Thursday, February 27
Flagstaff, Ariz.
6 PM
Montana
at
Northern Arizona
Photo by: Tommy Martino
Montana departs for final road trip looking to maintain hold on 1st place
2/26/2020 12:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Montana at Northern Arizona
Thursday / 6 p.m. / Flagstaff, Ariz.
Saturday / 8 p.m. (MT) / Sacramento, Calif.
The wins didn't come easy either night, but Montana is a far different team than it was in late December. The Grizzlies are currently on a six-game winning streak, feature one of the nation's top offenses and are on the cusp of an unprecedented third consecutive Big Sky championship.
Northern Arizona, though, who Montana will face on Thursday night in Flagstaff, is also a far different team. The Lumberjacks have surged all the way to fourth place in the Big Sky standings, despite having an interim head coach and being picked to finish eighth in the league's preseason polls. The team's 15 wins are more than the past two seasons combined.
"They're the surprise of the season, in terms of where they are now compared to before the season started," head coach Travis DeCuire said. "Once we started playing games, they started showing signs of being a team that could compete in conference, and they have. They've been dangerous, and they're doing a good job."
NAU is 8-4 over its past 12 contests and features a balanced scoring attack, with six different players averaging at least 9.0 points per game, led by Cameron Shelton's 14.1. The Lumberjacks also feature Brooks DeBisschop, who didn't play against Montana in Missoula but is averaging a team-best 14.4 points per game in league play, while adding 8.1 rebounds per contest. The senior has been in double figures in 15 of his last 16 games and leads the Big Sky with a .601 field-goal percentage.
The Lumberjacks are a 3-point threat, connecting at a .372 clip that ranks 23rd nationally, with five different players making at least 20 triples on the season. They also take care of the ball, turning the ball over just 11.5 times per game (40th in NCAA), with a 1.2 assist-to-turnover ratio (45th).
While both teams are playing well of late, the Grizzlies have history on their side, having won 10 consecutive games over the Lumberjacks since DeCuire took over. Montana is making its first trip to Flagstaff in nearly 14 months, a rare lengthy gap due to the Grizzlies opening the 2019 Big Sky season at NAU before playing the Lumberjacks in the final road trip of 2020.
"We weren't very good (the last time Montana and NAU met), and also the personnel you see on the floor is different, in terms of who's playing and rotations," DeCuire said. "We've come a long way since then, and now the question is can we continue sustaining it?"
It was in Sacramento a season ago that Montana secured the No. 1 seed and a Big Sky title. Prior to that, the venue had been a house of horrors for the Griz, who had lost three of the previous four meetings. Saturday will once again be tough, with Sac State holding a 9--3 record on its home court, including its best non-conference season since moving to the Division-I ranks.
The Hornets average just 62 points per game – bottom 15 in the country – but hold opponents to even fewer points, 58.8, which ranks sixth nationally. In the last meeting, Montana won despite being limited to 52 points on .339 shooting
All-Big Sky player Josh Patton leads the Hornets for scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. Izayah Mauriohooho-Le'afa ranks in the top 10 in Big Sky play for assists and steals, while Osi Nwachukwu ranks second for steals.
"It's always been a tough place to play, and it's probably the best defensive team we've faced," DeCuire said. "It's a grind when we play them. They play tough, physical basketball, and on one-day prep, they're difficult to prepare for."
Montana will have the chance to clinch a share of the Big Sky title on Saturday, but chances are that will have to wait until next week at home, when the Grizzlies host second-place Northern Colorado in a must-see matchup. In order for things to happen this week, Montana would have to win both of its games, plus get losses from both Northern Colorado and Eastern Washington.
After beginning the season 0-6 on the road, the Grizzlies are 5-3 since, including back-to-back wins. The Grizzlies are playing their third three-game road trip of the season – more than any other big Sky team – which began with a 59-54 win at Montana State last Saturday.
In that contest, Montana slugged out a victory by holding MSU to .354 shooting, including .150 from deep. Montana's defense has been in lock-down mode recently, holding its last three opponents to 51.3 points per game, and all three under 40 percent shooting. On the flip side, Montana's offense has been lights out. Over the past 12 games, beginning Jan. 9 at Eastern Washington, Montana is shooting .523 overall including .421 from 3-point range, while scoring nearly 80 points per game. Extracted through a full season, the Grizzlies' shooting and 3-point shooting percentages would lead the entire nation.
Tipoff on Thursday is slated for 6 p.m., while the two teams will start at 8 p.m. (MT) on Saturday. Both games can be watched on Pluto TV.
SERIES VS. THE LUMBERJACKS
In a series that dates back to 1970-71, the Griz and Lumberjacks have played 105 times. Montana holds a 74-31 edge, including a 10-0 record under Travis DeCuire. In fact, since 2009 Montana is 20-3 against the Lumberjacks, with its last loss in Flagstaff coming in 2014.
