Montana State University
Portland State
Bobcats Host League-Leading Vikings
1/7/2010 11:03:44 AM | Men's Basketball
Men's Basketball Faces Big Sky's Only Remaining Unbeaten
When
NEXT UP...
DATE January 8, 2010
TIPOFF 7 pm
SITE
ARENA
RADIO Bobcat Network (Jeff Lasky)
TV BigSkyTV.org
LAST TIME PSU 79-77, 3/11/09 at
DATE January 10, 2010
TIPOFF 2 pm
SITE
ARENA
RADIO Bobcat Network (Jeff Lasky)
TV Altitude (Bill Riley, Jay McMillan)
LAST TIME MSU 69-65, 1/29/09 at
MISCELLANY...
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l The Bobcats are 3-1 in league play for the first time since 2005-06
SERIES NOTES...
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l MSU owns five straight wins against Eastern Washington in
ON THE OFFENSE...
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l Danny Piepoli is 13-for-19 from three-point range in the last five games, and at one point during that stretch hit eight in a row
l The Bobcats have 12 turnovers or less in eight of the last 11 games, and stand 49th in the nation in turnovers per game (12.4)
ON THE DEFENSE...
l Friday's game pits the top two shot-blocking teams in the Big Sky
l Bobcat opponents shoot 46% in the first half, 37% in the second
BJ Boardin'...
Branden Johnson grabbed 280 rebounds, just over three per game, during his first three seasons as a Bobcat. This year, Johnson's 6.3 boards a game, 88 total, leads the team and is seventh in the Big Sky.
...and Blockin'
Johnson has also asserted his presence inside by blocking shots. He has blocked 12 shots, 0.9 per game, also the seventh-best mark in the Big Sky Conference.
Three After Three
MSU has hit at least one three-pointer in its last 448 games. From 1986 to late '92-93 MSU rolled up a 197-game streak and has a three in 645 of the last 646.
Halfway There
Whatever counsel Brad Huse offers his team at halftime in the defensive realm during the 2009-10 season seems to be working.
Shooting Pctg
1st Half 181-388 .466
2nd Half 144-389 .370
Free Throw Defense?
Bobcat opponents shot 71.7% from the line (162-for-237).
And Free Throw Offense
After shooting 59% (32-for-54) from the line in their first four games, the Bobcats have shot 73% (109-for-149) since. More significantly, MSU raised its attempts-per-game rate from 13.5 in the first four to 18.6 in the last eight. MSU averages nearly five more attempts per game at home (19.3) than on the road (14.5). Erik Rush remains MSU's free throw mainstay, leading the team with 60 trips to the line while converting 76.7% of those shots.
Half the Story
Marquee Marquis
Marquis Navarre has been one of MSU's marquee performers this season.
PPG FG% 3FG% A-TO
'10 10.9 48.2% 51.7% 1.48
'09 5.4 37.9% 27.9% 1.45
Slim Margins
MSU held to its trend of winning games that it leads at halftime (6-1) while struggling in those in which it trails (2-5). The Cats led by one at the half in Sunday's win at ISU, while trailing by one at Weber.
Road Wins
Year Record Non-conf. road wins
87-88 3-3 Prairie View, N. Texas,
64-65 3-4
63-64 3-1 NDSU, N. Dak., Washington
08-09 3-4
Telling the Turnover Tale
Ball security has been one of the keys in
For Starters
Weekend Wackiness
MSU faces 10 Big Sky weekends this season, with almost that many schedule configurations. Here is a look...
Fri/Sat NC/NAU, ISU/WSU, @EW/@PSU
Thu/Sun @WSU/@ISU
Fri/Sun PSU/EWU, @NAU/@NC
Sun/Mon @Sac/@CSUB
Sat only UM, @UM
Sun only @SAC
