Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Montana
'Cats host Montana in Big Sky opener Thursday
12/27/2023 11:21:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Weber State and Montana will tipoff at 7 p.m. Thursday in the conference opener.
• It's the start of Big Sky play against a longtime rival as Weber State hosts Montana Thursday night in the conference opener.
• The Wildcats and Grizzlies will tipoff at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Dee Events Center in Ogden. The game will be televised on ESPN+ and the ESPN app with Scott Garrard and former Weber State head coach Joe Cravens on the call. Weber State radio coverage will be on 103.1 FM "The Wave" with Steve Klauke and former Weber State standout and Big Sky MVP David Patten calling the action. Live stats available at WeberStateSports.com and the Weber State Wildcats app.
• Weber State is 7-4 on the season and has won the last two games. The Wildcats won at Wyoming on December 16 and are coming off a 90-39 win over Park Gilbert on Thursday night. That was the first of four-straight home games for the Wildcats.
• Wildcat standout Dillon Jones had his eighth double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds in the win over Park Gilbert. He also dished out seven assists. Jones leads Weber State in points, rebounds, assists, and steals this season. The eight double-doubles is the third most in the country. He is second the nation in defensive rebounds and is sixth in the country in total rebounds at 10.9 per game. He is also second in the Big Sky in scoring at 17.8 points per game and now leads the conference in assists at 4.2 per game. He is averaging 6.5 assists per game over the last four games. Jones was the unanimous selection as the Big Sky Preseason MVP. He is a two-time first-team all-conference selection and a two-time all-district selection. He participated in the G League and NBA Draft combines this summer before returning to school.
• Jones has played in 98 career games at Weber State and ranks fourth in school history in career rebounding. He needs eight more rebounds to move into third in career rebounds. He is also 16th in career scoring, fourth in steals, and ninth in free throws made, and has moved into the top 10 in career assists. Jones has 46 career double-doubles, which is tied for the sixth-most of any active player in the country.
• Wildcat freshman Viljami Vartianinen scored a career-high 14 points in the win over Park Gilbert with a career-high four 3-pointers. The Helsinki, Finland native has scored in double figures twice this season and had nine 3-pointers on the year.
• Alex Tew has scored in double figures in each of the last two games, including a season-high 14 points in the win at Wyoming. He also has four rebounds in each of the last two games. Tew is averaging 7.2 points per game and 3.9 rebounds per game. He is also shooting 56.6 percent from the field.
• Weber State ranks fifth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 59.1 points per game. The 'Cats are also 16th in the country in fouls per game at 13.7.
• The Wildcats also are 11th in the nation in free throw percentage at 78.4 percent. WSU was perfect from the free throw line in each of the last two games, going 15 of 15 in the win at Wyoming and 7 of 7 in the win over Park Gilbert. Steven Verplancken is a perfect 23 of 23 from the free throw line this season.
• WSU leads the Big Sky in scoring defense, scoring margin, 3-point field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and turnover margin.
• Weber State has all five starters returning from last year and the Wildcats were picked first in the Big Sky Conference preseason media and coaches polls. WSU had two players named to the Big Sky preseason all-conference team in Jones and senior Steven Verplancken.
• The Wildcats are coached by Eric Duft who returns for his second season as head coach and his 18th season overall at Weber State. He spent 16 seasons as an assistant coach under Randy Rahe before becoming the 10th head coach in WSU history in May 2022. Weber State finished 18-15 overall last season and was third in the Big Sky at 12-6.
• Weber State has one of the most international rosters in the country as the Wildcats have eight players that come from outside of the United States, representing six different countries. Two players are from England (Louie Jordan, Alex Tew), and two from Serbia in cousins Marko and Nemanja Sarenac. WSU also has players from Switzerland (Arnaud Revaz), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Handje Tamba), Finland (Viljami Vartiainen), and the Dominican Republic (Steven Verplancken).
• Montana is also 7-4 on the season entering the Big Sky opener. The Grizzlies have won their last five games, including two wins over San Jose State and a win at UC Davis. Montana leads the Big Sky in field goal defense and is second in free throw percentage and rebounding margin. The Griz are also third in field goal percentage and rebounding.
• Montana was 17-14 overall last season and finished fourth in the Big Sky at 10-7. The Grizzlies were picked second in the coaches poll and third in the media polls entering the season. Montana is coached by former Grizzly player Travis DeCuire who is in his 10th season as head coach. He has led Montana to 184 wins, three Big Sky titles, and two trips to the NCAA Tournament.
• This will be the 141st all-time meeting between Weber State and Montana. The Wildcats have played the Grizzlies more than any opponent in their history. Weber State holds a 75-65 all-time series lead over Montana. The Wildcats are also 47-18 in games played in Ogden.
• The two teams split the season series last year, each winning on the road. Weber State won in Missoula on a last second 3-pointer by Steven Verplancken. Montana then won in Ogden 74-69 last February.
• After Thursday, the Wildcats will host Montana State on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Dee Events Center. WSU will then play two games as part of the Big Sky-Summit League Challenge. The 'Cats will host South Dakota State on January 3 and play at Oral Roberts on January 6.
