DILLON, Mont. – The Montana Western men's basketball program (14-8, 9-7 FC) plays host to Bismarck State (1-21, 1-15 FC) and Dickinson State (7-15, 5-11 FC) this weekend.
 
SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 6
vs Bismarck State – 7 p.m. CT | Watch Live | Live Stats
 
Saturday, Feb. 7
vs Dickinson State – 7 p.m. CT | Watch Live | Live Stats
 
LAST TIME OUT
UMW slipped to 14-8 on the year following losses to #23 Rocky Mountain (68-61) and Carroll (80-60) last week.  
 
Against the Battlin' Bears, the Bulldogs shot 33.3 percent (16-48) from the field, 10.5 percent (2-19) from three, and 84.4 percent (27-32) from the foul line. They registered 36 rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks. Kyle Gruhler and Emanuel Steward each tallied 11 points to lead the team. Gruhler and David Young each tallied six rebounds. Jacob Ankeny dished out a team-best two assists while he and Young earned a block apiece. Steward, Young, and Mark Huber each tallied a steal.
 
Against the Fighting Saints, Western shot 33.3 percent (22-66), 24.3 percent (9-37) from distance, and 63.6 percent (7-11) from the foul line. The team registered 48 rebounds, nine assists, six blocks, and three steals. Quincy Taylor posted a team-high 11 points, followed by Steward with 10. Kolter Merritt and Joshua Whiteside tallied eight rebounds apiece. Huber handed out a team-best four assists while Merritt swatted three blocks. Merritt, Steward, and Gruhler all earned one steal.
 
BEHIND THE BARK
UMW is putting up 79.5 points, 37.5 rebounds, and 13.0 assists in 2025-26. The Bulldogs are shooting 44.7 percent from the floor, 35.7 percent from three, and 71.1 percent from the foul line. They are also earning 5.3 steals and 4.1 blocks per game.
 
Kyle Gruhler leads the team with 20.4 points per game, followed by Steward at 17.6. Billy Carlson is grabbing a team-high 4.7 rebounds per game. Steward dishes out 3.6 assists per game and David Young snags 1.2 steals. Joshua Whiteside is swatting a team-high 0.9 blocks per game
 
BULLDOGS IN THE RANKINGS
In the NAIA, UMW is 22nd in blocks per game (4.1). Individually Kyle Gruhler ranks sixth in three pointers made (76, 17th in total points (449), 21st in three-point percentage (48.1), and 25th in points per game (20.4).
 
ATTACKING THE GLASS
The Bulldogs registered a season-high 48 total rebounds against Carroll. They lead the Frontier in both rebounds per game (37.5) and offensive rebounds per game (12.0) while ranking second in defensive boards (25.5). Additionally, they have earned 40 or more rebounds in 11 contests this year.
 
BLOCK PARTY
Western leads the FC in blocks per game (4.1) and have 10 games this season with four or more denials.
 
FROM DOWNTOWN
UMW is second in the conference in threes per game at 9.2 and have drained at least five threes in all but one contest this season.
 
BUCKETS
The Bulldogs are fifth in the Frontier in points per game (79.5)
 
MAKING IT COUNT
Quincy Taylor matched his season-high with 11 points against the Fighting Saints. He shot 60.0 percent (3-5) from the floor, 66.7 percent (2-3) from deep, and 100.0 percent (3-3) from the foul line.
 
HELPING HANDS
Mark Huber matched his season high with four assists against Carroll. He has tallied seven multi-assist games on the year.
 
NOT TODAY!
Kolter Merritt swatted a season-high and game-best three blocks against Carroll.
 
MEET THE OPPONENTS
Bismarck State (1-21, 1-15 FC)

• The Mystics are posting 71.3 points, 31.7 rebounds, 10.6 assists, 5.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game.
• They are shooting 44.5 percent from the floor, 31.2 percent from three, and 73.2 percent from the foul line.
• Houston Davis leads the team with 18.5 points per game, followed by Jah Gulley (12.2) and Alex Proctor (10.2).
• Davis also pulls down a team best 7.5 rebounds per game while Gulley dishes out 2.8 assists per game.
•  Proctor paces the team in both steals (1.2) and blocks (0.6).
• In the Frontier, BSC is third in free-throw percentage (73.2).

 
 
Dickinson State (7-15, 5-11 FC)

• The Blue Hawks are averaging 74.0 points, 33.3 rebounds, 12.3 assists, 5.5 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game.
• They are shooting 454.7 percent from the field, 31.9 percent from distance, and 70.2 percent from the charity stripe.
• Griffyn Doughty paces the team with 15.6 points per game, followed by Cordell Stinson (11.6) and Nate Visentin (10.7).
• Stinson is grabbing a team-best 5.8 rebounds per game.
• Quincy Linton tops the team in both assists (2.3) and steals (1.2).
• Visentin is swatting a team-high 0.8 blocks per game.
• In the FC, DSU sits fifth in blocks per game (2.3).

 
SERIES HISTORY
UMW is 1-0 all-time against Bismarck State, earning the 96-66 victory in the lone contest between the two earlier this year (1/3/26)
 
Western is 26-15 all-time against Dickinson State and took home the 78-73 win in the first matchup between the two sides this season (1/2/26).
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Bulldogs are back home next weekend when they welcome Dakota State (2/13) and Bellevue (2/14).  
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!