February 2006
Bulldogs Drop Two on Final Weekend of Conference Play
Monday, February 27 2006
The Bulldogs fell to 7-7 in the Frontier with a 61-80 loss at Westminster and a 57-82 loss at Lewis-Clark.
Western stayed with the Griffins for most of the first half, but trailed by ten, 31-41 at the break. In the second half, the Bulldogs could only manage 29 points against the stingy Westminster defense.
Tyler Palmer led Western with 17 points followed by Jeff Feenstra with 14 and Wes Morales with 10,
Against Lewis-Clark, the Warriors snapped a five game losing streak at the expense of the Bulldogs. Hot shooting Lewis-Clark put the game away at the three point line as they hit for 13 three point field goals and held the Bulldogs to only six.
Only two Bulldogs scored in double figures led by Wes Morales with 15 and Tyler Palmer with 12.
Western is the #5 seed at the Frontier Conference tourney and will face MSU-Northern Thursday night at 8.
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Bulldogs On the Road for Final Weekend of Conference Play
Wednesday, February 22 2006
The Bulldogs wrap up the regular season with games at Westminster College on Thursday, Feb. 23 and at Lewis-Clark on Saturday, Feb. 25. The Westminster game tips off at 7:30 p.m. from Salt Lake and the Lewis-Clark game will begin at 9:00 p.m. MST.
The Bulldogs are 7-5 in league play and 13-15 overall after last weekend’s home split with Carroll College and Rocky Mountain. Montana Western lost to league leading Carroll 66-88 and beat Rocky 90-83. Going into the final weekend, the Bulldogs currently sit in third place in the standing.
Westminster College is 9-3 in the Frontier and 19-6 overall after splitting their latest Montana road trip. The Griffins beat the University of Great Falls 73-65 and lost to MSU-Northern 65-63. Westminster dropped from 11th to 16th in the latest NAIA Division I Top-25. In Dillon a month ago, Westminster beat the Bulldogs 72-65.
Nick Booth leads Westminster in scoring with 17 points a game. Also scoring in double figures for the Griffins are Danny Reeder with 15.7 ppg and Jared Ruiz with 15.5. Reeder leads the nation and conference in assists with 6.6 per game. The Griffins lead the nation and conference in 3-point field goal percentage. Westminster averages 80.4 points per game while giving up 70.9.
Lewis-Clark is 5-7 in the conference and 12-14 overall after dropping two this past weekend. The Warriors lost to MSU-Northern 59-60 and to the University of Great Falls 73-82. A month ago in Dillon, the Bulldogs edged Lewis-Clark 59-58.
Eric Durret leads the Warriors in scoring with 13 points a game followed by Jonathon Burnett with 11.5 and Jamal Harris with 10.3. Lewis-Clark averages 69.9 points per game while giving up 56.7. They lead the conference and the nation in scoring defense.
"This is a very big weekend for us!” said Bulldog coach Mark Durham. “We know it is the toughest road series in the league, but we will just play one game at a time and see what happens. “This group has been a lot of fun all year and we have really played well the last half of the conference season."
Tyler Palmer leads the Bulldogs in scoring with 15.5 points per game followed by Charlie Cox with 14.4 and Wes Morales with 14.1. Palmer continues the nation in free throw percentage with a 91.2 average. Western averages 82.2 points per game while giving up 83.6 per game.
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Bulldogs On the Road for Final Weekend of Conference Play
Wednesday, February 22 2006
The Bulldogs wrap up the regular season with games at Westminster College on Thursday, Feb. 23 and at Lewis-Clark on Saturday, Feb. 25. The Westminster game tips off at 7:30 p.m. from Salt Lake and the Lewis-Clark game will begin at 9:00 p.m. MST.
The Bulldogs are 7-5 in league play and 13-15 overall after last weekend’s home split with Carroll College and Rocky Mountain. Montana Western lost to league leading Carroll 66-88 and beat Rocky 90-83. Going into the final weekend, the Bulldogs currently sit in third place in the standing.
