Skip To Main Content

Montana Western, University of

Official Athletics Site of the Montana Western Bulldogs
Ankeny 10/13 practice

Men's Basketball Claire Gay

UMW Men’s Basketball Hosts Western Classic Oct. 30-31

DILLON, Mont. – The Montana Western men's basketball program welcomes #11 Montana Tech, #14 Southern Oregon, and Warner Pacific to Straugh Gymnasium for the Western Classic tournament Oct. 30-31. The tournament will feature four games across the two days. 
 
 SCHEDULE 
Thursday, Oct. 30
Game 1: #11 Montana Tech vs #14 Southern Oregon – 4 p.m. MT | Watch Live | Live Stats
Game 2: Montana Western vs. Warner Pacific – 6 p.m. MT | Watch Live | Live Stats
 
Friday, Oct. 31
Game 3: #11 Montana Tech vs. Warner Pacific – 1 p.m. MT | Watch Live | Live Stats
Game 4: Montana Western vs #14 Southern Oregon – 2 pm MT | Watch Live | Live Stats
 
 LAST TIME OUT 
UMW defeated Evergreen 76-61 in its season opening Oct. 25. The team shot 36.2 percent (25-69) from the floor, 35.1 percent (13-37), and 68.4 percent (13-19) from the foul line in the game. Western tallied 41 rebounds, 10 assists, eight steals, three blocks, and 13 turnovers against the Geoducks.
 
Kyle Gruhler led the game in both points (31) and rebounds (seven). Emanuel Steward was also in double figures with 13 points while Quincy Taylor (eight), Billy Carlson (seven), and Jacksen Burckley (six) round out the top five scorers.
 
Jacob Ankeny was second on the team in rebounds with six. Carlson dished out a team-high three assists. Burckley and Kolter Merritt snagged two steals apiece with Merritt also pacing the team in blocks (two).
 
 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.
 
 KYLE GRUHLER NAMED FC MEN'S BASKETBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK 
Senior Kyle Gruhler picked up the first Frontier Conference Men's Basketball Offensive Player of the Week award after his 30-piece against Evergreen. He led the game in both points (31) and rebounds (seven) while shooting 55.6 percent (10-18) from the floor, 45.5 percent (5-11) from deep, and 100.0 percent (6-6) from the foul line. Moreover, he scored the Bulldogs first 11 points of the game and was one point shy of matching his career-high.
 
 GETTIN' AFTER IT EARLY 
Emanuel Steward had a solid outing in his Bulldog debut, tallying 13 points on 33.3 percent (5-15) shooting. He drained three shots from beyond the arc and added two rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
 
 FROM DOWNTOWN 
UMW hit 13 three pointers against Evergreen, with five different players sinking a shot. It is the most threes in a season opener since the 2021-22 season when the Bulldogs drained 20 against Yellowstone Christian (10/22/21).
 
 CRASH THE BOARDS 
Western pulled down 41 rebounds against the Geoducks, the most in the first game of a season since the 2021-22 campaign when the team registered 46 against Yellowstone Christian.
 
 DOWN FOR THE REBOUND 
10 different Bulldogs recorded at least one rebound against Evergreen, with six posting four or more. Kyle Gruhler led the team with seven boards, followed by Jacob Ankeny with six.
 
 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.
 
 MEET THE TEAMS 
Montana Tech (1-0)
  • Were named the favorites in the 2025-26 Frontier Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll.
  • Defeated Eastern Oregon 86-83 to go 1-0 on the season.
  • Posted 86 points, 44 rebounds, 15 assists, six steals, five blocks, and nine turnovers in the contest.
  • The Orediggers shot 53.3 percent (32-60) from the floor, 28.6 percent (4-14) from distance, and 56.3 percent (18-32) from the line.
  • Five players scored in double figures against EOU: Camdyn LaRance (19), Hayden Diekhans (12) Rhett Reynolds (10), Marley Gonzalez (10), and Asher Williams (10).
  • Diekhans paced the team in both rebounds (10) and steals (two) while he, Karson Peffer, and Brayden Koch shared the team lead in assists with three apiece.
  • LaRance swatted a team-best two blocks.
 