In two wins a season ago, Montana shot a combined .504 from the floor while holding the Lumberjacks under .400 in both games. Sayeed Pridgett scored 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting last March, in a 66-64 home victory that ended with a missed game-winning, 3-point attempt at the buzzer by NAU's Carlos Hines. Pridgett was again dominant in December, scoring 27 points while collecting 10 rebounds in a 79-72 victory to open Big Sky play.
SERIES VS. THE HORNETS
Montana is 44-9 vs. Sacramento State, winning six in a row in the series. The Grizzlies had two memorable wins over the Hornets last March, winning in Sacramento to clinch the Big Sky regular-season title before playing them the following week during the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. Despite the win, The Nest has been a challenging place for the Grizzlies to play. With a 2-3 mark, is one of just two Big Sky venues (also Weber State) that Travis DeCuire has a losing record in.
DeCuire is 8-4 vs. Sacramento State, having some success the past two seasons after beginning his career 2-4 against the Hornets. As a freshman in 2016-17, Sayeed Pridgett scored 28 points vs. Sacramento State, and he was in double figures for scoring in all three meetings a season ago, and again in December with 14 points. During the regular-season finale in Sacramento last year, Timmy Falls had 16 points and five assists. He added seven assists in the meeting in Missoula last January. Kendal Manuel was in double figures over each of the past three contests, including 13 points in December.
ANOTHER WINNING SEASON
After winning its 17th game of the season on Saturday, Montana is guaranteed to finish at least .500 for the 12th consecutive season. The Grizzlies can finish no worse than 17-16.
PEAKING IN FEBRUARY
During the month of February, Montana is a perfect 6-0 with five double-digit victories.
Over the past six weeks, Montana has featured one of the nation's top offenses, averaging 78.8 points per game on .523 shooting, including a .421 clip from 3-point range. The figures span the past 12 games since Jan. 9. Spread across an entire season, Montana would lead the nation for both shooting and 3-point shooting, and rank in the top 20 nationally for scoring.
In six seasons at Montana, head coach Travis DeCuire has built a winning record against every Big Sky foe, including undefeated marks against four schools. A win Saturday would improve DeCuire to 11-0 against the Lumberjacks, including 5-0 in Flagstaff.
LOOKING AHEAD
Montana closes the regular season at home, hosting Northern Colorado (March 5) and Southern Utah (March 7). Thursday's contest against the second-place Bears is expected to have major conference-title implications, while the team will recognize its three seniors on Saturday.
Complete Game Notes in PDF format, including additional notes, stats, charts and player pages
Thursday / 6 p.m. / Flagstaff, Ariz.
- TV: NAU-TV
- Stream: Pluto TV (ch. 539)
- Listen: KGVO (1290 AM, 98.3 FM) / Worldwide on TuneIn
- Live Stats
Saturday / 8 p.m. (MT) / Sacramento, Calif.
- Stream: Pluto TV (ch. 533)
- Listen: KGVO (1290 AM, 98.3 FM) / Worldwide on TuneIn
- Live Stats
The wins didn't come easy either night, but Montana is a far different team than it was in late December. The Grizzlies are currently on a six-game winning streak, feature one of the nation's top offenses and are on the cusp of an unprecedented third consecutive Big Sky championship.
Northern Arizona, though, who Montana will face on Thursday night in Flagstaff, is also a far different team. The Lumberjacks have surged all the way to fourth place in the Big Sky standings, despite having an interim head coach and being picked to finish eighth in the league's preseason polls. The team's 15 wins are more than the past two seasons combined.
"They're the surprise of the season, in terms of where they are now compared to before the season started," head coach Travis DeCuire said. "Once we started playing games, they started showing signs of being a team that could compete in conference, and they have. They've been dangerous, and they're doing a good job."
NAU is 8-4 over its past 12 contests and features a balanced scoring attack, with six different players averaging at least 9.0 points per game, led by Cameron Shelton's 14.1. The Lumberjacks also feature Brooks DeBisschop, who didn't play against Montana in Missoula but is averaging a team-best 14.4 points per game in league play, while adding 8.1 rebounds per contest. The senior has been in double figures in 15 of his last 16 games and leads the Big Sky with a .601 field-goal percentage.
The Lumberjacks are a 3-point threat, connecting at a .372 clip that ranks 23rd nationally, with five different players making at least 20 triples on the season. They also take care of the ball, turning the ball over just 11.5 times per game (40th in NCAA), with a 1.2 assist-to-turnover ratio (45th).
