The Bobcat Nation

Your Montana State Bobcats are stopping by Phoenix to take on Grand Canyon. It's the 4th and final away game in this road trip, the longest one of the year for the Cats.

The game opened up with the Antelopes as -6 favorites but is now -5.5. The Cats are 4-0 against the spread and GCU is 0-3. This is mostly because they're coming off high expectations, with a solid chance to lead the WAC, but they've disappointed yet. They have one win, over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, a middling SWAC team. Their losses include two major programs (Illinois, and San Diego State) but also a D2 Davenport.

I personally think the Cats need to win this game to earn the respect they deserve. They've done amazingly this year under Sprink, but haven't gotten any midmajor love outside of mentions of Frey's late game stunner @ UNCG. My score prediction: Offense still feeling effects of the long trip and short breaks, but defense holds true, 63-53 Cats.

EDIT: ESPN link - https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... =401166436

One of the most important stats you never read about is opponent field goal percentage. This is important because it’s an indicator of what kind of looks the other team is getting. The Cats in all five games have had a better FG% than their opponents. Through five games, opponents are averaging 34.7%.

By comparison, the Cats are averaging 46.1%. They’ll win a lot of games if they keep this up.

Tough game at the end of a successful trip. This is exactly the game past cat teams wouldn't even get off the bus for. I'm excited to see how we play, how we're able to handle a little success, and if defensive effort is still solid in the 4th game in 5 days. What a solid win this would be, if we can get it!

Massey has us dropping this one by 4, 77-73...
Sorry Massey, you may be wrong on this one...

GOOOOOO BOBCATS.

I don't know much about GCU except that they spend a lot of money on basketball-thus they can buy games like ours and not go on the road that much. They are going to be very tough to beat in Phoenix. We are also playing our 4th game in 5 days so legs will be heavy. It's a homecoming for Guliford and Kirby-so hope they shine. To me this game is gravy-the road trip is already a massive success.

The game is listed on ESPN3 to be broadcast.....

Watching from the GCU website: https://gculopes.com/watch/?Live=371&type=Live

Very annoying announcers.

They have a very impressive crowd! Cats probably aren’t used to the noise from coming off the tournament they they played in a pretty much empty gym.

I'm so glad they're getting used to playing from behind. They're making a 7-0 run rn and put themselves in the lead after being down early. Staying out of foul trouble *knocks on wood* early is also going to be a boon. We certainly learned our lesson.

Looks good so far, legs look good and defensive effort and rebounding has been really solid. I'm sure they'll have a run, but we're not outmatched.

up 30-28 at halftime. Had a nice lead but it is slipping away as we've bricked some from the field and the free throw line. I think we might have only one three pointer-Fernandez. If we get some shots to fall we could be alright.

Belo is playing great! Some impressive low post moves that we haven’t seen in a while!

Hm, I'm both happy and disappointed we're only up 2 at half. Going into the game I'd be more than pleased to guarantee the lead going into half, but given the lead we'd amassed at points during that half, I just think about what could have been. But I guess that's why you score as much as you can, because it only takes one point to get the dub. Let's keep it up and come out hot next quarter! I feel like most of the errors have been mental (letting guys get open for easy 3s, sloppy turnovers, missing FTs, etc.) but it's a good chance to show that Sprink can use half time well. It's easy to recover physically, every player does that, but recovering mentally is a coach's job.

I don't know if MSU keeps track, but I predict Belo will set a school record for dunks by end of his career.

This has not been our most inspired basketball of the year I'll say. Let's reel it back, guys.

It's starting to unravel. Having trouble scoring and they've gotten hot. Feels like some home cookin' from the officials too.

Much better all the sudden. We're on a 7-0 run and back up 2

This game is going to come down to possesses it last

And they go on a 7-0 run to go back up 2.

This has just been a grind-it-out, tough type of game. Not necessarily pretty but i like how we're hanging in there. You can tell we're playing our 4th in 5 days but the effort has been good. Down 1, 5 to play.