DILLON, Mont. – The Montana Western men's basketball program (18-8, 13-7 FC) travels to Providence (5-21, 5-15 FC) and (RV) MSU-Northern (16-10, 11-9 FC) for the final two games of the 2025-26 regular season.
 
SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 20
@ Providence – 7 p.m. CT | Watch Live | Live Stats
 
Saturday, Feb. 21
@ (RV) MSU-Northern – 7 p.m. CT | Watch Live | Live Stats
 
LAST TIME OUT
UMW earned two important wins last week, defeating Dakota State 88-80 and Bellevue 73-72.
 
Against the Trojans, Western shot 55.8 percent (29-52) from the floor, 43.5 percent (10-23), and 69.0 percent (20-29) from the foul line. The team tallied 29 rebounds, 20 assists, nine steals, and three blocks. Emanuel Steward paced the team with 25 points, followed by Joshua Whiteside (17), Kyle Gruhler (13), David Young (12), and Mark Huber (11). Gruhler grabbed a game-high seven rebounds. Steward dished out a game-best seven assists while Huber snagged a game-high three steals. Jacob Ankeny, Billy Carlson, and Whiteside each tallied a block.
 
Against the Bruins, the Bulldogs shot 47.1 (24-57) from the field, 52.4 (11-21), and 77.8 percent (14-18) from the line. They tallied 29 rebounds, 10 assists, six steals, and four blocks. Gruhler posted a team-best 23 points, followed by Young with 15. Carlson pulled down six rebounds while Ankeny paced the team in assists (three). Young earned a game-best three steals while Ankeny swatted a game-best two blocks.
 
BEHIND THE BARK
UMW is putting up 81.0 points, 36.6 rebounds, and 13.7 assists per game. The Bulldogs are shooting 45.8 percent from the floor, 37.2 percent from three, and 71.5 percent from the foul line. They are also posting 5.9 steals and 4.0 blocks per game.
 
Kyle Gruhler leads the team at 19.7 points per game, followed by Emanuel Steward (17.4). David Young and Billy Carlson share the team-lead in both rebounds (4.6 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 21th in fewest turnovers (10.5) and 25th in total three-point attempts (249). Individually Kyle Gruhler ranks sixth in three-pointers made (88), 18th in three-point percentage (48.1) and 23rd in total points (513).
 
CONFERENCE COMPARISON
The Bulldogs lead the Frontier in threes per game (9.6) and total rebounds (36.6) and are tied for first in blocks (4.0). They also sit second in points per game (81.0), offensive boards (11.1), and defensive rebounds (25.5), tied for third in three-point percentage (37.2), and fourth in assists (13.7)
 
BLOCK PARTY
Western recorded multiple blocks against both Dakota State (three) and Bellevue (four). They have tallied three or more blocks in 20 games this season.
 
FROM DOWNTOWN
UMW has drained at least five threes in all but one contest this season, including 10 or more in three of the last four outings.
 
SHARP SHOOTERS
The Bulldogs have shot over 40.0 percent from the floor in each of the last four games. Moreover, they have shot over 40.0 percent from beyond the arc and over 70.0 percent from the line in three of the last four.
 
MR. CONSISTENCY
Emanuel Steward posted his 11th 20-point game of the season against Dakota State. Additionally, he has scored in double figures in all but two contests this year.
 
KNOCKING 'EM DOWN
Kyle Gruhler dropped 23 points against Bellevue while shooting 60.0 percent (6-10) from the floor, 50.0 percent (2-4) from three, and 100.0 percent (9-9) from the line. It marks his 14th 20-point game of the season.
 
PUT ON A SHOW
Joshua Whiteside went a perfect 8-for-8 from the field against Dakota State, dropping 17 points in just 20 minutes of action.
 
MEET THE OPPONENTS
Providence (5-21, 5-15 FC)

• The Argos are posting 77.2 points, 31.2 rebounds, 12.8 assists, 6.4 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game.
• They are shooting 46.5 percent from the field, 34.1 percent from three, and 71.2 percent from the foul line.
• Marvel Chambers Jr. leads the team in both points (14.8) and steals (1.5).
• Quin Swanson tops Providence in rebounds (6.4) and assists (3.2).
• Jakub Lloyd swats 0.8 blocks per game.
• Preston Condie is shooting a team best 53.7 percent from the floor while Brenden Redhead leads the Argos in three-point percentage (45.0) and free-throw percentage (85.1).
• In the Frontier, UP sits sixth in steals per game (6.4)

 
MSU-Northern (16-10, 11-9 FC)

• The Lights are averaging 80.3 points, 31.2 rebounds, 15.8 assists, 6.0 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game.
• They are shooting 50.7 percent from the floor, 37.5 percent from three, and 76.0 percent from the charity stripe.
• Leon Sayers IV leads the team in both points (13.5) and rebounds (4.7).
• Claysen Delp dishes out a team-high 3.4 assists and earns 1.1 steals per game.
• In the league, MSU-Northern sits first in both field-goal (50.7) and free-throw percentage (76.0).
• They also rank second in three-point percentage (37.5), made threes (9.2), and assists (15.8), and fourth in points per game (80.3).

 
SERIES HISTORY
UMW is 44-20 all-time against Providence, winning the first matchup of the season 83-74 (1/10/26).
 
Western is 38-32 all-time against MSU-Northern. In the first contest between the two this year, the Bulldogs took the 77-70 victory.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
UMW will look ahead to the Frontier Conference Tournament, taking place Feb. 27-Mar. 2.  
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!