Westminster College is 9-3 in the Frontier and 19-6 overall after splitting their latest Montana road trip. The Griffins beat the University of Great Falls 73-65 and lost to MSU-Northern 65-63. Westminster dropped from 11th to 16th in the latest NAIA Division I Top-25. In Dillon a month ago, Westminster beat the Bulldogs 72-65.
Nick Booth leads Westminster in scoring with 17 points a game. Also scoring in double figures for the Griffins are Danny Reeder with 15.7 ppg and Jared Ruiz with 15.5. Reeder leads the nation and conference in assists with 6.6 per game. The Griffins lead the nation and conference in 3-point field goal percentage. Westminster averages 80.4 points per game while giving up 70.9.
Lewis-Clark is 5-7 in the conference and 12-14 overall after dropping two this past weekend. The Warriors lost to MSU-Northern 59-60 and to the University of Great Falls 73-82. A month ago in Dillon, the Bulldogs edged Lewis-Clark 59-58.
Eric Durret leads the Warriors in scoring with 13 points a game followed by Jonathon Burnett with 11.5 and Jamal Harris with 10.3. Lewis-Clark averages 69.9 points per game while giving up 56.7. They lead the conference and the nation in scoring defense.
"This is a very big weekend for us!” said Bulldog coach Mark Durham. “We know it is the toughest road series in the league, but we will just play one game at a time and see what happens. “This group has been a lot of fun all year and we have really played well the last half of the conference season."
Tyler Palmer leads the Bulldogs in scoring with 15.5 points per game followed by Charlie Cox with 14.4 and Wes Morales with 14.1. Palmer continues the nation in free throw percentage with a 91.2 average. Western averages 82.2 points per game while giving up 83.6 per game.
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Bulldogs Drop Rocky
Saturday, February 18 2006
Four players scored in double figures as the Bulldogs downed Rocky Mountain College 90-83 in a men’s Frontier Conference game from Dillon’s Straugh Gymnasium.
Western is now 7-5 in the Frontier and 13-15 overall. Rocky drops to 7-6 in league play and 15-13 overall.
The game was close from start to finish. In the first seven minutes, there were two ties and nine lead changes. The Bulldogs looked to take control at the 13:20 mark when a 3-point field goal by Kellen Ori started a 8-0 Bulldog run. Trailing 14-23, Rocky went on their own run as they outscored the Bulldogs 11-2 to tie the game at 25 with 9:37 left in the first half. In the half’s final nine minutes, there were nine lead changes and three ties with the Bulldogs leading 49-48 at the break.
The second half began just like the first half ended with both teams trading baskets and leads. At the 11:26 mark, a Charlie Cox field goal gave Montana Western a 62-60 lead. Rocky tied the game on two free throws by Elijah Swan. Another Charlie Cox basket gave the Bulldogs a 64-62 lead and it was a lead the Bulldogs would not lose.
Montana Western built their lead to eleven 77-66 with five minutes left, but Rocky would not go away. The Bears trimmed the lead to five, 83-78 with 1:56 left. Western sealed their seventh conference win at the free throw line.
Charlie Cox led the Bulldogs with 24 followed by Jeff Feenstra and Kellen Ori with 16 each and Jeff Graham with 14. The Bulldogs hit 60% of their field goals and 48% of their three point field goals.
Chris Townley led Rocky with 22 followed by Devin Uskoski with 16, Chris Nickolei with 14 and Eric Gallinger with 12.
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Bulldogs Fall to Carroll
Friday, February 17 2006
Carroll College rolled over the University of Montana Western Bulldogs 88-66 in a Frontier Conference men’s basketball game from Dillon’s Straugh Gymnasium.
Carroll improved to 10-2 in league play and 23-3 overall. Montana Western drops to 6-5 in the Frontier and 12-15 overall.
