Thursday, February 13
BOZEMAN
7 p.m.
Montana State University
vs
Idaho State
Photo by: Garrett Becker
Bobcats Back in Worthington Arena to Host Bengals Thursday
2/11/2020 5:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Montana State hosts two games in Worthington Arena this week beginning on Thursday when the Bobcats take on Idaho State at 7 p.m
| Montana State Bobcats (12-11, 6-6) vs. Idaho State (6-16, 3-10) | |
| Date and Time | Thursday, Feb. 13 - 7 p.m. MST |
| Location | Bozeman, Mont. |
| Site | Worthington Arena (6,772) |
| Television | Pluto TV |
| Radio | KMMS 1450 AM | Bobcat Sports Radio Network |
| Listen Live | msubobcats.com/watch | TuneIn app |
| Stream | Pluto TV | WatchBigSky.com |
| Live Stats | MSUBobcats.com (Statbroadcast) |
| Tickets | MSUBobcats.com |
| Montana State | Game Notes | Men's Basketball Home Page |
| Idaho State | Men's Basketball Home Page |
BOZEMAN, Mont. – Montana State hosts two games in Worthington Arena this week beginning on Thursday when the Bobcats take on Idaho State at 7 p.m. MSU faces Weber State in Bozeman Saturday evening.
The Bobcats and Bengals meet for the second time this season Thursday. MSU defeated Idaho State, 75-64, on Jan. 25 in Pocatello. The Bobcats and Bengals were tied at 51 before MSU took the lead for good at the 6:31 mark of the second half in the first meeting. The 'Cats used a 15-4 run over a 2:47 span to push the advantage to double digits.
"They are a very similar team to us," Montana State head coach Danny Sprinkle said of Idaho State. "They do a really good job guarding, they make you earn it. It was a nip and tuck game until five minutes left (in Pocatello). We got a couple and-ones and we got a couple good plays inside that kind of broke the game open. Up until that point, it was back and forth and I'd expect the same on Thursday."
Four Bobcats scored in double digits in the win over the Bengals on Jan. 25. Amin Adamu recorded a team-high 19 points while Devin Kirby notched his first double-double of the season. MSU outshot Idaho State 49.1-36.8% from the field.
MSU has defeated Idaho State in three straight matchups, including five of the last six games. Idaho State's last win against MSU came in Worthington Arena on March 1, 2018. ISU beat MSU, 101-78, which is the last time a Big Sky opponent has scored 100 or more against the Bobcats.
"I hope we have two great environments," Sprinkle said of this week's slate. "I hope Thursday and Saturday, I hope it's awesome and rocking. We're going to need it. Our players are going to come out and compete. We've had some great practices in preparation for Idaho State. But it really is a home court advantage."
MSU hosted Idaho in Bozeman Thursday and traveled to Cheney to play Eastern Washington last Saturday. Both contests featured MSU's biggest win and loss margins of the Big Sky schedule. The 'Cats topped Idaho, 72-50, and fell to the Eags, 74-49.
The Bobcats went 30 of 50 from the floor for a 60% shooting percentage against the Vandals on Feb. 6. The overall shooting mark was MSU's best in a game since Feb. 18, 2006, when MSU topped Idaho in Bozeman. It was the sixth time this season the 'Cats have shot at least 50%.
MSU shot just 13 of 58 (22.4%) in its 74-49 loss to EWU on Feb. 8. It was the Bobcats' lowest shooting mark of the 2019-20 season. The 49 points in the defeat also marked the first time the 'Cats have recorded under 50 in a contest since Nov. 9, 2018, when they lost at Indiana.
"We've had our ups and our downs," Sprinkle said. "We've had some good wins and we've had some losses that have shown us what we need to keep working on. It's typical Big Sky Conference. We are right where we probably should be. We've had some games that we've won that we probably shouldn't of and we've lost that we shouldn't have."
The Bobcats improved to 12-3 this season when holding opponents to 70 points or less after their win versus Idaho. The 15 foes under 70 points or less ties their best mark since the 2014-15 season. MSU's last time holding 16 opponents to 70 points or less was during the 2010-11 season.
MSU's defensive performance against Idaho was one of its best in the past decade in Big Sky action. Idaho's 50 points were the least given up by MSU to a Big Sky opponent since the 2010-11 season. The Bobcats lost a 50-45 matchup on Jan. 24 of that season to Idaho State.
The Bobcats' highest ranking on the NCAA statistics charts through 23 games is their defensive rebounds per game average. MSU's 28 defensive rebounds per game ranks it 30th in Division I basketball and third overall in the Big Sky Conference.
Danny Sprinkle's squad heads into its Thursday matchup versus Idaho State looking to pick up a regular season sweep over the Bengals. The last first-year Bobcat head coach to earn wins in his opening two games against ISU was Roger Craft in 1963.
Montana State University students can watch any Bobcat basketball game free with their Cat Card, but Thursday's game features a unique student food giveaway. Deep fried rocky mountain oysters will be given to MSU students that attend the matchup between MSU and Idaho State.
Saturday's game versus Weber State will serve as a Pack the Place in Pink contest. Bobcat fans are encouraged to wear pink. Any fans that do so will be eligible for $5 tickets to the evening contest between the Bobcats and Wildcats.
Thursday's game will be streamed on the Pluto TV app and on WatchBigSky.com. All Bobcat basketball games are available to listen to as part of the Bobcat Sports Radio Network and airing locally on KMMS 1450 AM. All tickets for home games are available at msubobcats.com/tickets, by calling 406-994-CATS or by visiting the Bobcat Ticket Office.
Players Mentioned
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