Griz pick up road win against Idaho State

Montana improved their league record to 6-1 and some records were set last night...

POCATELLO, Idaho. - It takes a lot to get Brian Qvale excited.

Brian Qvale was excited Thursday night.

Qvale, Montana's lone senior, scored 19 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and became the Big Sky Conference's all-time leader in blocked shots with three more rejections in the Grizzlies' 75-65 win over Idaho State in front of 2,176 fans at Reed Gym.

Qvale got block No. 213 to pass former Griz Daren Engellant (1988-92) with 15:40 to play in the first half when he turned back ISU 7-footer Deividas Busma from point-blank range.

The Griz will host Montana State on Saturday night. Should be a battle royal.

Lady Griz: THEY'RE BACK!

Big win for the Lady Griz yesterday against the Idaho State Bengals. They did it the old-fashioned way, with good, hard-nosed defense.

With defense that would've made Dick Butkus proud, Montana jumped back into the Big Sky Conference race Thursday.

The Lady Griz basketball team did a number on the best shooting team in the league, holding Idaho State to its lowest point total in 13 games. Montana didn't shoot well either, but used grit and persistence to post a 61-54 comeback win at Dahlberg Arena.

"We did a really good job with our defense, and they're hard to guard," said Montana coach Robin Selvig after his squad held the top scorer in the conference, Chelsea Pickering, without a point. "It was a frustrating game. I don't know if I've seen a game we missed so many shots around the basket. It was just getting unbelievable but we hung in there."

The Lady Griz (3-2 conference, 8-10 overall) leapfrogged the Bengals (2-2, 11-6) and Northern Arizona in the Big Sky standings. Montana is now one game out of second with league leader Montana State (4-0, 10-8) coming to town Saturday.

How much are Griz fans getting sick of trailing Montana State in the standings?

Big Sky basketball roundup

It was a huge night of basketball yesterday in the Big Sky Conference, here are some happenings from around the country.

Eastern Washington 72, Northern Arizona 59
EWU (2-4 conference, 5-13 overall) snapped a five-game losing streak to stun the Lumberjacks (2-4 conference, 10-8 overall) and win their second conference game of the year. Kevin Winford's led with 14 points for the Eags, while Cameron Jones had 21 for Northern Arizona.

Northern Colorado 77, Sac State 72
The Bears (6-0 conference, 10-7 overall) continue to be a machine with a win over the Hornets (3-15 overall) to stay undefeated.

The two leading scorers in the Big Sky Conference, Devon Beitzel and Elliot Lloyd scored 25 and 18 points respectively.

Portland State 71, Weber State 69
The Vikings (3-3 conference, 10-8 overall) got their conference record back up to .500 by defeating the Wildcats (3-3 conference, 9-8 overall) at home. They were led by Melvin Jones, who scored 15, and came back from a 37-33 halftime deficit to win.

The Vikings went on a 12-0 run in the second half to take the lead.

A look at the last week of Big Sky Conference football...

At the end of a crazy season, there's still no clear cut champion. Montana, Eastern Washington and Montana State could all be co-champs once things are all said and done. Let's take a gander...

Idaho State (0-7 conference, 1-9 overall) @ No. 3 Eastern Washington (6-1 conference, 8-2 overall)
Let me quote Admiral Ackbar...



ITS A TRAP (Game)! Eastern Washington has got to watch out in this game for several reasons. First, the way things have been kicking around in the media, it seems like everyone already assumes they'll beat Idaho State. Sure, they're the worst team in the Big Sky Conference but they gave Montana State all they could handle and remember, the Bobcats beat the Eags. Secondly, they just fired their coach for after the season and you could see that emotional "win one of the gipper" performances.

Weber State (6-4) @ Texas Tech (5-5)
Whats with all these late season games against Div. I-A opponents? When I saw Idaho State was playing Georgia, I nearly fell out of my chair.

Portland State (1-6 conference, 2-8 overall) vs. Northern Arizona (3-4 conference, 5-5 overall)
Northern Arizona has won three straight against Portland State and you know they'd like to finish the season above .500. I can't really come up with any motivation for the Vikings.

Sac State (6-4) @ UC Davis (5-5)

Sac State is the best team in the conference that isn't EWU, Montana and Montana State. I think they roll UC Davis in this one. Hey NCAA, you should take FOUR TEAMS from the Big Sky. Just saying.

Montana State (6-1 conference, 8-2 overall) @ Montana (5-2 conference, 7-3 overall)
Better known as ...



This game is going to be riveting. This is one of the best MSU teams to roll into Missoula and you know that even though the Griz are having a "down year" this is going to be one heck of a rivalry game. Better strap on your helmet, and get ready for WWIII.

Big Sky suspends ref

Oh, if they had only done this to the refs of Super Bowl XL, before Super Bowl XL....

OGDEN, UTAH - The Big Sky Conference has suspended the referee from the Northern Arizona University-University of Montana football game, league Commissioner Doug Fullerton announced Wednesday.