Carroll came out red-hot and dominated the Bulldogs in the game’s opening minutes. The Saints held Montana Western to only eight points in the first thirteen minutes of the game. At the 7:28 mark, Carroll led 27-8. In the first half, the Saints hit 60.7% of their shots and held Montana Western to only 45%. Carroll led at the break 44-25.
In the second half, Western chipped away at the Carroll lead but could not overcome it. The biggest dent the Bulldogs made in the Carroll lead was 12.
Only two players scored in double figures for the Bulldogs. Charley Cox led the way with 17 followed by Jeff Graham with 15.
Carroll had four players in double figures led by Travis Williams with 22 followed by Ross Gustafson with 16, Jeff Hayes with 13 and Sinan Guler with 10.
The Bulldogs host Rocky Mountain on Saturday, Feb. 18 while Carrol travels to Butte to face Montana Tech.
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Bulldogs Host Carroll and Rocky
Thursday, February 16 2006
The Bulldogs host Carroll College on Friday, Feb. 17 and Rocky Mountain College, Saturday, Feb. 18 in key Frontier Conference games from Dillon’s Straugh Gymnasium. The games tip-off at 8:00 p.m. each evening from Dillon’s Straugh gymnasium.
Both games will broadcast locally over KDBM Radio and over the internet at sportsjuice.com.
Montana Western is 12-14 overall and 6-4 in the Frontier Conference after defeating Montana Tech 83-64 last Friday night. The Bulldogs sit in third place with a half game lead over Rocky.
Carroll is 9-2 in the league, 22-3 overall and ranked 6th in the latest NAIA, Division I Top-25. Carroll won two games at home last weekend when they beat MSU-Northern 87-63 and University of Great Falls 84-81. When Western and Carroll played a month ago in Helena, the Saints won 93-73.
"We are very excited about this weeks home games,” said Bulldog coach Mark Durham. “We get to play a ranked opponent in Carroll and then a team we are battling in the standings in Rocky. “We feel we are playing our best basketball of the season so far and want to keep getting better. “We need to keep getting the ball inside and do a better job of knocking down our 3's when it comes back out. Both games should be played with a lot of emotion and I would think would be pretty physical.”
Jeff Hays leads Carroll in scoring with 15.1 points per game followed by Travis Williams with 14.9. Williams also leads the Saints in rebounding with 5.8 per game followed by Hays with 4.9 per game. Carroll averages 79.8 points per game while giving up 69.8.
Rocky is 6-5 in the Frontier and 14-12 overall after picking up two wins at home last weekend. The Bears beat UGF 100-88 and Northern 63-55. When Rocky and Montana Western plalyed a month ago, the Bears won in Billings 75-68.
Devin Uskoski leads Rocky in scoring with 14.8 points a game followed by Chris Nickolei with 13.9. Uskoski leads the Frontier and is 11th in the nation in rebounding with 9.3 boards per game. Rocky is second in the league and ninth in the nation in scoring with 83.5 points a game. The Bears give up 80.2 points a game.
Tyler Palmer leads four Bulldogs scoring in double figures. Palmer averages 16 points per game followed by Wes Morales with 14.8, Charlie Cox with 13.8 and Jeff Feenstra with 12.2. Palmer leads the Frontier and the nation in free throw percentage with a 92% average. The Bulldogs lead the league and the nation in team free throw percentage with 77.7%
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Bulldogs Keep "Digger-Dawg" Cup
Saturday, February 11 2006
The home for the "Digger-Dawg" Cup will remain the Straugh Gymnasium for another year. The Bulldogs came from behind to down Montana Tech 83-64 in a Frontier Conference men's basketball game from Butte.
With the win, the Bulldogs are now 6-4 in league play and 12-14 overall.
It was all Oredigger in the first half. Montana Tech came out and jumped out to an 18-4 lead on the strength of six straight three-point field goals. In all, Tech hit nine three point field goals in the first half, and not one in the second. Trailing by 15, the Bulldogs went on an 8-0 run and by halftime, trailed by only one, 36-37. The run was aided by the Bulldogs forcing ten turnovers.
