DILLON, Mont. – The Montana Western men's basketball program (14-8, 9-7 FC) plays host to Dakota State (16-7, 11-7 FC) and Bellevue (19-5, 14-4 FC) to Straugh Gymnasium for the final two home games of the 2025-26 regular season. The contest against Bellevue will serve as the Bulldogs "Senior Night."
 
SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 13
vs Dakota State – 7 p.m. CT | Watch Live | Live Stats
 
Saturday, Feb. 14
vs Bellevue – 7 p.m. CT | Watch Live | Live Stats
 
LAST TIME OUT
UMW got back to winning ways last week, going 2-0 against Bismarck State (110-65) and Dickinson State (87-74, OT).
 
Against the Mystics, Western shot an incredible 60.6 percent from the floor (43-71), 48.6 percent (18-37) from three, and 75.0 percent (6-8) from the line. The team earned 32 rebounds, 26 assists, 13 steals, and four blocks. Kyle Gruhler led the game with 20 points while Quincy Taylor (17), Emanuel Steward (14), Jacksen Burckley (14), River Hurley (12), and Kolter Merritt (10) were also in double figures. David Young tallied a team-best five rebounds. Billy Carlson earned a game-high six assists while Steward snagged a game-best three steals. Young, Joshua Whiteside, Carson Denning, and Kyler Engellant each posted a block.
 
Against the Blue Hawks, the Bulldogs shot 43.5 percent (27-62) from the field, 34.8 percent (8-23) from downtown, and 73.5 percent (25-34) from the charity stripe. They registered 36 rebounds, 14 assists, nine steals, and one block. Emanuel Steward led all players in both points (24) and assists (six) while also earning a team-best seven rebounds. Mark Huber tallied a team best three steals and swatted the line block of the game for UMW.
 
BEHIND THE BARK
UMW is putting up 81.1 points, 37.2 rebounds, and 13.6 assists per game. The Bulldogs are shooting 45.4 percent from the floor, 36.4 percent from three, and 70.5 percent from the foul line. They are also posting 5.8 steals and 4.0 blocks per game.
 
Kyle Gruhler leads the team at 19.9 points per game, followed by Emanuel Steward (17.7). David Young and Billy Carlson share the team-lead in both rebounds (4.7 apiece) and steals (1.2 each). Steward tops the team in assists (3.8) while Joshua Whiteside tallies 0.9 blocks per game.
 
BULLDOGS IN THE RANKINGS
In the NAIA, UMW is 17th in fewest turnovers (10.4). Individually Kyle Gruhler ranks fifth in three-pointers made (83), 15th in three-point percentage (48.8) and 21st in total points (477).
 
ATTACKING THE GLASS
The Bulldogs lead the Frontier in both rebounds per game (37.2) and offensive rebounds per game (11.6) while ranking second in defensive boards (25.6). Additionally, they have earned 40 or more rebounds in 11 contests this year.
 
BLOCK PARTY
Western leads the FC in blocks per game (4.0) and have 11 games this season with four or more denials.
 
FROM DOWNTOWN
UMW tops the conference in threes per game at 9.5 and have drained at least five threes in all but one contest this season, including 10 or more on eight occasions.
 
BUCKETS
After the Bulldogs high-scoring weekend, they sit third in the Frontier in points per game (81.1). They have put up 80 or more points in 13 games this year.
 
MR. CONSISTENCY
Emanuel Steward posted his 10th 20-point game of the season against Dickinson State. Additionally, he has scored in double figures in all but one contest this year.
 
HEATING UP
Quincy Taylor has posted three-straight double-digit scoring efforts. Last weekend he poured in 17 points on 70.0 (7-10) percent shooting against BSC and followed that with a season-high 19 on 45.5 percent (5-11) from the field.
 
SERVED ON A SILVER PLATTER
Billy Carlson dished out a career-high six assists against Bismarck State. He has tallied 14 multi-assist games on the campaign.
 
SHARING THE WEALTH
In the Bulldogs dismantling of the Mystics, every player who scored shot at least 50.0 percent from the field, including eight players who took three or more shots. Additionally, every Western player who saw action in the game earned a least one rebound.
 
MEET THE OPPONENTS
Dakota State (16-7, 11-7 FC)

• The Trojans are putting up 74.4 points, 36.0 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 7.7 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game.
• They are shooting 48.1 percent from the floor, 36.9 percent from three, and 68.7 percent from the stripe.
• Nathan Ojukwu paces the team in points (18.3), rebounds (8.0), and assists (2.9).
• Brayden Pankonen snags a team-best 1.9 steals per game.
• Aiden Jensen swats 0.8 blocks per game.
• In the Frontier, Dakota State ranks third in rebounds per game (36.0) and fifth in three-point percentage (36.9).

Bellevue (19-5, 14-4 FC)

• The Bruins are averaging 82.4 points, 35.7 rebounds, 13.8 assists. 6.8 steals, and 3.1 blocks per game.
• They are shooting 49.0 percent from the floor, 37.7 percent from three, and 70.8 percent from the foul line.
• Ahamad Bynum paces the team with 19.8 points per game, followed by Jaden Phillips (14.8) and RJ Smith (12.1).
• Smith pulls down a team-high 8.0 rebounds per game.
• JJ Montgomery dishes out a team-best 2.3 assists while Jermaine Haliburton leads in steals (1.9).
• Deng Jal posts a team-high 0.9 blocks.
• In the FC, Bellevue is second in both points (82.4) and three-point percentage (37.7), third in field-goal percentage (49.0), fourth in both rebounds (35.7) and assists (13.8), and fifth in steals (6.8).

 
SERIES HISTORY
UMW is 0-2 all-time against the Trojans, falling 75-73 in the first matchup between the two this season (1/17/26).
 
Western is 0-1 all-time against the Bruins after losing 80-67 on the road earlier this year (1/16/26).
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Bulldogs on the road for the final two contests of the regular season, taking on Providence (2/20) and MSU-Northern (2/21).  
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!