While both teams are playing well of late, the Grizzlies have history on their side, having won 10 consecutive games over the Lumberjacks since DeCuire took over. Montana is making its first trip to Flagstaff in nearly 14 months, a rare lengthy gap due to the Grizzlies opening the 2019 Big Sky season at NAU before playing the Lumberjacks in the final road trip of 2020.
"We weren't very good (the last time Montana and NAU met), and also the personnel you see on the floor is different, in terms of who's playing and rotations," DeCuire said. "We've come a long way since then, and now the question is can we continue sustaining it?"
It was in Sacramento a season ago that Montana secured the No. 1 seed and a Big Sky title. Prior to that, the venue had been a house of horrors for the Griz, who had lost three of the previous four meetings. Saturday will once again be tough, with Sac State holding a 9--3 record on its home court, including its best non-conference season since moving to the Division-I ranks.
The Hornets average just 62 points per game – bottom 15 in the country – but hold opponents to even fewer points, 58.8, which ranks sixth nationally. In the last meeting, Montana won despite being limited to 52 points on .339 shooting
All-Big Sky player Josh Patton leads the Hornets for scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. Izayah Mauriohooho-Le'afa ranks in the top 10 in Big Sky play for assists and steals, while Osi Nwachukwu ranks second for steals.
"It's always been a tough place to play, and it's probably the best defensive team we've faced," DeCuire said. "It's a grind when we play them. They play tough, physical basketball, and on one-day prep, they're difficult to prepare for."
Montana will have the chance to clinch a share of the Big Sky title on Saturday, but chances are that will have to wait until next week at home, when the Grizzlies host second-place Northern Colorado in a must-see matchup. In order for things to happen this week, Montana would have to win both of its games, plus get losses from both Northern Colorado and Eastern Washington.
After beginning the season 0-6 on the road, the Grizzlies are 5-3 since, including back-to-back wins. The Grizzlies are playing their third three-game road trip of the season – more than any other big Sky team – which began with a 59-54 win at Montana State last Saturday.
In that contest, Montana slugged out a victory by holding MSU to .354 shooting, including .150 from deep. Montana's defense has been in lock-down mode recently, holding its last three opponents to 51.3 points per game, and all three under 40 percent shooting. On the flip side, Montana's offense has been lights out. Over the past 12 games, beginning Jan. 9 at Eastern Washington, Montana is shooting .523 overall including .421 from 3-point range, while scoring nearly 80 points per game. Extracted through a full season, the Grizzlies' shooting and 3-point shooting percentages would lead the entire nation.
Tipoff on Thursday is slated for 6 p.m., while the two teams will start at 8 p.m. (MT) on Saturday. Both games can be watched on Pluto TV.
After each #GrizHoops win, one of the stars of the game gets to update the win total in the locker room.
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) February 25, 2020
Saturday, it was our strength coach, @brronan31! pic.twitter.com/IdTDDhdILM
SERIES VS. THE LUMBERJACKS
In a series that dates back to 1970-71, the Griz and Lumberjacks have played 105 times. Montana holds a 74-31 edge, including a 10-0 record under Travis DeCuire. In fact, since 2009 Montana is 20-3 against the Lumberjacks, with its last loss in Flagstaff coming in 2014.
In two wins a season ago, Montana shot a combined .504 from the floor while holding the Lumberjacks under .400 in both games. Sayeed Pridgett scored 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting last March, in a 66-64 home victory that ended with a missed game-winning, 3-point attempt at the buzzer by NAU's Carlos Hines. Pridgett was again dominant in December, scoring 27 points while collecting 10 rebounds in a 79-72 victory to open Big Sky play.
SERIES VS. THE HORNETS
Montana is 44-9 vs. Sacramento State, winning six in a row in the series. The Grizzlies had two memorable wins over the Hornets last March, winning in Sacramento to clinch the Big Sky regular-season title before playing them the following week during the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. Despite the win, The Nest has been a challenging place for the Grizzlies to play. With a 2-3 mark, is one of just two Big Sky venues (also Weber State) that Travis DeCuire has a losing record in.
DeCuire is 8-4 vs. Sacramento State, having some success the past two seasons after beginning his career 2-4 against the Hornets. As a freshman in 2016-17, Sayeed Pridgett scored 28 points vs. Sacramento State, and he was in double figures for scoring in all three meetings a season ago, and again in December with 14 points. During the regular-season finale in Sacramento last year, Timmy Falls had 16 points and five assists. He added seven assists in the meeting in Missoula last January. Kendal Manuel was in double figures over each of the past three contests, including 13 points in December.
ANOTHER WINNING SEASON
After winning its 17th game of the season on Saturday, Montana is guaranteed to finish at least .500 for the 12th consecutive season. The Grizzlies can finish no worse than 17-16.
PEAKING IN FEBRUARY
During the month of February, Montana is a perfect 6-0 with five double-digit victories.