In the second half, the Bulldogs cranked up the offense and the defense. With game tied at 48, the Bulldogs went on a 19-4 run and never looked back.
Every Bulldog scored and four Bulldogs scored in double figues led by Wes Morales with 24. Charlie Cox added 14, Jeff Feenstra 13 and Justin Hartman with 11.
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Western Battles Tech For Digger Dawg Cup
Thursday, February 9 2006
The University of Montana Western Bulldog basketball team travels to Butte for a men’s Frontier Conference game on Friday, Feb. 10. Tip-off is 8:00 p.m. from the HYER Complex.
The game will broadcast locally on KDBM-AM and over the internet on Sportsjuice.com.
For the fifth year, the two conference rivals are playing for the “Digger-Dawg” Cup traveling trophy. Western won both games last season and the first game this season to maintain possession of the Cup. The Bulldogs won 78-65 in Dillon last month. Western leads in the overall series of the Cup 8-1, including the last six in a row.
Western is 5-4 in the Frontier and 11-14 overall after winning two on the road last weekend. The Bulldogs beat the University of Great Falls 89-85 and MSU-Northern 70-54.
Montana Tech is 2-7 in league play and 10-13 overall. The Orediggers lost two on their High-Line trip. Tech lost to MSU-Northern 75-63 and UGF 87-83.
"We are excited to play Tech again,” said Western coach Mark Durham. “It is a fun game to play and we feel like we are playing very well now. Tech has a lot of weapons. We are going to have to play really well to win."
Davin Blixt leads the Orediggers in scoring with 14.9 per game followed by Sam Conley with 14.8 per game, T.J. Scarbrough with 12.7 and Luke Harmon with 12. The Orediggers average 76.8 points a game while giving up 78.
Tyler Palmer leads the Bulldogs in scoring with 16.4 points per game followed by Wes Morales with 14, Charlie Cox with 13.8 and Jeff Feenstra with 12. Palmer leads the league and the nation in free throw percentage with 91.9% average. Western averages 83 points per game while giving up 84. The Bulldogs lead the league and are second in the nation with a 77.7% field goal percentage.
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Bulldogs Face Montana Tech for Digger-Dawg Cup
Thursday, February 9 2006
The University of Montana Western Bulldog basketball team travels to Butte for a men’s Frontier Conference game on Friday, Feb. 10. Tip-off is 8:00 p.m. from the HYER Complex.
The game will broadcast locally on KDBM-AM and over the internet on Sportsjuice.com.
For the fifth year, the two conference rivals are playing for the “Digger-Dawg” Cup traveling trophy. Western won both games last season and the first game this season to maintain possession of the Cup. The Bulldogs won 78-65 in Dillon last month. Western leads in the overall series of the Cup 8-1, including the last six in a row.
Western is 5-4 in the Frontier and 11-14 overall after winning two on the road last weekend. The Bulldogs beat the University of Great Falls 89-85 and MSU-Northern 70-54.
Montana Tech is 2-7 in league play and 10-13 overall. The Orediggers lost two on their High-Line trip. Tech lost to MSU-Northern 75-63 and UGF 87-83.
"We are excited to play Tech again,” said Western coach Mark Durham. “It is a fun game to play and we feel like we are playing very well now. Tech has a lot of weapons. We are going to have to play really well to win."
Davin Blixt leads the Orediggers in scoring with 14.9 per game followed by Sam Conley with 14.8 per game, T.J. Scarbrough with 12.7 and Luke Harmon with 12. The Orediggers average 76.8 points a game while giving up 78.
Tyler Palmer leads the Bulldogs in scoring with 16.4 points per game followed by Wes Morales with 14, Charlie Cox with 13.8 and Jeff Feenstra with 12. Palmer leads the league and the nation in free throw percentage with 91.9% average. Western averages 83 points per game while giving up 84. The Bulldogs lead the league and are second in the nation with a 77.7% field goal percentage.
