March 2007
Keller Signs First Recruit As Bulldog Coach
Tuesday, March 27 2007
Eric Lipkin, a 6’2” guard from Birmingham, Ala., has signed a Frontier Conference/NAIA letter of intent to play basketball at the University of Montana Western, according to incoming head coach Steve Keller.
Lipkin is a graduate of Wenonah High School of Birmingham, Ala. and transfers to Montana Western from Northwest College of Powell, Wyo.
Lipkin earned All-Conference and All-Region-9 honors and was selected to the All-Tournament team. He averaged 18.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game.
“Eric is our first recruit,” said Keller. “He is a combo guard who can play all three positions. Eric will definitely be an impact play in the league.
Lipkin was a high school and college teammate of current Bulldog Aaron Sims. He is the son of Emanuel and Sharon Lipkin and plans to major in business.
Go To Top
Two Bulldogs Earn All-Conference Honors
Thursday, March 22 2007
Two University of Montana Western basketball players were named to the 2006-2007 Frontier Conference All-Conference team.
Tyler Palmer, a 6’1” senior guard from Fairfield, Mont., earned first team honors. Palmer led the Bulldogs and tied for the conference lead in scoring with 16.4 points per game. He finished second in the league in free throw shooting hitting 80.6 percent of his free throws.
Wes Morales, a 6’4” senior forward/post from Worden, Mont., earned second team honors. Morales was second on the Bulldogs and tenth in the conference in scoring with 12.9 points per game. He finished eighth in league in rebounding with 5.31 per game and sixth in the league in steals with 1.27 per game.
Montana Western finished the season with a 2-12 conference mark and an overall record of 8-20. The Bulldogs lost 60-62 to Westminster College in the first round of the conference tournament.
Go To Top
Durham Retires As Bulldog Basketball Coach
Sunday, March 4 2007
Mark Durham, the men’s basketball coach at the University of Montana Western for the past 11 years, retired from coaching at the conclusion of the Bulldogs first round Frontier Conference game.
Durham won't be too far from Montana Western athletics as he takes over as Athletic Director.
Steve Keller of Helena, an assistant coach at Carroll College, will replace him.
“I am very excited about this opportunity,” said Durham. “I love Western and I want to help all of our programs reach their full potential.”
Durham, a 1988 graduate of Montana Western, will take over immediately. He is a member of the Bulldog Hall of Fame.
"Mark has been a real worthy adversary over the past 11 years," said Carroll College coach Gary Turcott. "Some of the best games we have played in the last 11 years have been between Carroll and Western. We want to wish Mark good luck in his new position as Athletic Director, and I am sure he is going to do a great job."
“Our first priority was to get a replacement for me, added Durham. “We picked the right guy in Steve Keller. He is a great coach and made the jump to college as an assistant at Carroll College for the past three seasons.”
Keller spent seven years at Opheim, Mont. before taking the helm of both the boy's and girl's programs at Helena High. He coached at Helena for 19 seasons. Keller's teams participated in 12 state championship games, winning six state titles. His overall varsity record was 610-190 for a winning percentage of 76 percent. In 2005 Keller was inducted into the Montana Coaches Association Hall Of Fame.
"We want to congratulate Steve Keller on being named the new head coach at UM-Western," said Turcott. "We thank him for all he has contributed to our success over the last three years, and we wish him well."
Keller is a graduate of Custer High School of Custer, Mont. He received his bachelor's degree from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mont. and a masters degree from Northern Montana College.
Go To Top
Bulldogs Lose Tournament Thriller
Sunday, March 4 2007
The Bulldogs lost a 60-62 heartbreaker to Westminster College in the first round of the Frontier Conference tournament. The game was also Mark Durham's last as the Bulldogs head coach. Durham is retiring from coaching, but will be an important cog in Bulldog Athletics as he takes over the reins as Athletic Director.
Westminster looked to be heading for an easy victory as they jumped out to a 7-0 lead before the Bulldogs would score. When the Bulldogs did find the range, they came back strong and trailed only 27-30 at the half.
The Bulldogs opened the second half with a 7-2 run to take a 34-32 lead five minutes into the half. A Chad Myers field goal extended the Bulldogs lead to eight, 49-41 with 9:11 to play in the game. Westminster went on an 11-3 run and took the lead back, 52-51 with 4:51 to play. Gus McDonald made two free throws that gave the Bulldogs a 55-53 lead with three minutes left to play. It would their last lead of the game.
Westminster held off the Bulldogs from the free throw line in the games final two minutes.
Wes Morales led Montana Western with 15 points followed by Tler Palmer with 14 and Gus McDonald with ten.
The Bulldogs end the season with an 8-20 overall mark.
Go To Top