 1992 and 2012 and 2013 each won 50 games.

Additionally, a win Friday would give Montana 25 wins on the season – something that has been accomplished just six previous times – and 88 wins over the course of Bobby Moorehead and Michael Oguine's careers – which would be tied for the third-best four-year win total.

TOURNEY TIDBITS

Montana has advanced to the Big Sky Championship 40 times in the past 42 seasons, tied with Weber State for the most appearances during that span (1978-present).
Montana is 41-29 all-time in the tournament, the second-most wins of any Big Sky team.
The Grizzlies have won the Championship 10 times (tied for first) and have advanced to the finals on 19 occasions (first).
Since Montana's first tournament title in 1991, Montana is 10-4 in the championship game. No team has won more titles during that span.
Montana has won seven consecutive semifinals games, dating back to 2010.
The Grizzlies are looking to become the 11th team ever to repeat as tournament champions (Weber State, 1978-79; Weber State, 1979-80; Idaho, 1981-82; Nevada, 1984-85; Idaho, 1989-90; Montana, 1991-92; Boise State, 1993-94; Montana, 2005-06; Portland State, 2008-09; Montana, 2012-13).

PLAYING AS THE NO. 1 SEED

The No. 1 seed has won the conference tournament in 26 of 44 seasons, including seven of the past eight seasons and three in a row.
The No. 1 seed has advanced to the title game in 12 of the past 13 seasons (2010 is the lone exception).
Montana is looking to become the first team to repeat as champs since the Grizzlies did it in 2012 and 2013. The Grizzlies also did it in 1991 and 1992. No other team has done it since 1982 (Idaho, 1981-82; Weber State 1978-80).
Montana is 12-4 all-time as the No. 1 seed, including 2-0 in the quarterfinals and 7-1 in the semifinals.

NOTES FROM THURSDAY'S WIN

Montana shot 52.5 percent from the floor, the 18^th time this season the Grizzlies have made at least half of their shots.
Montana had 21 assists on its 31 made shots. It marks the second game in a row in which Montana has recorded at least 20 assists.
The Grizzlies turned the ball over just 10 times after averaging 17.5 turnovers in the previous two meetings vs. the Hornets. Sacramento State leads the Big Sky for turnovers forced and ranks in the top 50 nationally with a +2.5 turnover margin, but turned the ball over five more times than the Grizzlies on Thursday.
Four players were in double figures, led by Michael Oguine's 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting. He passed Andrew Strait (2005-09) and is now sixth on Montana's all-time scoring list.
Oguine, who ranks third in school history for career steals, recorded four swipes.
Senior Ahmaad Rorie scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half, shooting 6-of-10. He also had four assists and two steals.
Freshman Mack Anderson, who was playing in his first tournament game, scored six points in the first half while logging valuable minutes with Pridgett and Donaven Dorsey on the bench. He finished with six points and five rebounds in 18 minutes of action.
Sayeed Pridgett scored 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting, despite seeing less playing time due to foul trouble. He played just 1 of the final 12 minutes of the first half, and 27 overall.
Junior Kendal Manuel scored 11 points, including a trio of three-pointers that all came at big times. He also had a career-high seven assists.
Senior Bobby Moorehead had a game-high nine rebounds, in addition to five points and three assists.
The Grizzlies were 9-of-11 from the free-throw line (81.8 percent).
Montana jumped out to an early lead, using an 11-0 run to force a Hornets timeout less than 4 minutes into the contest. During the run, Sacramento State was 0-for-8 shooting with two turnovers; Montana began the game making six of its first eight shots.
Sacramento State went four stretches of more than 4 minutes without making a shot, including three spurts in the first half. During one point, the Hornets turned the ball over on four consecutive possessions.
Montana scored nine consecutive points late in the first half to double up the Hornets, 41-20.
Sacramento State closed the first half on an 8-0 run, and extended it to 16-2 to get within seven points, 43-36, less than 2 minutes into the second half.
Montana responded immediately following, with a 10-0 run over a stretch of 2:15. The Hornets were 0-for-5 with a turnover, while four different Grizzlies scored.
The runs continued, as Sacramento State scored the next 11 points, making three triples to get within six points with over 12 minutes to play. The Hornets would get as close as four, 77-73, but Montana made five of six free throws down the stretch to keep the Hornets at bay.
After starting the game 0-for-6 from long range, Sacramento State finished with 11 triples, including 7-of-8 shooting in the second half.
Second-team All-Big Sky selection Joshua Patton was held to three shots.