- The Grizzlies are averaging 76.8 points per game during the winning streak, with a +15.0 margin of victory.
- Montana is shooting .529 from the field, having made at least half of its shots in six games (and at least 48% in all seven).
- Montana is connecting from deep as well, averaging 6.5 made 3-pointers per game on .438 shooting.
- Rounding out the shooting, Montana has made its free throws at a .787 clip.
- The Grizzlies have a +5.2 turnover margin, giving up the ball just 10.2 times per game, while forcing 15.3 turnovers.
- Montana has a positive rebounding margin of +2.2, being out-rebounded just once. Through January, Montana had a -3.4 rebounding margin on the season.
- Senior Sayeed Pridgett has been lights out, averaging 21.8 points per game on .578 shooting. Not limited to scoring, Pridgett is also averaging 7.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
- Fellow senior Kendal Manuel is averaging 16.7 points per game on .500 shooting. He has connected on half of his 3-point attempts (14-of-28).
Over the past six weeks, Montana has featured one of the nation's top offenses, averaging 78.8 points per game on .523 shooting, including a .421 clip from 3-point range. The figures span the past 12 games since Jan. 9. Spread across an entire season, Montana would lead the nation for both shooting and 3-point shooting, and rank in the top 20 nationally for scoring.
GRIZ BITSBeing recruited together out of California, Josh's infamous mustache, the excitement of March Madness... It's all covered in this week's episode of the Inside the Den podcast, featuring our trio of talented freshmen! #GoGriz
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) February 25, 2020
🎙️ https://t.co/ywc1GZQ3MK pic.twitter.com/REApSzcBQL
- Montana this week moved into the Mid-Major Top 25 poll, coming in at 25th. The poll, now in its 21st season, is voted on by mid-major coaches from across the country.
- Montana has won a season-most six consecutive games, including back-to-back contests on the road.
- The Grizzlies are seven games over .500 for the first time this season. After a tough non-conference schedule, Montana didn't move above .500 for the first time until Jan. 13 (9-8).
- Over the past three games, Montana is limiting its opponents to 51.3 points per game, with none scoring more than 63. All three teams have shot lower than .400 from the floor.
- Montana (13-3) has the inside track to an unprecedented third consecutive Big Sky regular-season title, holding a one-game lead over both Eastern Washington and Northern Colorado (12-4).
- With two weeks remaining in the regular season, it's a three-team race for the No. 1 seed in the Big Sky tournament. Montana's four remaining opponents have a combined Big Sky record of 35-31, with the Grizzlies having to play two of the other top-three teams still. Northern Colorado's opponents are a combined 36-28, with the Bears having to play Eastern Washington and at Montana. Eastern Washington has the easiest remaining schedule, facing only one team (UNC) with a winning league record. The Eagles' opponents are a combined 29-35.
- Griz fans will have their eyes on Greeley, Colorado, on Saturday, as the Bears host Eastern Washington in what could be an elimination game.
- By virtue of its head-to-head sweep, Montana has potential tiebreakers over Eastern Washington. Northern Colorado currently has the edge over Montana, thanks to a Jan. 9 win in Greeley. EWU has the advantage over UNC, beating the Bears in overtime. In a potential three-way tie, Montana currently has the best head-to-head record between all three teams.
- In a crowded middle of the pack, six teams are likely fighting for two spots to earn a top-five seed and a bye into the quarterfinals. Northern Arizona (9-8) has moved into fourth place, followed by Portland State (8-8), Montana State (8-8), Weber State (7-9), Southern Utah (7-9) and Sacramento State (7-10).
- Of the 89 Big Sky games entering Thursday, 48 have been decided by single digits, including 23 by a single possession.
- By Jan. 4 every team had at least one win and one loss. It marked the first time in 12 seasons that every team had a loss by the third week of league play.
DECUIRE DOMINATING THE BIG SKYWe're just a handful of games away from setting the 2020 #BigSkyMBB Championship bracket!
— Big Sky MBB (@BigSkyMBB) February 23, 2020
Here's how the seeding would look if we were to start the tournament this week. #BigSkyInBoise pic.twitter.com/o3ED8aSRXH
In six seasons at Montana, head coach Travis DeCuire has built a winning record against every Big Sky foe, including undefeated marks against four schools. A win Saturday would improve DeCuire to 11-0 against the Lumberjacks, including 5-0 in Flagstaff.
LOOKING AHEAD
Montana closes the regular season at home, hosting Northern Colorado (March 5) and Southern Utah (March 7). Thursday's contest against the second-place Bears is expected to have major conference-title implications, while the team will recognize its three seniors on Saturday.
Complete Game Notes in PDF format, including additional notes, stats, charts and player pages
Players Mentioned
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