Men's Basketball October 29, 2026 Claire Gay, UMW Sports Information

Montana Western Men’s Basketball Hosts Western Classic

GAME NOTES (PDF)

DILLON, Mont. – The Montana Western men's basketball program (0-0) opens the season at home this weekend as hosts of the Western Classic. They welcome Montana Tech (0-0), Park University Gilbert (0-3), and College of Idaho (0-0) to Straugh Gymnasium Friday and Saturday.

SCHEDULE
Friday, Oct. 30
Montana Tech vs College of Idaho – 5:30 p.m. MT | Watch Live | Live Stats
Montana Western vs Park Gilbert – 7:30 p.m. MT | Watch Live | Live Stats

Saturday, Oct. 31
Montana Tech vs Park Gilbert – 5:30 p.m. MT | Watch Live | Live Stats
Montana Western vs College of Idaho – 7:30 p.m. MT | Watch Live | Live Stats

2025-26 SEASON IN REVIEW
Montana Western finished 20-9 on the season and 15-7 in league play. Season highlights include a win over the 2024-25 national champion and then #1 College of Idaho and a trip to the Frontier Conference Tournament quarterfinals.

BEHIND THE BARK
UMW averaged 80.7 points, 36.0 rebounds, 13.6 assists, 6.2 steals, and 3.7 blocks per game last season. The Bulldogs shot 45.9 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from beyond the arc, and 70.7 percent from the foul line in 2025-26.

2026-27 ROSTER NOTES
The Bulldogs return three players from the 2025-26 squad: Billy Carlson, River Hurley, and Joshua Whiteside.

Carlson was tied for the team-lead in rebounds in 2025-26 with 4.4 per game and ranked second in assists at 1.9.

Hurley shot 35.4 percent from the floor and 34.8 percent from distance last season.

Whiteside was second on the team in rebounds (4.3) and fourth in scoring 6.7 on the campaign.

The men's team brought on 16 newcomers this year, including 12 transfers and four freshmen.

Bud Davis (Earlham College), Cameron Downie (Northwest), Gabe Hatler (MSU-Billings), Javonne Nesbit (Oklahoma Christian), Karson Peffer (Montana Tech), Javin Tindall (William Penn), and Marje Windfield (Multnomah) all join the Bulldogs from four-year colleges or universities.

Naeem Colston (Cochise College), Jace Hill (Miles CC), Eli Hunter (Spokane CC), Matthew Kinzeler (Dawson CC) and Aries Lewis (Dawson CC) all come to Dillon from junior college programs

Four freshmen round out the men's team this year: Josiah Boone, Deron Lear, Braxtyn Turney, and Brodee Zahn.

COACHES CORNER
Head Coach J.C. Isakson is set for his first year at the helm of the men's program. Joining him on the sideline are Gary Haverfield, Ryne Freeman, and 2026 UMW grad Jacob Ankeny.

THE OPPONENTS
Park Gilbert

Park Gilbert is 0-3 thus far in 2026-27, averaging 63.0 points, 35.3 rebounds, 7.7 assists. 5.0 steals, and 3.0 blocks per game.
The Buccaneers are shooting 38.8 percent from the floor, 30.8 percent from three. And 69.2 percent from the free-throw line.
They returned nine players from the 2025-26 squad.
Isaiah Duve leads the team with 16.0 points per game, followed by Luke Olmstead (14.0).
Isaiah Vargas is pulling down a team-best 5.3 rebounds per game.
Reese Snellman is dishing out 3.0 assists per game with Duve in second at 2.3.
Duve also leads the team in steals (1.7).
Amari Hill is swatting a team-high 1.0 blocks per game while shooting a team-best 77.8 percent from the floor.
Olmstead leads from beyond the arc (53.3) and Duve tops the team at the line (85.7).

College of Idaho

The Yotes finished 2025-26 21-11, including 14-6 in CCC play.
They averaged 80.2 points, 36.9 rebounds, 14.3 assists, 7.4 steals, and 3.8 blocks while shooting 47.1 percent from the field, 34.9 percent from three, and 71.9 percent from the foul line.
CI returns nine players from last year's squad, including top-three scorers Dougie Peoples (14.5), Rey Johnston (12.0), and Utrillo Morris (12.8).
Johnston also led the team in rebounds (5.3), followed by Tucker Tiddens (5.1) and Chance Winter (4.7).
Morris paced the Yotes in both assists (5.8) and steals (1.6).
Winter posted a team-high 2.3 blocks per game and shot a team-best 68.2 percent from the floor.
Johnston led from distance (38.8) and Connor Sheets led from the charity stripe (88.2)

SERIES HISTORY
The Bulldogs are 1-0 all-time against Park Gilbert and 11-20 all-time against College of Idaho.

LOOKING AHEAD
Following the Western Classic, UMW heads to Butte, Mont., to take part in the Best Western Tipoff Classic. The Bulldogs will take on (RV) LC State (11/6) and Westcliff (11/7).

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

#GOBULLDOGS!

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Players Mentioned

#4 Billy Carlson: G; 6' 4"; Redshirt Junior

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

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

#0 Bud Davis: G; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#1 Javin Tindall: G; 6' 4"; Senior

#6 Marje Windfield: G; 5' 10"; Junior

#9 Eli Hunter: G; 6' 3"; Junior

#10 Jace Hill: G; 6' 1"; Junior

#11 Aries Lewis: F; 6' 6"; Junior

#12 Josiah Boone: G; 6' 3"; Freshman

#13 Gabe Hatler: G; 6' 5"; Senior

#14 Cameron Downie: G; 6' 2"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#4 Billy Carlson
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Junior
: G

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

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

#0 Bud Davis
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: G

#1 Javin Tindall
: 6' 4"; Senior
: G

#6 Marje Windfield
: 5' 10"; Junior
: G

#9 Eli Hunter
: 6' 3"; Junior
: G

#10 Jace Hill
: 6' 1"; Junior
: G

#11 Aries Lewis
: 6' 6"; Junior
: F

#12 Josiah Boone
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: G

#13 Gabe Hatler
: 6' 5"; Senior
: G

#14 Cameron Downie
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: G