Big Sky Conference Notebook
Player of the Week: Andrew Strait, Montana
Eastern Washington Eagles (4-5 overall)
Dec. 16: Washington 91, Eastern Washington 74
Dec. 19: Gonzaga 75, Eastern Washington 65
The Eagles could not have had a tougher week in terms of competition, but they can be very proud with how they played. They lost to last season’s top-ranked team of the NCAA tournament and 11th in the nation by 17, then lost to 8th-ranked Gonzaga. Both games were on the road. Jamaal Williams scored 26 points against the Huskies, while Rodney Stuckey scored 20 points against the Zags.
Up next: Just one game as they host Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Friday.
Idaho State Bengals (6-2)
Dec. 17: North Dakota State 86, Idaho State 69
The Bengals could not overcome a big deficit this time against NDSU in Fargo. Slim Millien led the way for ISU with 20 points. Two others reached double-figures: Tim Henry (18) and David Schroeder (12).
Up next: The Bengals are off until after the holidays. They will resume action on Dec. 27 when they host Rocky Mountain.
Montana Grizzlies (9-1)
Dec. 10: Montana 78, Drake 72
Dec. 14: Montana 110, Montana-Western 71
Dec. 19: Montana 77, UC-Riverside 67
The Grizzlies continued their torrid pace by extending their winning streak to nine games. Montana has not lost since their 90-69 drubbing at the hands of Boise State in the season-opener. Against Drake, Andrew Strait and Matt Dlouhy each had 17 points and six rebounds. Against Montana-Western, Kevin Criswell scored 21 points and Dlouhy had 20. Dlouhy also grabbed seven boards. Against UC-Riverside, Strait went off by scoring 31 points and Criswell added 14.
Up next: Just one game on tap this week as they stay in California to play UC-Santa Clara on the 22nd.
Montana State Bobcats (3-6)
Dec. 17: Wyoming 80, Montana State 67
Dec. 19: Montana State 70, Portland 68
Against Wyoming, Ja’Ron Jefferson led the Bobcats with 17 points while the Cowboys converted on 25-of-38 free throws. Against Portland, the Bobcats were without Ryan Holmes and Branden Miller. Holmes has left the team and Miller has been declared academically ineligible. Marvin Moss led the way in scoring with 18 points and had six rebounds.
Up next: A home game against Denver on the 22nd is the only thing on tap this week for the Bobcats.
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (5-5)
Dec. 19: Northern Arizona 63, Northern Colorado 53
After over a week off, the Lumberjacks looked like they never missed a beat after knocking off future conference foe Northern Colorado. Ruben Boykin, Jr., scored 13 points and had 12 rebounds in his seventh collegiate double-double.
Up next: The Lumberjacks are to Tempe, Ariz., to compete in a tournament on the 21st and 22nd.
Portland State Vikings (5-6)
Dec. 16: Portland State 85, Lewis & Clark 59
Against Lewis & Clark, the Vikings’ Scott Morrison and Ryan Sommer each scored 19 points. Jake Schroeder added 14 as well for the Vikings. PSU’s defense held Lewis & Clark scoreless for nine minutes and 45 seconds.
Up next: A home game against Warner Pacific is the only game the Vikings have this week on Dec. 21.
Sacramento State Hornets (7-3)
Dec. 17: Sacramento State 76, Southern Utah 68
With only one game on tap, the Hornets had four players reach double-figures in scoring, two of whom came off the bench. Starters DaShawn Freeman and Jason Harris scored 17 and 12 respectively. Off the bench, Clark Woods and Justin Williams scored 14 and 10 respectively.
Up next: After a Dec. 20 meeting against Cal-Poly, the Hornets will travel to Los Angeles to play UCLA on the 23rd.
Weber State Wildcats (3-6)
Dec. 17: BYU 80, Weber State 54
After starting the year 3-0, the Wildcats have now lost six in a row. Against the Cougars, Coric Riggs led the way for the Wildcats with 19 points. David Patten led the team in rebounds with seven.
Up next: After a Dec. 20 showdown with Southern Utah, the Wildcats will head to Fort Wayne, Ind., to play IPFW on Dec. 22.
