Wednesday, December 8
Missoula, Mont.
7 PM
Montana
vs
Air Force
Photo by: Tommy Martino
Griz return to home for big-time matchup against hot Air Force team
12/6/2021 11:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Montana vs. Air Force
Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m.
Wednesday's opponent will be another challenge as Montana tries to do what Air Force's past seven opponents have been unable to do: beat the Falcons. Since a 59-53 season-opening loss to South Dakota, Air Force has won seven consecutive games, its best stretch – and best start to a season – since 2007. The Falcons bring a potent offense that shoots .496 from the floor (20th nationally) and a unique defense that holds opponents to 57.9 points per contest (18th).
Air Force, though, will be playing just its second road game of the season, and will be making its first trip to Missoula in 37 years. The Grizzlies are 2-1 when hosting Mountain West schools under Travis DeCuire, with the lone loss coming by one point to Wyoming in November 2016. Since then, Montana has won 14 consecutive Division-I non-conference home games.
Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. on ESPN+ and the Grizzly Radio Network. Tickets can be purchased online. Operation Hat Trick is giving away Montana winter hats to the first 100 students in attendance.
Four of Montana's five wins this season have come inside Dahlberg Arena, where the Grizzlies are a perfect 4-0. Not only is Montana winning at home, but the Grizzlies have been doing so in dominant fashion:Gallery: (11-24-2021) MBB: vs. UC San Diego (11.24.21)
SERIES VS. THE FALCONS
Montana and Air Force will meet on the hardwood for the 12th time on Wednesday, with the Grizzlies owning a 6-5 series advantage (UM has won seven games in the series, but its 1976-77 win was later vacated and stands as an Air Force victory).
The series dates back to the 1962-63 season, with the two teams meeting again in 1963-64, six times in the 1970s, twice in the 1980s and once more during the 2007-08 season. Montana is 4-1 against Air Force in Missoula, and has won three in a row in the series overall, with the most-recent meeting coming on a neutral court in Spokane, Washington (59-57 UM win in 2007-08). This is the Falcons' first trip to Missoula since 1984-85 (80-55 UM win).
GRIZ VS. THE MOUNTAIN WEST
Earlier this century, home-and-home series with Mountain West schools – or even some Pac-12 teams – became semi-regular, but in recent years it has been more challenging to get mid-major teams to visit Missoula.
Wednesday will mark the fourth time under Travis DeCuire that the Griz have hosted a Mountain West team, with Montana going 2-1 in the previous three contests.
In Montana's 2015-16 season opener, the Grizzlies played a Boise State team that advanced to the NCAA tournament later that year. With 21 points from Martin Breunig and 17 more from Michael Oguine – in his collegiate debut – the Griz upset the Broncos, 74-72, with Breunig corralling a rebound with 5 seconds remaining to seal the win.
A year later, in a game that alternated leads throughout, Montana missed a layup as the game expired, narrowly falling to Wyoming, 73-72. Later that year, the Grizzlies left no doubt in an 81-62 victory over San Jose State.
SCOUTING AIR FORCE
Following Wednesday's game vs. Air Force, Montana will host Yellowstone Christian College for the second consecutive season (Friday, 7 p.m.). Montana will then close non-conference play on Dec. 19 at Santa Clara. It will be the team's only game during a 19-day stretch as the Grizzlies prepare for final exams and the holidays.
Complete Game Notes in PDF format, including additional notes, stats, charts and player pages
Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m.
- Watch: ESPN+
- Listen: KGVO (1290 AM/98.3 FM) / The Varsity Network
- Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
- Tickets
Wednesday's opponent will be another challenge as Montana tries to do what Air Force's past seven opponents have been unable to do: beat the Falcons. Since a 59-53 season-opening loss to South Dakota, Air Force has won seven consecutive games, its best stretch – and best start to a season – since 2007. The Falcons bring a potent offense that shoots .496 from the floor (20th nationally) and a unique defense that holds opponents to 57.9 points per contest (18th).
Air Force, though, will be playing just its second road game of the season, and will be making its first trip to Missoula in 37 years. The Grizzlies are 2-1 when hosting Mountain West schools under Travis DeCuire, with the lone loss coming by one point to Wyoming in November 2016. Since then, Montana has won 14 consecutive Division-I non-conference home games.
Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. on ESPN+ and the Grizzly Radio Network. Tickets can be purchased online. Operation Hat Trick is giving away Montana winter hats to the first 100 students in attendance.
HAPPY AT HOMEBack at 𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗘 this week for a pair of games!
— Montana Griz Basketball (@MontanaGrizBB) December 6, 2021
🏀 Wednesday vs. Air Force
🏀 Friday vs. Yellowstone Christian#GrizHoops #BigSkyMBB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/Kpymnv1pko
Four of Montana's five wins this season have come inside Dahlberg Arena, where the Grizzlies are a perfect 4-0. Not only is Montana winning at home, but the Grizzlies have been doing so in dominant fashion:
- Montana's four home wins have been by an average of 22.5 points, with all four coming by at least 10 points.
- In two home games this year, opponents are averaging 45.0 points on .367 shooting against the Grizzlies.
- The 27 points allowed vs Dickinson State were the fewest by a Griz defense since 1977, the fewest at home since 1936 and the fewest ever inside Dahlberg Arena. DSU's first eight offensive possessions featured five missed shots and three turnovers, as the Blue Hawks were held scoreless until the game's fifth minute. Nearly 9 minutes into the contest, the Grizzlies led 16-2.
- In addition to the low point total, the Grizzlies held DSU to 22.2 percent shooting (12-of-54), including a 1-for-20 mark from beyond the arc.
- Similarly, vs. Omaha, Montana jumped out to a 17-3 advantage, forcing the Mavericks into 16 consecutive empty possessions (10 missed shots, six turnovers) over a stretch of 9:20.
- Montana has forced 64 turnovers at home (16.0 average), resulting in 69 points off turnovers (17.3).
- In 160 minutes at home, Montana has trailed for just 11:57 (7.5 percent) and never by more than four points.
- Montana has gotten off to strong starts in all four home games, holding its opponents to 2-of-21 combined shooting and 11 turnovers through the first 4:30 of each game.
- The Grizzlies are undefeated this season when holding opponent below 78 points, compared to 0-4 when the opposition scores at least 78 points.
- Montana is a perfect 5-0 when shooting at a higher percentage than its opponent, compared to 0-4 when being out-shot.
- Montana is 5-0 when holding opponents to seven or fewer made 3-pointers, compared to 0-4 when the opposition makes at least eight triples.
- The Grizzlies are 5-0 when recording more assists than their opponent, compared to 0-4 when failing to do so.
- Montana is 3-0 when shooting more free throws than its opponent.
- Montana has turned the ball over more times than its opponent just once this season. The Grizzlies are 4-1 when turning the ball over fewer than 10 times (they have done so seven times on four occasions) and are 4-1 when forcing at least 16 turnovers. The exception to both stats was last week at Northern Colorado, when Montana committed just seven turnovers while forcing the Bears into 16 miscues.
SERIES VS. THE FALCONS
Montana and Air Force will meet on the hardwood for the 12th time on Wednesday, with the Grizzlies owning a 6-5 series advantage (UM has won seven games in the series, but its 1976-77 win was later vacated and stands as an Air Force victory).
The series dates back to the 1962-63 season, with the two teams meeting again in 1963-64, six times in the 1970s, twice in the 1980s and once more during the 2007-08 season. Montana is 4-1 against Air Force in Missoula, and has won three in a row in the series overall, with the most-recent meeting coming on a neutral court in Spokane, Washington (59-57 UM win in 2007-08). This is the Falcons' first trip to Missoula since 1984-85 (80-55 UM win).
GRIZ VS. THE MOUNTAIN WEST
Earlier this century, home-and-home series with Mountain West schools – or even some Pac-12 teams – became semi-regular, but in recent years it has been more challenging to get mid-major teams to visit Missoula.
Wednesday will mark the fourth time under Travis DeCuire that the Griz have hosted a Mountain West team, with Montana going 2-1 in the previous three contests.
In Montana's 2015-16 season opener, the Grizzlies played a Boise State team that advanced to the NCAA tournament later that year. With 21 points from Martin Breunig and 17 more from Michael Oguine – in his collegiate debut – the Griz upset the Broncos, 74-72, with Breunig corralling a rebound with 5 seconds remaining to seal the win.
