DILLON, Mont. – The #23 UMW men's basketball program (910-3, 5-2 FC) toppled Mayville State (5-6, 1-5 FC) 91-69 Sunday evening.
The Bulldogs never trailed in the contest, though the game was tied twice in the opening few minutes of action. They led by as many as 26.
STAT BREAKDOWN
Western shot 46.6 percent (34-73) from the floor, 48.3 percent (14-29) from beyond the arc, and 90.0 percent (9-10) from the foul line.
The Bulldogs registered 40 rebounds, 17 assists, 12 blocks, and seven steals
They posted 32 points in the paint, 18 points off turnovers, 19 second-chance points, and 31 bench points.
LEADERBOARD
Kyle Gruhler led the game with 31 points, followed by
Emanuel Steward with 11.
Joshua Whiteside grabbed 10 rebounds to lead all players.
Steward handed out a game-best six assist while
David Young tallied four blocks.
Gruhler,
Billy Carlson, and
Kolter Merritt earned two steals apiece.
NOTABLES
Western posted a season-best 12 blocks.
Gruhler shot 64.7 percent (11-17) from the floor and 60.0 percent (9-15) from three.
Young earned a season high in blocks.
Whiteside pulled down a season best in both rebounds and blocks.
The Bulldogs earned 40 rebounds for the third time in the last four games.
UMW made a season-best 14 threes.
GAME SUMMARY
The game was tied twice in the first three minutes of the contest, then Western took the lead 9-7 and never looked back.
The Comets were tight on the Bulldogs tails for much of the first half, however UMW managed to stretch its lead to 17 by the end of the period.
The Red and Black led 45-28 as the teams headed to the locker rooms,
UMW shot 44.7 percent (17-38) from the field, 56.3 percent (9-16) from downtown, and 100.0 percent (2-2) from the line in the first half.
Western kept up the pressure in the second 20 minutes, going up by as many as 26.
Mayville State never got closer than 20 after that, and the Bulldogs earned the comfortable 22-point win.
THE OTHER GUYS
The Comets shot 44.4 percent (28-63) from the floor, 25.0 percent (4-16) from deep, and 75.0 percent (9-12) from the foul line. They registered 36 rebounds, 11 assists, five steals, and three blocks. Christian Bowen-Webb posted a team-high 19 points. Ollie Fell led MSU with eight boards. Devin Griffin handed out a team-best five assists. Amon Moore and Darius Brant each tallied two steals. Brant, Amir Ford, and Isaiah Smith all swatted one block.
LOOKING AHEAD
Western travels to Pocatello, Idaho Thursday to compete in an exhibition match against NCAA Division I opponent Idaho State.
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!
