By DAVE GUFFEY, for University of Montana Sports Information
THE GAME: The 13th -ranked (CollegeInsider.com’s Mid-Major March 4th Top 25 Poll) and league-leading University of Montana Grizzlies (21-6/17-1 BSC) host the Sacramento State Hornets (14-13/8-10 BSC) in a pivotal Big Sky Conference game, Thursday, March 7, with tip-off at 7:05 p.m. in Dahlberg Arena.
GAME SPONSOR: The Griz-Hornet game is sponsored by State Farm Insurance.
RADIO/STREAMING/LIVE STATS/TV: The “Voice of the Griz,” Mick Holien, a 13-time “Montana Broadcaster of the Year,” calls the action on local KGVO Radio (1290 AM/101.5 FM) and Greg Sundberg provides color commentary. Live audio streaming and live stats are at gogriz.com. The game will not be televised.
FOURTH STRAIGHT 20-WIN SEASON: Seventh-year head coach Wayne Tinkle’s Montana squad is 21-6 overall now, and has won 20 or more games four seasons in a row, which ties the school record (set by the Griz teams from 1983-86). The Griz won 25 games in 2012; had 21 in 2011 and 22 in 2010. This is the 19th time in school history a Montana team has won 20 games (the first was the 1947-49 team).
89TH WIN IN FOUR SEASONS!: UM’s overtime win at Southern Utah was its 89th in the last four seasons, breaking the record of 88 victories in a four-year span by Montana’s teams from 1983-86. This year’s Griz team also recently tied another record that was set by those former UM teams. Montana has now won 17 of its last 19 games.
MORE RECORDS: Montana’s 17 conference wins are also a school record in the expanded Big Sky, eclipsing the record of 15 they set last season. UM’s 9-1 league road record surpasses the record of seven road wins the Griz racked up a year ago.
HOME STREAK IN THE BSC: The Griz have won 24 Big Sky regular-season home games in a row over the past three seasons.
GRIZ SET LEAGUE WIN STREAK: Montana broke the Big Sky record for most consecutive league wins with 25 over the last two-plus seasons. The streak ended on Feb. 14.
GRIZ-HORNET SERIES: The Griz lead the series 33-5.
GRIZ RANKED NATIONALLY: The Griz were ranked (March 4) ninth in the nation in free throw percentage at 76.2%, while Davidson is the leader at 80.9%. Montana was also ranked ninth in 3-point percentage at 39.7%, and the leader was Weber State at 43.1%. UM was 22nd in field goal percentage (47.4%), and Creighton was first at 51.1%.
CHERRY OUT/WARD LOST FOR THE SEASON: Senior point guard Will Cherry, who was injured late in the game at Davidson and has missed UM’s last two games, will also miss this weeks’ two games. Senior forward Mathias Ward, who was hurt in the Idaho State game on Feb. 16, had surgery this morning (March 6) and is out for the season.