Following is a look around Big Sky Conference men’s basketball by Jon Kasper, the conference’s assistant commissioner. Kasper used to write for the Missoulian, where he covered University of Montana sports for several years.
Next Week’s Sky Schedule
Tuesday, Nov. 20………………………………………………………….. Time
North Dakota at Hawai’I…………………………………………………….. 7:05
UC Davis at Sacramento State (Big Sky TV)………………………. 7:35
3Eastern Washington vs. Utah Valley …………………………………. 8:15
Wednesday, Nov. 21…………………………………………………….. Time
3 E. Washington vs. SC Update …………………………………………. 6:05
Carroll College at Southern Utah (Big Sky TV)…………………. 7:05
Montana State at Air Force ……………………………………………….. 7:05
Wyoming at Northern Colorado (Big Sky TV)………………….. 7:05
Portland State at Portland………………………………………………….. 7:05
4Idaho State vs. Utah (Pac-12 Network)……………………………… 7:05
Friday, Nov. 23……………………………………………………………… Time
1N. Arizona vs. Jacksonville State ……………………………… 11:05 a.m.
3Eastern Washington at Santa Clara……………………………………. 4:15
4Idaho St. vs. Wright St. (Pac-12 Network)…………………………. 7:35
Saturday, Nov. 24
4Idaho State vs. Central Michigan …………………………………….. 4:35
San Diego at Montana (Big Sky TV)………………………………….. 6:05
Weber State at Utah State (KMYU)……………………………………. 7:05
Sacramento State at Central Arkansas……………………………….. 7:05
1N. Arizona vs. Campbell/N. Carolina A&T………………………… TBA
Sunday, Nov. 25
Portland State at Oklahoma State………………………………………. 1:05
Montana State at Oregon State (Pac-12 Network)…………….. 3:05
Monday, Nov. 26
Northern Colorado at Colorado State ……………………………….. 7:05
1 – Global Sports Classic – Las Vegas (Nov. 23-24)
3– CBE Hall of Fame Classic – Santa Clara, Calif.
4 – Utah Thanksgiving Tournament – Salt Lake City, Utah
Game Times Local to Site/Subject to Change
This Week’s Sky Highlights
Six of the next six days are busy for Big Sky Conference basketball teams, with only Thanksgiving serving as an off day…Sacramento State looks to move to 4-0 when it plays host to UC Davis on Tuesday night…North Dakota guns for its first win at Hawai’I, while Eastern Washington begins play in the CBE Hall of Fame Classic against Utah Valley on Tuesday night. The Eagles take on South Carolina Update on Wednesday, before closing out the tournament on Saturday against host Santa Clara…Idaho State begins play in the Utah Thanksgiving Tournament on Wednesday against host Utah. The Bengals play Wright State on Friday, followed by Central Michigan on Saturday…Southern Utah goes for its first win on Wednesday as it plays host to NAIA Carroll College…Montana State treks to Air Force on Wednesday and Oregon State on Sunday…Northern Arizona plays in the Global Sports Classic in Las Vegas on Friday and Saturday. The Lumberjacks play Jacksonville State on Friday, and take on either Campbell for North Carolina A&T the following day…Northern Colorado plays host to Wyoming on Wednesday, and travels to Colorado State on Monday…Portland State is at Portland on Wednesday and at Oklahoma State on Sunday…Montana plays host to San Diego on Friday, while Sacramento State travels to Central Arkansas…Weber State’s only game of the week is at Utah State on Saturday.
Around the Big Sky
JACKS SNAP STREAK: Northern Arizona ended its 18-game losing streak with an 85-82 road win over UC Davis on Sunday. It was the first victory over Northern Arizona first-year coach Jack Murphy. Gabe Rogers scored 27 points, including 14 in the second half. Freshman DeWayne Russell added 25 points. Northern Arizona had not won since beating Sacramento State 73-64 on Dec. 29, 2011.
HORNETS UNBEATEN: In Brian Katz’s first season at Sacramento State, the Hornets won just two games. The Hornets have already surpassed that win total this season, and are off to a 3-0 start for the first time since the 1999-00 season. Sacramento State beat Cal State Bakersfield at home 85-67 last Wednesday, and then rallied for a 74-71 stunning road win over Utah of the Pac-12 Conference. Sacramento State will try to make it four in a row Tuesday night when it plays host to UC Davis in the 111th meeting between the schools. Sacramento State senior forward John Dickson needs just nine points to reach 1,000 for his career.
Tip-ins: Montana State earned its first win of the season with an 83-64 home win over Portland. Antonio Biglow scored 23 points to lead MSU…Kareem Jamar scored 17 points and Mathias Ward added 16 as Montana picked up a 66-63 road win over Idaho on Saturday. Idaho will rejoin the Big Sky Conference in men’s basketball in 2014…Southern Utah lost three games at the World Vision Classic in Reno., Nev. The Thunderbirds, under first-year coach Nick Robinson, are still seeking their first win…No Big Sky Conference teams received votes in the Collegeinsider.Com Mid-Major Top 25 poll…Davion Berry scored a career-high 21 points in Weber State’s 68-67 road loss to San Jose State. Weber State shot just 39.3 percent from the field in the loss…Idaho State has allowed just 53.5 points per game in its two losses. The Bengals lead the league in scoring defense. ISU head coach Bill Evans was on Montana’s staff the last four seasons as the Grizzlies led the Big Sky in scoring defense…The Big Sky is currently 5-18 against Division I teams.
