Unbeaten Grizzlies face another road challenge

Montana at Northern Colorado
Saturday / 7 p.m. / Greeley, Colo.

TV: Eleven Sports
Stream: Pluto TV (ch. 541)
Listen: KGVO (1290 AM, 98.3 FM) / Listen worldwide on TuneIn
Live Stats

Montana is 3-0 to begin Big Sky play, and will take its perfect record to Greeley, Colo., on Saturday. The game will be broadcast nationwide on Eleven Sports, as well as globally on Pluto TV and the Grizzly Radio Network.

MORE FROM THURSDAY'S WIN

The win was Montana's first on the road this season. The Grizzlies' seven road opponents have been nearly unbeatable at home, entering the night with a 49-2 record at home this season.
While Montana earned its first road win, the Grizzlies also handed Southern Utah its first home loss of the season.
Montana never trailed in the contest, leading for 37:38. The only two ties came at 0-0 and 2-2.
- Southern Utah cut the score to a single possession four times over the final 11 minutes, but could never even the score or take the lead.
The Grizzlies jumped out to a 14-7 lead, with senior Jared Samuelson scoring 10 of the team's first 14 points.
Samuelson had a career game, scoring 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting. His previous career high came against Northern Arizona during his freshman season (Feb. 11, 2017).
- After making just one three-pointer during his freshman season at Montana, Samuelson is 6-for-10 in 2019-20, making 3-of-4 on Thursday and 5-of-8 over the past two games.
- Over the past two games, Samuelson has scored 35 points, leading Montana in scoring both times. He scored 23 points combined in his first eight games (2.9 average).
Montana's three seniors contributed 54 of the Grizzlies' 60 points. The trio scored Montana's first 20 points of the night, in addition to the final 23.
Senior Kendal Manuel has been in double figures for scoring in three consecutive games, and 10 of the past 12. On Thursday, he finished with 16 points, including three three-pointers. Two of them came late in the second half, including one to snap a 6-0 Thunderbirds scoring run and push Montana's lead to two possessions.
- Prior to Manuel's two misses from the free-throw line in the closing seconds, the senior had made 40 of 41 free throws, including 17 in a row. He entered the night leading the Big Sky and ranking 12^th nationally for free throw percentage.
Senior Sayeed Pridgett scored 17 points, with 10 coming in the second half. He also led the Grizzlies with eight rebounds.
- Pridgett moved into 12^th place on Montana's all-time scoring list, passing Ken McKenzie (1972-75). The senior now has 1,337 career points.
Junior Timmy Falls has scored just two points over the past two games, but has made a major impact in both games. Over the past two contests, Falls has totaled seven assists compared to one turnover, in addition to three steals and two blocks. On Thursday, his steal with 8.2 seconds to play essentially sealed Montana's victory.
After shooting .333 in the first half, Montana shot .500 in the second, making 4-of-6 three-pointers.
Opponents were shooting .290 from deep against the Thunderbirds (38^th in NCAA), but Montana shot .462, making 6-of-13 attempts. It was the Grizzlies' best three-point shooting percentage of the season.
Southern Utah entered the game ranked 51^st nationally with a .472 field-goal percentage, but was limited to just .392 shooting on Thursday.
- Montana held Southern Utah without a made field goal over the final 5:07 of the first half.
Montana held Southern Utah 20 points below its season scoring average. It marked the 11^th time in 14 games that the Grizzlies have held their opponent below their season scoring average this season.
The Grizzlies won the turnover battle, giving the ball up just nine times while forcing 15 giveaways. The Grizzlies have recorded more turnovers than their opponent just one time in the past 10 games.
Montana is 7-1 on the season when holding opponents to 70 points or fewer, with three being held below 60 points (3-0).
Montana's last two games have been decided by four total points.
- Montana's last four games have been decided by single digits.
- Montana's last five wins have been decided by single digits.
Montana led at halftime for just the fourth time this season (4-0).
Southern Utah's leading scorer Cameron Oluyitan was held to just six points, less than half of his season average.
Montana is .500 on the season for the first time since beginning the year 1-1.
Montana has now won 15 consecutive games over Southern Utah.

SCOUTING NORTHERN COLORADO

Northern Colorado is 8-5 on the season and is coming off of a 68-59 win over Montana State on Thursday.
The Bears have won four of their past five games and are a perfect 5-0 at home this season.
The Bears have five players averaging at least 9.0 points per game, including two over 15.0. Sophomore guard Bodie Hume (15.9) also leads the team for three-pointers made and blocked shots. Senior guard Jonah Radebaugh (15.8) is the team leader for minutes played, assists and steals.
Despite coming off the bench and averaging 22.0 minutes per game, 6-9 senior forward Kai Edwards leads the Bears with 7.5 rebounds per game.
The Bears are lethal from three-point range, averaging 10.4 triples per game (14^th in NCAA). Senior guard Trent Harris and Hume both rank in the top 50 nationally for three-pointers made per game, averaging about 3.0 apiece, and both rank in the top 80 nationally for three-point percentage.
As a team, UNC ranks 39^th nationally with a .374 three-point field-goal percentage, while holding opponents to a .274 clip (23^rd).
The Bears turn the ball over just 11.2 times per game (16^th in NCAA).
The Bears own a +14.0 scoring margin (27^th in NCAA) and hold opponents to 61.2 points per game (35^th).
Jeff Linder, the 2019 Big Sky Coach of the Year, is in his fourth season in Greeley. He has led the Bears to back-to-back 20-win seasons, including the CIT title in 2018.

How good was @JaredSamuelson last night? The senior scored a career-high 21 points in Montana's road win at Southern Utah!#GrizHoops #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/ZleYw2iFlH
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) January 3, 2020

SERIES VS. THE BEARS
Montana owns a 24-9 record against Northern Colorado, not including a 1976-77 victory that was vacated. The Grizzlies have won 13 of the last 17 and are 8-2 under Travis DeCuire. Even more impressive, DeCuire is a perfect 4-0 against the Bears in Greeley. Montana hast just lost once in Greeley since the 2011-12 season (6-1), with the lone loss coming in 2013-14 in overtime. Overall, Montana is 10-5 in Greeley.

Montana and Northern Colorado were the two best teams in the Big Sky a season ago, entering the final day of the regular season tied before the Grizzlies beat Sacramento State to earn the No. 1 seed. The two teams split their two meetings last spring, but it was their trip to Greeley that was a turning point in their championship season. Entering that game in mid-January, Montana was trying to find its footing, having lost back-to-back games and sitting at 3-2 in league play. Northern Colorado was unbeaten and in first place. Montana left no doubt, though, leading by as many as 30 points and winning 88-64. In the victory, the Grizzlies shot 58 percent from the floor while holding UNC 18 points below its season scoring average. Sayeed Pridgett scored Montana's first 12 points and 26 overall. The win was Montana's first of 10 consecutive victories, which set up a second consecutive Big Sky title.

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

Gallery: (1/2/2020) MBB: at Southern Utah (1.2.20)

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Players Mentioned

Timmy Falls

Kendal Manuel

Sayeed Pridgett

Jared Samuelson

University of Montana Athletics