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Morales Named Player of the Week
Thursday, February 9 2006
Wes Morales, University of Montana, 6-4, Jr, F/G, Worden, MT. UM-Western won two games on the road. The Bulldogs beat the University of Great Falls 89-85 and MSU-Northern 70-54. Morales averaged 21 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game. He hit 65% of his field goals (17 of 26); was 3 from 3 from long range and hit 5 of 8 free throws. Also nominated: Davin Blixt, Montana Tech; Jordan Matthews, MSU-Northern; Chris Nickolei, Rocky Mountain; Jared Tikker, Lewis-Clark; Brandon Sholly, Westminster College and Travis Williams, Carroll College.
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Bulldogs Take Two on the Road
Thursday, February 9 2006
The Bulldogs went 2-0 on their trip through the High-Line. Western beat the University of Great Falls 89-85 and MSU-Northern 70-54. With the wins, the Bulldogs are now 5-4 in the Frontier and 11-14 overall.
Against Great Falls, the Bulldogs used balanced scoring to post their first conference road victory of the season. Western got off to a fast start and led 41-25 at the half.
Great Falls mounted a comeback in the second half. Despite outscoring the Bulldogs 60-48, The Argos could not overcome Western's big first half.
Five Bulldogs scored in double figures led by Wes Morales with 26 followed by Jeff Feenstra with 21, Charlie Cox and Justin Hartman with 15 and Tyler Palmer with 10.
Against the Northern, the first half was a battle with Western taking the halftime lead at 32-27.
The Bulldogs took control of a cold-shooting Northern team and outscored the Lights second half 38-27. Western hit 54% of their field goals while the Lights were a chilly 32%.
Wes Morales led four Bulldogs scoring in double figures. Morales hit for 15 points followed by Charlie Cox with 13 and Justin Hartman and Jeff Graham with 12 apiece.
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Bulldogs Open Second Half of Season on the Road
Thursday, February 2 2006
The University of Montana Western Bulldog basketball team begins the second half of the Frontier Conference season with games at the University of Great Falls on Friday, February 3 and at MSU-Northern on Saturday, February 4. Tip-off for both games is 8:00 p.m.
Western will play five of their remaining seven league games on the road.
The Bulldogs are 9-14 overall and 3-4 in the Frontier after last weekend’s home split with Lewis-Clark and Westminster. Western edged L-C 59-58 and lost to Westminster 65-72.
The University of Great Falls is 0-7 in the Frontier and 7-14 overall after last weekend’s 90-95 conference loss to MSU-Northern. When Western and UGF played a month ago, the Bulldogs prevailed 111-99 in a high scoring shoot-out from Dillon. Six Bulldogs scored in double figures in the win, led by Wes Morales with 26. UGF had five players scoring in double figures led by Rashaun Puryear with 22. Friday’s game matches up the Frontier’s top two scoring teams.
"Great Falls will be a scary game,” said Bulldog coach Mark Durham. UGF is the most talented 0-7 league team I have seen. “We need to handle their full court pressure and make a few extra passes on the offensive end.”
Tyrone Witherspoon leads the Argos with 17 points a game followed by Rashaun Puryear with 14.7 ppg. Witherspoon leads the league in field goal percentage with a 66% average. The Argos are tops in the league in scoring average with 84 ppg, while giving up 87.5 (last in the league).
MSU-Northern is 15-8 overall and 4-3 in the Frontier. When the two teams met in January in Dillon, Northern won 78-66.
“We look forward to the Northern game,” added Durham. “We felt like we didn't play to our potential the first time. I feel we can win two games this week if we play like we did last weekend."
Tyler Palmer leads four Bulldogs scoring in double figures. Palmer averages 17 ppg followed by Charlie Cox and Wes Morales with 13.9 each and Jeff Feenstra with 12. Palmer is second in the nation in free throw percentage with a 92% average. The Bulldogs are second in the nation in free throw percentage with a team average of 77.8%. Western averages 83.5 ppg while giving up 85.6.
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