MISSOULA – The Montana Griz men’s basketball team have historically had a difficult time against Sacramento State. They face the Hornets once again tonight on the road, and they’re looking to change their fortune.
“Personally for us, it’s tough, you know? We have not won at Sac State in the last three years, and we got swept on this trip last year, so we’ve got our own agenda and our own reasons to want to perform and play at a high level,” said head coach Travis DeCuire.
There’s more at stake tonight than winning one over the Hornets. The Griz are 4-0 in the Big Sky Conference going into tonight’s game and they’d like to keep that train rolling.
On top of that, the Griz men haven’t won three consecutive road games since 2016 and tonight could break that streak. The players say a revamped playstyle may give them an edge tonight.
“We switched up our defenses this year to a new system, and I think everybody in our team’s bought into it and everybody’s, you know, knows their role on defense, knows their role on offense,” said Bobby Moorehead. “So I think our new new defense has really helped us to keep teams scoring lower, and defense creates good offense.”
The Lady Griz have likewise struggled to best the Hornets in recent years. They’re currently 3-1 in the Big Sky, hoping to make that 4-1.
The team says they’ve been preparing for Sacramento’s offense in practice, and that they’re ready for the Hornets.
“We have been practicing this week about, we have five specifically just with the hard press, so we kind of get the idea of, but honestly no one’s as quick or fast or as aggressive as we can prepare for Sac, but I think we’re prepared,” said Lady Griz Madi Schoeing.