Jim Lenau has been suspended for one game for misapplication of a rule during the second quarter of Montana's 24-21 victory over Northern Arizona on Saturday, Oct. 23, in Missoula, Mont.

You get em Doug! And by the way, the call was a UM player catching a ball and stepping out the back of the endzone. It should have resulted in a touchback but the ref called a safety. Um.... really?! 

This week in Big Sky Conference football...

Another week, another crazy slate of Big Sky Conference games. We'll break down what's happening this week...

No. 7 Montana (5-1 conference, 6-2 overall) @ Weber State (3-2 conference, 4-3 overall)
The Griz pulled out a dramatic win last week and they keep seeming to do just enough to win football games. This Weber State game has all the trappings of a danger game for Montana though. Eventually the luck is going to run out and Weber State is a tough team.

However, it's the Griz and you know they'll pull some miracle out of their back pocket like a sideline warning that costs the Wildcats the game or a freak tornado that injuries their quarterback. Seriously, it will happen. Trust me.


No. 13 Montana State (4-1 conference, 6-2 overall) @ Idaho State (0-5 conference, 1-6 overall)
Ah, the Idaho State Bengals. Not only do their uniforms remind me of 1986, but they are possibly the only Big Sky team that is terrible this year. However, that won't stop Montana State from falling behind by 30 points and posting a huge comeback. The Bobcats apparently don't need things like a "strong first quarter" or "dominant win."

They have won the last six against ISU and I would imagine every else has too.

Sac State (2-3 conference, 3-4 overall) @ No. 25 Northern Arizona (2-2 conference, 4-3 overall)
Sac State and NAU are the ultimate bad luck teams right now in the Big Sky. Nobody can deny their talent, no one is thrilled to be playing them. Now they're playing one another... there will be blood.

Northern Colorado (2-6) @ South Dakota (3-5)
Ugh... who cares?

No. 8 Eastern Washington (5-1 conference, 6-2 overall) @ Portland State (1-3 conference, 2-5 overall)
This game scares me. Portland State has always given Eastern Washington fits and despite their record, all their games have been close. The Eagles have been skating on thin ice in their games all season and this might finally be the time that the ice breaks.

This week in Big Sky football

It's going to be another interesting week in the Big Sky Conference as four teams are ranked and have just one loss in the conference. If you were looking for the definition of a quagmire, say hello to the BSC. I'll try and break down the matchups this week and make sense of everything...

Sacramento State (2-2 conf., 3-3 overall) @ No. 8 Eastern Washington (4-1 conf., 5-2 overall)
The Eagles will be their red turf, but they'll also have to contend with a Sac State team that isn't a pushover. Eastern can't overlook this Sac State team as they gave Montana a run for their money when these two teams played.

No. 22 Northern Arizona (2-1 conf., 4-2 overall) @ No. 7 Montana (4-1 conf., 5-2 overall)
NAU walloped MSU last week but they have to play the Grizzlies in their home stadium. This isn't an easy task by any stretch of the imagination although I don't think Montana is as strong this year as they've been in previous season. UM has won the previous 12 meetings though.

Northern Colorado (1-4 conf., 2-5 overall) @ No. 15 Montana State (3-1 conf., 5-2 overall)
This will be the a nice bounce-back for the Bobcats, they should be able to handle the Bears, no problem.

Portland State (1-2 conf., 2-4 overall) @ Weber State (2-2 conf., 3-3 overall) 
Weber State has won three straight against Portland State, but the Vikings gave Montana a scare last week. This game shows you how crazy this conference is, it could go either way.

There you have it, feel free to comment below!

Griz ranked No. 2 in preseason poll, Eags ranked 13th

Even with a new coach, the Grizzlies were ranked No. 2 in the preseason FCS rankings. Montana State was also in the rankings at No. 24.

They're not alone in the Big Sky Conference though, my wonderful Eastern Washington Eagles are ranked no. 13 even though they have a new quarterback at the helm.

The Weber State Wildcats were ranked 19.

And Idaho State? Well they just suck. But four teams ranked in the Big Sky Conference means that everyone is thinking that it's going to be competitive this year. Wow.

Big Sky Womens' Soccer preseason poll has NAU on top

With fall sports just around the corner, the Big Sky Conference coaches poll has been released and the winner is... Northern Arizona. Now all they have to do is play the games.

Of the eight head coaches in the league, six gave their first-place vote to the Lumberjacks, for a total of 48 points. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.

Northern Arizona won its second straight conference title last season, beating tournament host Portland State on penalty kicks and then Idaho State in the championship match.

2010 Big Sky Soccer
Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Team (First-Place Votes)Points
1. Northern Arizona (6) 48
2. Sacramento State (1) 38
3. Portland State (1) 36
4. Weber State 30
5. Idaho State 27
6. Eastern Washington 16
7. Montana 15
8. Northern Colorado 14