2018-19 Montana Basketball by the numbers

The 2018-19 Montana men's basketball season was once again historic as the Grizzlies went 26-9, winning both the Big Sky Conference regular-season and tournament titles and advancing to March Madness for the second year in a row.

2018-19 By The Numbers:

WINNING & SUCCESS

Montana became the fifth program in Big Sky history to win both the Big Sky Conference regular-season and tournament titles in back-to-back seasons.
Montana advanced to the NCAA tournament for the second year in a row, fifth time in the past decade and 12^th time overall in school history.
Montana's 26 victories are tied for the third-most in school history, trailing only the 27 earned by the 1949-50 team and the 1991-92 team.
Over the past two seasons, Montana has won 52 games, the most in a two-year stretch in school history.
Montana's 32 Big Sky wins over the past two seasons are tied for the most in Big Sky history.
Montana's senior class won 89 games over the past four seasons, tied for the second-best four-year stretch in school history.
Montana has posted a .500 or better record in 11 consecutive seasons and has won 20-plus games in four of five seasons under Travis DeCuire.

Last night was one we will NEVER forget. Big Sky champions once again!#GrizHoops #GoGriz #BigSkyInBoise pic.twitter.com/sXRy2qSTW0
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) March 17, 2019

SEASON STATS

A trio of Grizzlies were among the 15 total players named to All-Big Sky Conference teams. Ahmaad Rorie earned first-team honors for the second year in a row, Sayeed Pridgett was named to the first team and Michael Oguine garnered third-team honors. Additionally, Kendal Manuel, a transfer from Oregon State, was named the league's Top Reserve and Co-Newcomer of the Year.
After leading the Grizzlies to three wins in three days, Rorie was named the Big Sky Championships MVP. Oguine joined him on the six-person all-tournament team.
Rorie was also named to the NABC District 6 first team for the second year in a row.
Jamar Akoh was named to the USBWA All-District VIII team, recognizing the top players from Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Montana, Utah and Wyoming.
Montana shot .492 on the season (10th in NCAA), and made at least half of its shots 20 times.
Montana made at least eight three-pointers in a game 22 times this season and shot .376 from deep (38^th in the NCAA). A year ago, the Grizzlies ranked 236^th, shooting .339 from long range.
Montana is one of 19 schools nationally to rank in the top 100 for scoring offense (76.1) and defense (68.5).
Montana held opponents under their season scoring average in 27 of 34 games.
Montana ranked in the top three in the Big Sky for 14 of 21 statistical categories, including first for scoring margin, field-goal percentage, three-point percentage, rebounding defense and rebounding margin.
Fifteen of Montana's 26 wins came by double digits, including seven by at least 20 points.
During Montana's 10-game winning streak (Jan. 12-Feb. 23), the Griz trailed for just 29 minutes (approximately 7.3 percent of action).
Montana is one of 12 schools nationally with three 1,000-point scorers on its current roster.
Montana finished the regular season with three players ranked in the top 20 in the Big Sky for scoring, not including Jamar Akoh (16.3), who did not play in enough games to qualify.
Only Hartford, Nevada and Jacksonville State averaged more years of experience than Montana (2.49 years per player).
Montana has forced at least 10 turnovers in 83 of the past 86 games played dating back to the 2016-17 season.
Montana has won 26 of its past 28 home games dating back to February 2017. The Grizzlies are one of 20 teams nationally to lose two or fewer home games over the past two seasons. They drew more than 4,000 fans per game, a better average than three Pac-12 schools.
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.
Montana's defense went up against the 12^th-toughest offensive schedule in the country during non-conference, with three of its opponents ranking in the top 20 nationally for scoring.
The Grizzlies defeated two NCAA tournament teams during the non-conference portion of their season (Georgia State and North Dakota State).
Montana began the season with four consecutive victories for the first time since 1995-96.
Seven players made their collegiate or Grizzly debuts.

#MarchMadness fun. Tomorrow the fun really begins!#GrizHoops #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/yQh6B2aa70
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) March 21, 2019

INDIVIDUALLY SPEAKING

Ahmaad Rorie and Michael Oguine both joined the 1,500-point scoring club in February, two of nine players in Griz history to reach the career milestone. Rorie was the fastest to do so in school history.
Senior Bobby Moorehead played in more games (134) than any player in school history.
Rorie led the league with a 3.0 assist-to-turnover ratio. He didn't post a negative assist-to-turnover ratio once over the final 26 contests. Overall, his ratio ranks 29^th nationally.
Rorie earned his second first-team all-conference selection after ranking in the top 10 in Big Sky play for scoring (ninth), assists (sixth) and minutes (played (third), in addition to 13^th for three-pointers made per game.
He finished his career ranked sixth in school history with more than 1,600 career points. He was one of 16 active players with at least 1,500 career points and 400 assists.
In addition to more than 1,600 career points (seventh in school history), Oguine finished his career ranked third for career steals (159) and among the leaders for career starts (122).
Oguine was one of six active players nationally to score at least 1,500 career points, pull down at least 600 rebounds and record at least 150 steals.
First-team All-Big Sky selection Sayeed Pridgett averaged 20.0 points per game over the final 14 contests of the season. Overall, his .605 shooting percentage ranks 19th nationally.
Pridgett earned three Big Sky Conference Player-of-the-Week awards, including back-to-back honors in February.
Pridgett ranked in the top 15 in Big Sky play for field-goal percentage (second), scoring (sixth), steals (11^th), assists (13^th) and rebounding (15^th). He was the only player to rank in the top 15 for all five categories.
During a two-game stretch from Feb. 16-23, Kendal Manuel was 11-of-13 (.846) from deep. He finished Big Sky play fifth with a .438 three-point shooting percentage, in addition to leading the league with a .896 free-throw percentage.
Mack Anderson became the first native Montanan to play for the Griz as a true freshman since 2002-03. He finished playing in 28 contests, averaging 8.7 minutes per contest.
Travis DeCuire won his 100th career game on Feb. 9. He now has 109 wins, more than any UM coach through his first five seasons.
DeCuire's 21.8 wins-per-season average is the third-best in Big Sky history, and best among coaches with more than three years in the league.
DeCuire became the first Griz coach to win three regular-season Big Sky titles.

SINGLE-GAME SUCCESS

Montana again swept the season series over Montana State, winning the rivalry game for the 17^th time in the past 18 meetings.
Montana swept the two regular-season meetings over Weber State for the first time since 1992.
Montana snapped the nation's longest home winning streak (26 games) when the Grizzlies beat South Dakota State inside Frost Arena. They led for the final 23 minutes and held the nation's 13^th-best scoring offense at the time to 11 points below its season average.
Montana beat Idaho by 41 points on Feb. 7 (100-59), its largest margin of victory since December 2010 and largest in Big Sky play since 1997.
Montana's 29-point victory over Weber State in the Big Sky semifinals was its largest in the history of the tournament.

#GrizNation is truly something special! pic.twitter.com/BiBwdRHggz
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) March 22, 2019

University of Montana Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Jamar Akoh

Mack Anderson

Kendal Manuel

Bobby Moorehead

Michael Oguine

Sayeed Pridgett

Ahmaad Rorie

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