DILLON, Mont. – The Montana Western men's basketball program (14-6, 9-5 FC) heads to #23 Rocky Mountain (17-3, 12-2 FC) and Carroll (13-6, 11-3 FC) for two in-state rivalry matchups this weekend.
 
SCHEDULE
Friday, Jan. 30
@ Rocky Mountain – 7 p.m. CT | Watch Live | Live Stats
 
Saturday, Jan. 31
@ Carroll – 7 p.m. CT | Watch Live | Live Stats
 
LAST TIME OUT
UMW dropped a tightly-contested game to then-#15 Montana Tech 68-64 last weekend.
 
Against the Orediggers, the Bulldogs shot 34.3 percent (24-70) from the floor, 32.1 percent (9-28) from three, and 77.8 percent (7-9) from the foul line. They tallied 46 rebounds, 14 assists, five blocks, and three steals. David Young led the team with 13 points, followed by Jacob Ankeny (12) and Emanuel Steward (11). Young, Ankeny, Joshua Whiteside, and Billy Carlson all grabbed eight rebounds. Steward dished out a game-high six assists while Young tied for the game-lead in steals with two. Whiteside swatted a game-high tying three blocks.
 
BEHIND THE BARK
UMW is putting up 811.4 points, 37.1 rebounds, and 13.7 assists in 2025-26. The Bulldogs are shooting 45.8 percent from the floor, 37.5 percent from three, and 70.3 percent from the foul line. They are also earning 5.6 steals and 4.2 blocks per game.
 
Kyle Gruhler leads the team with 21.5 points per game, followed by Emanuel Steward at 18.3. Billy Carlson pulls down a team-best 4.9 rebounds per game. Steward is tossing 3.9 assists per game. David Young and Carlson share the team lead in steals at 1.3 apiece. Joshua Whiteside is swatting a team-high 1.0 blocks per game
 
BULLDOGS IN THE RANKINGS
In the NAIA, UMW is seventh in fewest turnovers (9.9), and 24th in both three-pointers per game (9.6) and blocks per game (4.2). Individually, Kyle Gruhler is third in the nation in made threes (74), 11th in three-point percentage (50.0), 10th in total points (430), and 16th in both made field goals (146) and points per game (21.5).
 
BOXING OUT
The Bulldogs registered a season-high 46 total rebounds against Montana Tech, including 19 offensive boards, also a season-best. They have earned 40 or more rebounds in 10 games this season.
 
HELPING HANDS
Emanuel Steward has tallied five or more assists in five of his last six appearances and nine times on the year.
 
NOT TODAY!
Joshua Whiteside swatted three blocks against the Orediggers, marking his second-straight game with that tally. He has four multi-block games this season.
 
HEATING UP
David Young has reached double figures in scoring in three of his last four games. In that same span, he has also grabbed eight or more rebounds three times.
 
MEET THE OPPONENTS
#23 Rocky Mountain (17-3, 12-2 FC)

• The Battlin' Bears are averaging 76.7 points, 32.6 rebounds, 12.7 assists, 7.5 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game.
• They are shooting 47.6 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from three, and 73.5 percent from the foul line.
• Omari Nesbit leads the team at 16.6 points per game, followed by Royce Robinson (12.9) and Sherman Royal III (10.9).
• Carter McCoy is pulling down a team-best 5.7 rebound per game.
• Robinson tops the team in assists (2.9) and blocks (1.0) while sharing the team-lead in steals with Nesbit (1.7 apiece).
• As a team, RMC ranks fourth in the nation in points allowed (65.6) and 18th in three-point percentage (38.1).
• Individually, McCoy sits 13th in the NAIA in field-goal percentage (67.7).

Carroll (13-6, 11-3 FC)

• The Fighting Saints are outing up 87.0 points, 29.3 rebounds, 17.4 assists, 9.5 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game.
• They are shooting 50.7 percent from the floor, 39.8 percent from deep, and 77.2 percent from the charity stripe.
• Isaiah Crane paces the team with 20.2 points per game while Isaac Round (13.5), Kellen Harrison (12.8), Drew Jones (11.6), and Lorence Dela Cruz (10.0) are also averaging in double figures.
• Nate Christy grabs a team-high 5.1 rebounds per game.
• Dela Cruz leads the Saints in both assists (3.6) and steals (2.2).
• Nationally, Carroll sits sixth in both three-point percentage (39.8) and free-throw percentage (77.2), eighth in field-goal percentage (50.7), 10th in fewest turnovers (10.0), 15th in both points (87.0) and assists per game (17.4), and 20th in steals per game (9.5).
• Individually, Harrison is 17th in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.9).

SERIES HISTORY
Since 2001, UMW is 32-33 against the Battlin' Bears. In the first matchup of the season between the two, RMC took home the 81-66 win.
 
Western is 22-45 against Carroll since 2002. Earlier in the campaign, the Fighting Saints earned the 95-71 victory.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
After the away weekend, the Bulldogs back in Straugh Gymnasium for four straight home contests. Up first, they'll take on Bismarck State (2/6).  
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!