Dillon, Mont. - The University of Montana Western opened the 2018-19 season and the
Mike Larsen era win a 94-89 win over Salish Kootenai College.
The first win isn't easy and Salish Kootenai put up a fight, connecting on 13 shots from beyond the arc to keep the score close. Senior
Kooper Kidgell led all scorers with 25 points on 9-16 shooting and going a perfect 7-7 from the charity stripe. Cedirc Boone added 20 points as the Bulldogs weathered an early storm and a barrage of threes to build a 15 point lead in the second-half. The play of
Tanner Haverfield off the bench (15 points, five boards, and a block) and
Derrek Durocher (10 points, seven rebounds) helped keep the Bison at arms length down the stretch.
- The Bulldogs struggled from beyond the arc,hitting just three of 23 attempts, but found other ways to score the basketball, shooting 50 percent from the floor.
- All ten players ended up in the score sheet.
- Boone and Collin Achenbach had 12 of the 15 assists for the Bulldogs which included several dazzling passes which led to easy buckets.
- The Bulldogs dominated the glass with 51 rebounds led by big-man Jaycob Payne's 10, he also added eight points.
- The win was the first career win for new Bulldog Head Coach Mike Larsen
- Kooper Kidgell is now 45 points away from 1000 career points.
The Bulldogs will return to action on Oct. 29 when they travel to Bozeman, Mont. to face Montana State in an exhibition match.
