Men's Basketball October 25, 2025 Claire Gay

UMW Men’s Basketball Opens 2025-26 Season at Evergreen Sunday

DILLON, Mont. – Montana Western Men's Basketball begins its 2025-26 campaign on the road at Evergreen Sunday. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m. PT/ 1 p.m. MT.

GAME COVERAGE
Sunday @ Evergreen State – Watch Live | Live Stats

BEHIND THE BARK
The Bulldogs are coming off a 2024-25 campaign that saw them finish fourth in the Frontier with a 16-13 overall record (8-7 in conference play).

Returners
Coach Jensen returns eight student-athletes from last year's team, including seniors Kyle Gruhler, who earned Frontier Conference Newcomer of the Year and First Team All-Conference nods and FC Sixth Man of the Year Jacob Ankeny. Gruhler led the team in rebounds (6.5) and ranked second in scoring (14.7). Ankeny was one of five Bulldogs to appear in all 29 games last season.

Also back for the Bulldogs are, redshirt-seniors Jacksen Burckley, Carson Denning, and Kolter Merritt, senior Quincy Taylor, redshirt-sophomore Billy Carlson, and redshirt-freshman River Hurley.

Newcomers
New to the squad this season are freshmen Kyler Engellant and Ben Erbacher, as well as transfers Joshua Whiteside, Trayce Atkins, David Young, Mark Huber, and Emanuel Steward. The new additions will add strength and big-game experience to the 2025-26 roster.

2025 SEASON SNAPSHOT
In total, Western will have 14 home contests and 15 road games in the 2025-26 regular season. Some notable home matchups include NAIA Preseason #1 College of Idaho (11/3), Carroll (12/5), Rocky Mountain (12/6), and #11 Montana Tech (1/23).

Important road tests include (RV) LC State (11/7), #11 Montana Tech (11/28), and NCAA Division I opponent Idaho State (12/18).

PRESEASON RANKINGS
The Bulldogs tied for second in the 2025-26 Frontier Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll. Reigning conference champions Montana Tech landed the top spot in the poll while Carroll shared second place with UMW.

THE OPPONENTS
Evergreen

Finished 2-23 in 2024-25, including 2-20 in CCC play.
The Geoducks were picked 11th in the 2025-26 Cascade Collegiate Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Poll.
Evergreen is returning seven players, including Graham Bradley, who ranked second on the team in scoring in 2024-25 (12.6 ppg) and Jemoi Davis, who ranked led the team in field-goal percentage (.507) and finished second on the team in rebounds (3.9 rpg).
Nathan Behr is back for the Geoducks as well and returns as the team's leader in three-point percentage (55.6).

SERIES HISTORY
The Bulldogs are 3-0 all-time against the Geoducks, with the last matchup between the two sides ending in a resounding 99-51 victory for UMW in Dillon on 11/1/24.

LOOKING AHEAD
Following the season opener, Western returns to Straugh Gymnasium to host the Montana Western Tournament Oct. 30-31. UMW welcomes Montana Tech, Warner Pacific, and Southern Oregon to Dillon for four games over the two days.

For complete coverage of UMW Men's Basketball, be sure to follow us on social media at @umwesternbball (Instagram), @UMWesternBball (X), and @Montana Western Men's Basketball (Facebook) or visit our official website at UMWBulldogs.com.

#GOBULLDOGS!

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Players Mentioned

#32 Jacob Ankeny: F; 6' 8"; Redshirt Senior

#4 Billy Carlson: G; 6' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore

#23 Kyle Gruhler: G; 6' 5"; Senior

#21 Kolter Merritt: G; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior

#34 Jacksen Burckley: F; 6' 5"; Redshirt Senior

#22 Carson Denning: F; 6' 7"; Redshirt Senior

#2 River Hurley: F; 6' 7"; Redshirt Freshman

#0 Quincy Taylor: G; 6' 2"; Senior

#1 Emanuel Steward: G; 6' 4"; Senior

#5 Joshua Whiteside: F; 6' 7"; Junior

#10 Kyler Engellant: F; 6' 6"; Freshman

#11 Trayce Atkins: G; 6' 0"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#32 Jacob Ankeny
: 6' 8"; Redshirt Senior
: F

#4 Billy Carlson
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore
: G

#23 Kyle Gruhler
: 6' 5"; Senior
: G

#21 Kolter Merritt
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior
: G

#34 Jacksen Burckley
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Senior
: F

#22 Carson Denning
: 6' 7"; Redshirt Senior
: F

#2 River Hurley
: 6' 7"; Redshirt Freshman
: F

#0 Quincy Taylor
: 6' 2"; Senior
: G

#1 Emanuel Steward
: 6' 4"; Senior
: G

#5 Joshua Whiteside
: 6' 7"; Junior
: F

#10 Kyler Engellant
: 6' 6"; Freshman
: F

#11 Trayce Atkins
: 6' 0"; Junior
: G