DILLON, Mont. – The (RV) Montana Western men's basketball program (14-5, 9-4 FC) plays host to #15 Montana Tech (15-4, 9-4 FC) Friday evening in Straugh Gymnasium.
SCHEDULE
Friday, Jan. 23
Montana Tech – 7 p.m. MT |
Watch Live |
Live Stats
LAST TIME OUT
UMW slipped to 14-5 on the year after falling at Bellevue (80-67) and Dakota State (75-73) last week.
Against the Bruins, Western shot 41.5 percent (22-53) from the field, 33.3 percent (7-21) from three, and 76.2 percent (16-21) from the foul line. The team registered 29 rebounds, 12 assists, six steals, and four blocks.
Emanuel Steward led the game with 22 points, followed by
Kyle Gruhler (15) and
Jacob Ankeny (10). Ankeny pulled down a game-high 10 boards. Steward handed out a game-best five assists while Ankeny and
Billy Carlson tied for the game-high in steals with two apiece.
Kolter Merritt led all players with two blocks.
Against the Trojans, the Bulldogs shot 45.9 percent (28-61) from the floor, 35.7 percent (10-28) from distance, and 77.8 percent (7-9) from the stripe. They earned 27 rebounds, 11 assists, nine steals, and five blocks. Steward led the team with 23 points while Gruhler (13) and Young (12) were also in double figures. Young grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. Steward and Young each tallied three assists to lead UMW. Carlson, Steward, and Gruhler shared the game-high in steals with two apiece.
Joshua Whiteside earned a game-high three blocks.
BEHIND THE BARK
UMW is putting up 82.3 points, 36.6 rebounds, and 13.7 assist per game. The Bulldogs are shooting 46.5 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from deep, and 70.1 percent from the foul line. They are also averaging 5.7 steals and 4.1 blocks per game.
Kyle Gruhler leads the team with 22.2 points per game, followed by
Emanuel Steward at 18.7.
Billy Carlson pulls down a team-best 4.7 rebounds per game while also topping the team in steals (1.3). Steward is tossing 3.8 assists per game.
Jacob Ankeny and
Joshua Whiteside are both earning 0.8 blocks per game.
BULLDOGS IN THE RANKINGS
In the NAIA, UMW is ninth in turnovers per game (10.1). Individually,
Kyle Gruhler sits third in made three pointers (73), seventh in three-point percentage (52.1), ninth in total points (421), 13th in points per game (22.2), and 17th in made field goals (142).
DOUBLE-DOUBLE THE TROUBLE
Jacob Ankeny (10 points, 10 rebounds at Bellevue), and
David Young (12 points, 11 rebounds at DSU) both recorded their first double doubles of the season last weekend. Both players set a career high in rebounds.
20-20 VISION
Emanuel Steward has posted three straight 20-point games. He now has nine games with 20 or more points on the year.
SPLASH BROTHERS
Kyle Gruhler and
Emanuel Steward are both in the top five scorers in the Frontier. Gruhler ranks first (22.2) while Steward sits fourth (18.7).
BLOCK PARTY
Seven Bulldogs have swatted five or more blocks on the year, led by
Joshua Whiteside at 16.
Jacob Ankeny (15),
Emanuel Steward (11),
Kolter Merritt (nine),
David Young (eight),
Kyle Gruhler (seven), and
Billy Carlson (six) round out the group.
HELPING HANDS
UMW has reached double figures in assists nine of its last 10 games and 11 times on the campaign.
FEELIN' FINE AT THE FOUL LINE
Four Bulldogs are shooting over 80.0 percent at the line this season.
Quincy Taylor leads the team at 87.5 percent, followed by
Emanuel Steward (84.6)
Kyle Gruhler (84.2), and
Mark Huber (81.6).
ATTACK THE GLASS
Five Bulldogs are averaging over four rebounds per game;
Billy Carlson (4.7),
David Young (4.5),
Kyle Gruhler (4.3),
Joshua Whiteside (4.3), and
Jacob Ankeny (4.2).
MEET THE OPPONENTS
Montana Tech (15-4, 9-4 FC)
- The Orediggers are posting 78.6 points. 36.1 rebounds, 12.1 assists, 5.6 steals, and 3.5 blocks per game.
- They are shooting 51.4 percent from the floor, 35.5 percent from three, and 68.4 percent from the foul line.
- Brayden Koch paces the team with 15.5 points per game followed by Hayden Diekhans at 14.7.
- Diekhans leads the team in rebounds (7.6), assists (2.7), and steals (1.4).
- Ethan Venema swats a team-bet 0.9 blocks per game.
- In the NAIA, Montana Tech ranks fifth in field-goal percentage (51.4), 11th in points allowed (68.2), and 25th in turnovers per game (10.7).
SERIES HISTORY
Since 2002, Western is 37-27 all-time against Montana Tech. Earlier this season, the Bulldogs took the 82-80 overtime victory in Butte.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Bulldogs are back on the road next week when they face off against Rocky Mountain (1/30) and Carroll (1/31).
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!
