Big Sky Notebook
Player of the Week: Slim Millien, Idaho State
Eastern Washington (1-3)
Nov. 24: Marquette 83, Eastern Washington 73 (Great Alaska Shootout, Anchorage, Alaska)
Nov. 25: USC 69, Eastern Washington 51 (Great Alaska Shootout, Anchorage, Alaska)
Nov. 26: Southern Illinois 80, Eastern Washington 72 (Great Alaska Shootout, Anchorage, Alaska)
The Eagles participated in one of the greatest early season tournaments, the Great Alaska Shootout. The Eagles started off by falling to eventual tournament champion Marquette to start the tournament. Jake Beitinger led the way with 17 points and Rodney Stuckey had 16. Rhett Humphrey had 11 points off the bench. Marquette had five players in double figures. Against the Trojans, the Eagles fell behind early and could not recover as they trailed 36-18 at halftime. Beitinger and Stuckey each led the way for a second straight game with 17 and 15 points respectively. Against the Salukis, the Eagles could not hold onto a 34-33 lead at halftime before falling to SIU. Jamaal Tatum had 37 points for the Salukis. Stuckey capped a terrific tournament with 24 points. Henry Bekkering had 17 points off the bench for Eastern Washington.
Up next: The Eagles will travel to regional rival Idaho on Nov. 30 before returning home on Dec. 4 against Cal State-Northridge.
Idaho State (2-1)
Nov. 23: Idaho State 106, University of Great Falls 64
Nov. 26: Idaho State 72, Utah Valley State 56
The Bengals went perfect last week. But, they should have. Against Great Falls, a NAIA school, Slim Millien scored 23 points and grabbed a collegiate-high 13 rebounds. Millien led four Bengals to reach double figures in points. Tim Henry added 16 points, while David Schroeder and Logan Kinghorn had 12 and 11 respectively. Against Utah Valley State, Millien had another solid game as he had his third-straight double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Schroeder had a team-high 15 points for ISU.
Up next: The Bengals will host in-state rival Boise State on Dec. 1. Then, they will finish their four-game home stand with a visit by North Dakota State on Dec. 3.
Montana (2-1)
Nov. 25: Montana 86, Western Oregon 57
In their lone game of the week, the Grizzlies won their second-straight game in convincing fashion. Andrew Strait and Kevin Criswell led the Grizzlies in scoring with 18 and 17 points respectively. The Grizz shot 63 percent from the field for the night.
Up next: The Grizzlies will continue a four-game home stand with a visit by Utah Valley State on Nov. 29. Then, Stanford comes to town on Dec. 2.
Montana State (1-3)
Nov. 27: Montana State 84, Wayland Baptist 60
In their lone game of the week, the Bobcats had no troubles with NAIA Wayland Baptist. Ja’Ron Jefferson had 12 points and three assists. The Bobcats shot 53 percent and had only 12 turnovers after averaging 20 in the first three games.
Up next: The Bobcats go out on the road for the next two. The first will be soon-to-be Big Sky conference foe Northern Colorado on Dec. 1. Then, will finish the trip on Dec. 3 against Denver.
Northern Arizona (3-0)
Nov 15: NAU 71, Morgan State 51
Nov 19: NAU 78, UC Davis 50
Nov 22: NAU 97, Cal Maritime 47
Portland State (2-3)
Nov. 23: Iowa State 72, Portland State 64 (Cyclone Challenge, Ames, Iowa)
Nov. 25: Iona 81, Portland State 75 (Cyclone Challenge, Ames, Iowa)
Nov. 26: Portland State 81, Howard 53 (Cyclone Challenge, Ames, Iowa)
The Vikings hung right with Iowa State of the Big 12 in the Cyclones’ tournament, the Iowa State tournament. The Vikings trailed by only two at halftime before the Cyclones took over. Four players scored double-figures for ISU. Juma Kamara led the Vikings with 19 points. Against Iona, four players reached double-figures for the Vikings, led by Ryan Sommer’s 16. Jake Schroeder, Kamara and Josh Neeley scored double figures with 15, 13 and 10 respectively. Against Howard, the Vikings jumped out to a 42-19 halftime lead and held Howard to 31 percent shooting from the field. Anthony Washington led the way with 15 points for PSU.
Up next: The Vikings have a meeting with sixth-ranked Gonzaga in Spokane, Wash., on Nov. 30. Then, will return home on Dec. 3 to play Middle Tennessee State.
Sacramento State (3-2)
Nov. 22: Sacramento State 100, William Jessup 61
Nov. 26: Sacramento State 85, San Francisco 78
The Hornets had a perfect week this week. Against William Jessup, the Hornets out-scored William Jessup 47-24 in the second half. Loren Leath had 19 points for the Hornets off the bench. Dashawn Freeman scored 18 points for the Hornets as well. Against the Dons, five players reached double figures, led by Freeman’s 18. Leath and Haron Hargrove had 17 points each, while Jason Harris and Alex Bausley had 16 and 10 respectively.
Up next: The Hornets continue their three-game road trip with the last two of the trip. On Nov. 30, the Hornets will play UC-Davis and then on Dec. 3, they will play at Utah Valley State.
Weber State (3-1)
Nov. 23: Weber State 82, Montana Tech 51
Nov. 26: Utah 67, Weber State 62 (OT)
The Wildcats had five players reach double-figures, led by Terrell Stovall’s 13 points against Montana Tech. Against in-state rival Utah, Stovall hit a lay-up with seven seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime. Coric Riggs led the Wilcats with 17 points and six rebounds.
Up next: On Nov. 29, the Wildcats will head south to play Southern Utah. Then, on Dec. 3 will have their second meeting with Boise State, this team it will be in Ogden.
