Bobcats Hit the Road for Exhibition Matchup with Kansas City

Saturday, October 24

Kansas City, Mo.

10:30 a.m.

Montana State University

Kansas City (Exh.)

Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services

10/23/2026 4:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Cats set for final tune-up for regular-season play

By: Pershelle Rohrer

BOZEMAN, Mont. – The Montana State men's basketball team is set for its second and final exhibition game of the preseason, traveling to Missouri to compete against Kansas City on Saturday.

Tipoff is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. MT at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. The exhibition game will provide the Bobcats with one more opportunity to test themselves against opposing competition ahead of the regular-season opener at Colorado State on Nov. 2.

"We are excited about the opportunity to go on the road together, execute our travel and road game prep process and continue to get game speed reps as we prepare for the start of the regular season," Montana State head coach Matt Logie said.

Montana State last faced Kansas City during the 2024-25 season, with the Bobcats defeating the Roos, 74-62, on Dec. 7, 2024, for their second-straight victory to open December. The game marked the first-ever matchup between the two teams and was one of 11 home victories for the Bobcats that season.

The Bobcats head into the 2026-27 season as the preseason favorite to win the Big Sky title. Montana State was ranked first in the Big Sky Preseason Coaches' and Media Polls, also earning a preseason No. 1 nod from the Blue Ribbon Yearbook. Fifth-year Jed Miller was named to the preseason All-Big Sky team by the conference and the Blue Ribbon Yearbook after leading the Bobcats in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and minutes per game a year ago.

Kansas City finished the 2025-26 season ranked ninth in the Summit League after compiling a 4-27 record overall, including a 1-15 mark in conference play. Saturday's matchup with Montana State is the Roos' lone exhibition of the preseason. Kansas City is expected to be led by senior guard Jaylen Smith, who earned Second-Team Preseason All-Summit League heading into the 2026-27 season. Smith was the SoCon Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 9.1 points per game on 39.8% shooting at East Tennessee State last season.

Miller leads a group of 11 Bobcats returning from last season's Big Sky regular season runner-up team. Montana State finished 18-14 overall and 12-6 in conference play, with Miller (First Team), Christian King (Honorable Mention) and Jeremiah Davis (All-Defense) earning All-Big Sky honors alongside Patrick McMahon (Second Team). Miller, King, and Davis will lead an experienced squad that features two fifth-years, six seniors, two juniors, four sophomores, and two freshmen.

Montana State's returning players include fifth-years Davis and Miller; seniors Seth Amunrud, Cavin Holden, King, Waka Mbatch, and Calum Rutherfurd; junior Jaden Steppe; and sophomores Howie Keene, CJ Purdie, and James Steward.

The Bobcats also added a trio of transfers and two freshmen to the team for the 2026-27 campaign. Senior Isaiah Crane, junior Darnez Slater, sophomore London Praytor, and freshmen Hale Hansen and DJ Johnson will all compete in their first season in Blue and Gold in 2026-27 as the Bobcats look make a run at the Big Sky regular-season and tournament titles.

Montana State will tip off regular-season play at Colorado State on Monday, Nov. 2, at 8 p.m., before hosting Long Beach State in the Bobcats' home opener on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 1 p.m. Single-game tickets for all home games are available to purchase here.

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