Men's basketball will get second straight 'Game of the Week' exposure
GAME DAY NOTES: at
Montana
BIG SKY CONFERENCE RELEASE: Bears,
Grizzlies to meet on Altitude
GAME
DETAILS
Date: Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009
Tip: 2 p.m. (MT)
Location: Missoula, Mont.
Venue: Dahlberg Arena (7,321)
Television: Altitude
Play-by-play: Phil Buck
Analyst: Mat Seidensticker
Sideline: N/A
Radio: 1310 KFKA (Greeley)
Play-by-play: Troy Coverdale
Web stream: 1310KFKA.com
Live stats: MontanaGrizzlies.com
Series: UM, 7-2
Last: UM, 81-66 (2-28-2008)
SOME STORY LINES
- Northern Colorado, coming off a 65-55 victory Thursday night at Montana State, can already match its road-win total from last season (two) with a victory today against the Grizzlies. The Bears have never defeated Montana in Big Sky play.
- Tonight’s game continues a run of four straight road games for Northern Colorado -- its longest such stretch this season. Four home games will then follow for the Bears, making this an increasingly important portion of their schedule.
- This is the second week in a row that Northern Colorado will play in the Big Sky Conference “Game of the Week.” The Bears hope this game turns out better than last week’s GOTW, a 57-43 home loss to Portland State.
- Montana and Northern Colorado feature contrasting styles. The Grizzlies come into today’s game as the top defensive team in the Big Sky (66.9), while the Bears are the second-best scoring team (71.5).
SERIES
HISTORY
70-71: UM, 72-63 (A)
76-77: NC, forfeit (A)
77-78: NC, 76-75 (H)
78-79: UM, 84-42 (A)
80-81: UM, 71-52 (H)
06-07: UM, 68-51 (H)
06-07: UM, 85-64 (A)
07-08: UM, 71-60 (H)
07-08: UM, 81-66 (A)
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES
- Anthony Johnson leads Montana in scoring at 16.1 points per game (22.6 in conference). He’s a junior-college transfer from Yakima Valley Community College, where he averaged 24.4 points per game.
- Montana has only two players averaging in double-figure scoring this year (Johnson and senior Jordan Hasquet). The Grizzlies’ calling card is defense, however. They give up only 66.9 points per game, which is the best mark in the Big Sky Conference.
- Montana opened the season with a resounding 85-55 victory at Colorado State. Junior Ryan Staudacher (14 points) and sophomore Brian Qvale (15) led the Grizzlies in the win. Northern Colorado lost at Colorado State 85-74 in its second game this season.