A year later, in a game that alternated leads throughout, Montana missed a layup as the game expired, narrowly falling to Wyoming, 73-72. Later that year, the Grizzlies left no doubt in an 81-62 victory over San Jose State.
SCOUTING AIR FORCE
- After a 59-53 season-opening loss to South Dakota, Air Force has rattled off seven consecutive victories. It is the school's best start and longest winning streak since 2007.
- The Falcons own a win over Idaho State (59-48) of the Big Sky and a road win at Tulsa (the Falcons' only road game of the season).
- Defensively, AFA ranks 18th in the NCAA for scoring defense (57.9 ppg) and offensively ranks 20th for field-goal shooting (.496).
- AFA has three players averaging double figures for scoring, led by senior guard AJ Walker, who is averaging 19.3 points (39th in the NCAA) on .582 shooting (53rd). He also has a team-most 20 made 3-pointers (.435 shooting).
- Freshman guard Ethan Taylor is chipping in with 10.3 points per game while leading the Falcons for minutes (38.2, fourth in the NCAA), rebounding (6.0), assists (33) and steals (20, 15th).
- Joe Scott is in the second season of his second stint at Air Force (sixth overall). The Falcons have already surpassed last season's win total (five).
- Through nine games, Montana has done a tremendous job at protecting the basketball. In fact, the Grizzlies rank 12th nationally, committing just 9.7 turnovers per game. The Grizzlies also rank 24th in the NCAA for turnover margin (+5.1).
- Montana has turned the ball over just seven times in four of its past six games.
- Montana hasn't turned the ball over more than 13 times in a game this season.
- Montana is allowing just 65.0 points per game, a figure that ranks 105th in the entire country (top 30 percent).
- Montana has held two opponents below 50 points, after doing so just once all of last year – a season in which Montana ranked 77th nationally (top 25 percent) at just 67.0 points allowed per game.
- Montana is 5-0 this season when holding opponents to 77 or fewer points.
- After setting a school record from the charity stripe in 2020-21 (.782, 15th in the NCAA), Montana again is connecting on its free-throw attempts (.782, 28th).
- Montana has shot a better percentage from the free-throw line in eight of nine games this season.
- Montana is 0-2 this season in games decided by six points or fewer.
- Montana has three players averaging at least 6.6 points per game and has had six different players lead the team in scoring (none more than twice).
- Montana has used the same starting lineup in all but one game this season, featuring three sophomores, a junior transfer who is new to the program this year and a senior forward.
- In order to have success this season, the Grizzlies will have to do a better job crashing the glass. Montana ranks last out of 350 Division-I teams for rebounding (27.7). The Grizzlies also rank last for offensive rebounding (4.9) and in the bottom 10 for rebounding margin (-9.7, 343rd).
- Montana has been out-rebounded by all eight Division-I opponents this season and has been out-rebounded by double figures five times, including four of the past five games.
- While the Grizzlies rank poorly for rebounding, so too does Air Force, with the Falcons averaging 29.6 rebounds per game (342nd).
- The Grizzlies will also have to improve their perimeter defense, with teams shooting .430 from distance against the Grizzlies (348th in NCAA). In a win over Dickinson State (Nov. 9), Montana held the Blue Hawks to 1-of-20 shooting from 3-point range. Against Division-I competition, though, opponents are averaging 7.9 made 3's per game on .488 shooting (63-of-129). This comes after the Grizzlies ranked 52nd nationally in 2020-21, holding opponents to 31.2-percent shooting from deep.
- Montana is 5-0 when holding opponents to seven or fewer made 3-pointers, compared to 0-4 when the opposition makes at least eight triples.
Following Wednesday's game vs. Air Force, Montana will host Yellowstone Christian College for the second consecutive season (Friday, 7 p.m.). Montana will then close non-conference play on Dec. 19 at Santa Clara. It will be the team's only game during a 19-day stretch as the Grizzlies prepare for final exams and the holidays.
Complete Game Notes in PDF format, including additional notes, stats, charts and player pages
March Madness Denver Pep Rally - 3/19/25
Thursday, March 20
Montana? Yes, Montana!
Wednesday, March 19
Griz Basketball Open Practice [March Madness] - 3/19/25
Wednesday, March 19
Griz Basketball Arrival To Denver [March Madness] - 3/18/25
Tuesday, March 18