Southern Oregon (0-1)
  • The Raiders fell 75-62 at Oregon Tech in their season opener.
  • They posted 62 points, 36 rebounds, 13 assists, five steals, two blocks, and 20 turnovers in the game.
  • SOU shot 38.5 percent (20-52) from the field, 33.3 percent (8-24) from beyond the arc, and 63.6 percent (14-22) from the foul line.
  • Elijah Jackson led the team with 29 points on 52.9 percent (9-17) shooting. He also paced the Raiders in three-point percentage (50.0, 5-10), free throw percentage (85.7, 6-7), and assists (five).
  • Bryce Dyer pulled down a team-high eight rebounds while Joe Juhala snagged a team-best three steals.
  • Brady Rice and Gio Evanson each recorded a block in the contest.
 
Warner Pacific (0-0)
  • Finished 11-16 in 2024-25, including 6-16 in the CCC.
  • Averaged 69.9 points, 35.3 rebounds, 11.2 assists, 5.8 steals, 2.6 blocks, and 12.1 turnovers per game last season.
  • As a team, the Knights shot 41.8 percent from the floor, 31.2 percent from three, and 70.2 percent from the free throw line.
  • Terrin Dickey led the team in rebounds (6.3) and ranked third in scoring (11.2).
  • Nzube Mekkam was third in assists (1.8).
  • Isiah Salim and Mekkam tied for second on the team in steals (0.8 apiece).
  • Jurrien Sparks ranked second in minutes per game (28.3).
 
 SERIES HISTORY 
Western are 31-5 all-time against Warner Pacific. The last meeting between the two sides saw the Knights take the 82-69 win in Oregon.
 
The Bulldogs are 0-1 all-time against Southern Oregon, falling 74-56 in their only matchup with the Raiders in 2023.
 
 LOOKING AHEAD 
Following the Western Classic, UMW hosts NAIA Preseason #1 College of Idaho Nov. 3. Tipoff is slated for 5 p.m. MT.
 
 
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!
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Jacob Ankeny

#32 Jacob Ankeny

F
6' 8"
Redshirt Senior
Billy Carlson

#4 Billy Carlson

G
6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
Kyle Gruhler

#23 Kyle Gruhler

G
6' 5"
Senior
Kolter Merritt

#21 Kolter Merritt

G
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Jacksen Burckley

#34 Jacksen Burckley

F
6' 5"
Redshirt Senior
Carson Denning

#22 Carson Denning

F
6' 7"
Redshirt Senior
River Hurley

#2 River Hurley

F
6' 7"
Redshirt Freshman
Quincy Taylor

#0 Quincy Taylor

G
6' 2"
Senior
Emanuel Steward

#1 Emanuel Steward

G
6' 4"
Senior
Joshua Whiteside

#5 Joshua Whiteside

F
6' 7"
Junior
Kyler Engellant

#10 Kyler Engellant

F
6' 6"
Freshman
Trayce Atkins

#11 Trayce Atkins

G
6' 0"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Jacob Ankeny

#32 Jacob Ankeny

6' 8"
Redshirt Senior
F
Billy Carlson

#4 Billy Carlson

6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
G
Kyle Gruhler

#23 Kyle Gruhler

6' 5"
Senior
G
Kolter Merritt

#21 Kolter Merritt

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
G
Jacksen Burckley

#34 Jacksen Burckley

6' 5"
Redshirt Senior
F
Carson Denning

#22 Carson Denning

6' 7"
Redshirt Senior
F
River Hurley

#2 River Hurley

6' 7"
Redshirt Freshman
F
Quincy Taylor

#0 Quincy Taylor

6' 2"
Senior
G
Emanuel Steward

#1 Emanuel Steward

6' 4"
Senior
G
Joshua Whiteside

#5 Joshua Whiteside

6' 7"
Junior
F
Kyler Engellant

#10 Kyler Engellant

6' 6"
Freshman
F
Trayce Atkins

#11 Trayce Atkins

6' 0"
Junior
G