October 2006
Bulldogs Nip University of Lethbridge in Season Opener
Friday, October 20 2006
Five players scored in double figures as the University of Montana Western Bulldogs edged the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns 92-90 in overtime in a mens non-conference college basketball game.
Montana Western is 1-0 on the season while Lethbridge drops to 2-4.
The Bulldogs controlled the first seven minutes of the game and built a 19-11 lead at the 13 minute mark. Lethbridge began to chip away tied the game at 20 at the 9:40 mark. The Pronghorns took their first lead three possessions later 24-23. The two teams traded baskets and the lead over the last eight minutes of the half. Lethbridge led 41-40 at the break.
In the second half, neither team could take control and neither team led by more than six at any time. Aaron Sim made one of two free throws that tied the game at 77. A Lethbridge field goal attempt bounced off the backboard as time ran out.
In overtime, Western sealed the win on an offensive rebound and put back by Alex Head and a free throw by Tyler Palmer.
Palmers 21 points led five players scoring in double figures. Sims and Chad Myers had 15 each followed by Zach Pitts with 14 and Kellen Ori with 11.
Matthew Bekkering led Lethbridge with 29 followed by Scott MacKinnon with 23.
Montana Western returns to action on Friday, Nov.3 as they host Eastern Oregon.
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Bulldogs Open New Hoop Season
Wednesday, October 18 2006
The University of Montana Western Bulldog basketball team opens the 2006-2007 season against the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns in a non-conference game, Thursday, Oct. 19. Tip-off is 8 p.m. from the Straugh Gymnasium.
The game will broadcast in Southwest Montana on KDBM-AM, 1490 on the AM dial.
Montana Western finished last season with a 13-18 overall record and a third place finish in the Frontier Conference with a 7-7 mark. The Bulldogs ended the season with a disappointing 76-74 last-second loss to MSU-Northern in the first round of the Frontier Conference tournament.
The Bulldogs opened last season with a come-from behind 92-85 victory over Lethbridge. Western trailed by 13 at the half.
Lethbridge has played five games so they will be ahead of us in a few areas, said Montana Western coach Mark Durham. It should be a good game. We had to come from behind in the second half last year to beat them."
Durham, in his 11th season at the Bulldog helm, builds his team around seniors Justin Hartman (60) of Great Falls, Wes Morales (64) of Worden, Mont.; Tyler Palmer (60) of Fairfield, Mont. and Kellen Ori (68) of Kalispell, Mont.
Morales earned first team All-Conference honors after averaging 14 points and 6.4 rebounds a game. Palmer averaged 15 points a game and hit a sizzling 91% from the free throw line. He not only won the conference free throw title but was tops in the NAIA as well.
Returning to the Bulldog lineup after a year off is sophomore Chad Myers (60) from Troy, Mont.
Rounding out the team are redshirt freshmen Alex Head (68) of Pocatello, Idaho and Bob Neiman (68) of Plains, Mont.; juniors Zach Pitts (60) from Ronan, Mont., who transfers from Carroll College and Aaron Sims (66) from Birmingham, Ala., who transfers from Northwest College of Powell, Wyo. and true freshman Layne Glaus (60) from Whitehall, Mont.
"I feel good going into the first game, added Durham. The guys have worked very hard to this point. I've kept it pretty simple so far, I just want the team to go out and play hard and with some emotion.
Thursday nights game is the first of three straight home games for the Bulldogs before spending the month of November on the road.
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Bulldogs Ranked Sixth In Pre Season Poll
Thursday, October 12 2006
In a pre-season poll of Frontier Conference mens basketball coaches, the coaches selected Westminster College to win the 2006-07 league title, followed by Rocky Mountain College, last years conference tournament and regular season champion Carroll College, Lewis-Clark, MSU-Northern, Montana Western, Montana Tech and the University of Great Falls. Westminster received seven first place votes and Rocky received one.
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Bulldog Basketball Begins
Monday, October 2 2006
The University of Montana Western Bulldog basketball team officially tipped off the 2006-07 season on Monday, October 2 with the first practice of the year.
Last year, Western finished with an overall record of 13-18 and a Frontier Conference mark of 7-7. The Bulldogs closed out last year with a loss to MSU-Northern in the first round of the conference tournament.
Head Coach Mark Durham, in his eleventh season, builds his squad around seniors Justin Hartman (6-2, Great Falls, Mont.), Wes Morales (64, Worden, Mont.), Kellen Ori (68, Kalispell, Mont.) and Tyler Palmer (60, Fairfield, Mont). Morales earned All-Conference honors last season. Palmer was the Frontier Conference and NAIA, Division I free throw champion. Sophomore Chad Myers (60, Troy, Mont.) returns to the lineup after taking a year off for personal reasons.
Joining the Bulldog lineup from red-shirt status are freshmen Alex Head (68, Pocatello, Idaho) and Bob Neiman (68, Plains, Mont).
Add to the lineup, transfers Zach Pitts (60, Ronan, Mont.) from Carroll College and Aaron Sims (66, Birmingham, Ala.) from Northwest College.
Rounding out the squad is freshman Layne Glaus (60, Whitehall, Mont.)
"We are very excited to get started, said Durham. We only have a couple of weeks before our first game so we will keep it simple early and then add on later. I like our depth and I think we have plenty of experience. This team could be pretty good!"
Montana Western opens the season on Oct. 19 with a home game against the University of Lethbridge.
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