Montana Western MBB Overpowers Park Gilbert 77-55

Park-Gilbert (AZ) PARK 0-4, 0-0

Montana Western (MT) UMW 1-0, 0-0

Park-Gilbert (AZ) PARK

0-4, 0-0

Final

Oct. 30, 2026

Montana Western (MT) UMW

1-0, 0-0

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Park-Gilbert (AZ) PARK	28	27	55
Montana Western (MT) UMW	35	42	77

Summary
Box Score

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | October 30, 2026 | Claire Gay, UMW Sports Information

DILLON, Mont. – The UMW men's basketball program (1-0) opened the season with a resounding 77-55 win over Park Gilbert (0-4) on the first day of the Western Classic.

The Bulldogs led by just seven after 20 minutes, 35-28, but put up 42 second-half points to cruise to the 22-point victory.

"Good team win," head coach J.C. Isakson said. "It took us awhile but we eventually got it going. We had some guys come in and give us a spark. That took some togetherness."

NOTABLES
Matthew Kinzeler shot 50.0 percent (5-10) from the floor and 57.1 percent (4-7) from downtown.

Naeem Colston recorded a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double.

Cameron Downie matched his career-high with two steals.

12 Bulldogs scored at least one bucket grabbed at least one rebound.

STAT BREAKDOWN
Western shot 40.3 percent (29-72) from the field, 44.8 percent (13-29) from beyond the arc, and 60.0 percent (6-10) from the foul line.

The Bulldogs registered 48 rebounds, 21 assists, five blocks, and eight steals.

They posted 24 points in the paint, 18 points of turnovers, seven second-chance points, and 50 bench points.

LEADERBOARD
Matthew Kinzeler led the team with 16 points off the bench, including 12 points from beyond the arc.

Bud Davis (14) and Naeem Colston (13) were also in double figures for the Bulldogs.

Colston earned a double-double with 10 rebounds, followed by Billy Carlson with eight.

Jace Hill dished out a game-high five assists with River Hurley close behind at three.

Colston and Aries Lewis each swatted two blocks to tie for the team-lead.

Colston and Cameron Downie came away with two steals apiece to tie for the game high.

GAME SUMMARY
The Buccaneers opened the game on a 5-1 run, and led by six, 26-20, with just under six minutes remaining in the first half.

The Bulldogs went on a 15-2 run as time wound down in the period, pulling ahead by seven, 35-28, at the break.

UMW shot 36.8 percent (14-38) from the floor, 46.2 percent (6-13) from three, and 33.3 percent (1-3) from the foul line in the first half.

The visitors got as close as two points at the start of the second frame, but Western took off from there and never trailed again.

The Bulldogs stretched their lead to as many as 29 twice in the second half and coasted to the 22-point win.

Western drained seven threes in the second half help put the game out of reach of Park Gilbert.

Bud Davis drained three shots from beyond the arc and scored all 14 of his points in the final 20 minutes to give UMW the spark it needed.

THE OTHER GUYS
The Buccaneers shot 33.9 percent (21-62) from the field, 30.4 percent (7-23) from distance, and 50.0 percent (6-12) from the foul line. They registered 34 rebounds, seven assists, seven blocks, and six steals in the contest. Park Gilbert tallied 18 points in the paint, five points off turnovers, four second-chance points, and seven bench points.

Luke Olmstead led all players with 21 points, followed by Reese Snellman with 11. Isaiah Vargas grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. Vargas, Snellman, and Isaiah Duve each posted two assists. Amari Hill led the game with three blocks while Tyson Banks snagged a game-high tying two steals.

LOOKING AHEAD
Western takes the court again tomorrow against #16 College of Idaho. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. MT. Prior to the Bulldogs' contest, (RV) Montana Tech will face off against Park Gilbert at 5:30 p.m. MT.

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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