Thursday, January 26
Portland, OR
8 p.m.
Montana State University
at
Portland State
Jubrile Belo
Photo by: Kyle Cajero
Bobcats Reach the Midway Point of Big Sky Play Against Vikings, Hornets
1/24/2023 12:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Montana State continues its longest road stretch of the Big Sky Conference slate this season on the West Coast.
BOZEMAN, Mont. – Coming off an emotional 67-64 win at Montana last Saturday, the Montana State men's basketball team continues its longest road trip of Big Sky Conference play at Portland State this Thursday at 8 p.m. MT. This week marks the midway point of conference play, as the Bobcats have faced every team save for Portland State and Sacramento State, who they play on Saturday at 8 p.m. MT.
Thursday's game and all Big Sky Conference games will be streamed on ESPN+ and a free radio broadcast will be provided on the Bobcat Sports Radio Network. Links to livestream, live stats can be found on the men's basketball team's schedule page on msubobcats.com.
The Bobcats (13-8, 6-2 Big Sky Conference) have won the last four games against the Vikings (9-11, 3-4 Big Sky Conference), yet three of those four meetings have been determined by 10 points or fewer.
With almost half of the Big Sky games in the books, the Bobcats have the best defense in Big Sky games, limiting teams to 62.0 points per game and 30.8% shooting from three-point range. Head coach Danny Sprinkle's unit ranks third in opponent field goal percentage (41.3%), second in blocked shots (3.13 per game) and fourth in steals (5.88 per game).
That defensive effort was evident in last weekend's game at Montana, as both teams failed to score 70 points in a tight, defense-heavy rivalry game. Darius Brown II scored 23 points in his first Brawl of the Wild game, plus RaeQuan Battle added 18 points — including three free throws in the final minute that ultimately became the difference. In his last game in Dahlberg Arena, senior forward Jubrile Belo emerged victorious with 11 points, five rebounds and two blocks. Speaking of blocks, Belo enters this week four shy of Montana State's career record; Belo has averaged 1.4 blocks per game in Big Sky play, making him on pace to set the record soon.
Elsewhere, few players on Montana State's roster have hit another gear in conference play quite like Darius Brown II, who has averaged 14.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game in eight Big Sky games. He is also shooting an incredibly efficient 60.6% from the field — including 57.1% from three — in Big Sky action. Brown II leads the league in steals, and assist-to-turnover ratio in league games (3.6), while also ranking second in field goal percentage.
As for Portland State, the Vikings look to carry momentum from last Saturday's 72-65 win at Idaho State, in which Portland State took the lead midway through the first half and used an 11-0 run in the second half to seal the victory. Senior point guard Cameron Parker led the way with 17 points and six assists, while Oregon State transfer Isaiah Johnson added 16 points off the bench.
Thursday night will pit two of the best Big Sky point guards against each other, as Brown II will square off against Cameron Parker, who is a familiar face for the Bobcats. The former Montana point guard bolted west during the offseason and leads the Vikings by scoring 14.7 points per game and dishing out 5.7 assists in conference play.
Parker is not an anomaly on Portland State's roster. Only two of the Vikings' 14 players were recruited as true freshmen at Portland State, while four are at the third school of their college careers. Three of the Vikings' starting five are newcomers this year, while Mikal Starks and Jacob Eyman are the only returners from last season in the starting lineup. All told, PSU's roster features players from Cal State Fullerton, Georgia, Elon, IUPUI, Montana, Oregon State, Pepperdine, Portland, Southeastern Louisiana, Toledo and UTEP.
The Bobcats will wrap up their four-game road trip at Sacramento State this Saturday at 8 p.m. MT. All Big Sky Conference games will be streamed on ESPN+.
Thursday's game and all Big Sky Conference games will be streamed on ESPN+ and a free radio broadcast will be provided on the Bobcat Sports Radio Network. Links to livestream, live stats can be found on the men's basketball team's schedule page on msubobcats.com.
The Bobcats (13-8, 6-2 Big Sky Conference) have won the last four games against the Vikings (9-11, 3-4 Big Sky Conference), yet three of those four meetings have been determined by 10 points or fewer.
With almost half of the Big Sky games in the books, the Bobcats have the best defense in Big Sky games, limiting teams to 62.0 points per game and 30.8% shooting from three-point range. Head coach Danny Sprinkle's unit ranks third in opponent field goal percentage (41.3%), second in blocked shots (3.13 per game) and fourth in steals (5.88 per game).
That defensive effort was evident in last weekend's game at Montana, as both teams failed to score 70 points in a tight, defense-heavy rivalry game. Darius Brown II scored 23 points in his first Brawl of the Wild game, plus RaeQuan Battle added 18 points — including three free throws in the final minute that ultimately became the difference. In his last game in Dahlberg Arena, senior forward Jubrile Belo emerged victorious with 11 points, five rebounds and two blocks. Speaking of blocks, Belo enters this week four shy of Montana State's career record; Belo has averaged 1.4 blocks per game in Big Sky play, making him on pace to set the record soon.
Elsewhere, few players on Montana State's roster have hit another gear in conference play quite like Darius Brown II, who has averaged 14.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game in eight Big Sky games. He is also shooting an incredibly efficient 60.6% from the field — including 57.1% from three — in Big Sky action. Brown II leads the league in steals, and assist-to-turnover ratio in league games (3.6), while also ranking second in field goal percentage.
As for Portland State, the Vikings look to carry momentum from last Saturday's 72-65 win at Idaho State, in which Portland State took the lead midway through the first half and used an 11-0 run in the second half to seal the victory. Senior point guard Cameron Parker led the way with 17 points and six assists, while Oregon State transfer Isaiah Johnson added 16 points off the bench.
Thursday night will pit two of the best Big Sky point guards against each other, as Brown II will square off against Cameron Parker, who is a familiar face for the Bobcats. The former Montana point guard bolted west during the offseason and leads the Vikings by scoring 14.7 points per game and dishing out 5.7 assists in conference play.
Parker is not an anomaly on Portland State's roster. Only two of the Vikings' 14 players were recruited as true freshmen at Portland State, while four are at the third school of their college careers. Three of the Vikings' starting five are newcomers this year, while Mikal Starks and Jacob Eyman are the only returners from last season in the starting lineup. All told, PSU's roster features players from Cal State Fullerton, Georgia, Elon, IUPUI, Montana, Oregon State, Pepperdine, Portland, Southeastern Louisiana, Toledo and UTEP.
The Bobcats will wrap up their four-game road trip at Sacramento State this Saturday at 8 p.m. MT. All Big Sky Conference games will be streamed on ESPN+.
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