By DAVE GUFFEY for GoGriz.com
THE GAME(S): The 23rd-ranked (CollegeInsider.com’s recent Mid-Major Top 25 Poll) University of Montana Grizzlies (12-4/8-0 BSC) host the Idaho State Bengals (4-13/3-5 BSC) and the 22nd-ranked (CollegeInsider.com’s recent Mid-Major Top 25 Poll) Weber State Wildcats (13-3/8-0 BSC) in a pair of Big Sky Conference games, Thursday, Jan. 24, and Saturday, Jan. 26, with tip-off for both contests in Dahlberg Arena at 7:05 p.m.
GAME SPONSOR: The ISU game is sponsored by State Farm Insurance.
RADIO/STREAMING: The “Voice of the Griz” Mick Holien, a 13-time “Montana Broadcaster of the Year” pick, calls the action on local KGVO Radio (1290 AM/101.5 FM) for his 20th season in a row, while Greg Sundberg is the analyst. Live audio streaming & stats, (video streaming after 10:00 p.m. the day of the game) are available at www.gogriz.com.
TV: There is no television coverage scheduled for either game.
GRIZ LAST GAME: At Montana 76, Montana State 71 (OT): A 3-pointer by forward Mike Weisner with 3.4 seconds left to play knotted the game up at 66-66 to force OT. Weisner scored the first bucket in overtime, giving the Griz a 68-66 lead with 2:30 left. Kareem Jamar scored a game-high 23 points, while senior guard Will Cherry tallied 14 points and 7 rebounds, while guard Jordan Gregory added 11 points, and forward Spencer Coleman chipped in 10 points and had a career-high 4 steals.
19 league wins in a row!: With its 76-71 overtime win over Montana State the Griz have now won 19 straight Big Sky games.
GRIZ RANKED IN 3-POINT% & FT%: Montana is ranked 9th in the country in 3-point field goal percentage at 40.9%, and the leader is Creighton at 45.2%. The Griz are 29th in the nation in free throw percentage at 74.6%, while Davidson is the leader at 79.9%.
GRIZ-BENGAL SERIES: The Griz lead the series 94-44 and they have won 5 in a row .
CHERRY ON CAREER LISTS: Cherry is the all-time school leader in career steals with 238, which ranks him fourth in Big Sky. He’s 9th at UM in career assists (354) and in career scoring (1,298 points). (See add 3 for Will’s career stats rankings).
COACH TINKLE SETS RECORD: Seventh-year head coach Wayne Tinkle now has a Big Sky record of 74-30 — those 74 league wins break the school standard, previously held by Mike Montgomery, who had a 73-39 league ledger from 1979-86.
Game Notes – (PDF) See the roster and cumulative game stats.
