Men's basketball playing for seed Sunday on Altitude

GAME DAY NOTES: vs. Montana State
CONFERENCE RELEASE: 'Bobcats, Bears Sunday on Altitude'

GAME DETAILS
Date: Sunday, March 1, 2009
Tip: 2:05 p.m. (MT)
Location: Greeley, Colo.
   Venue: Butler-Hancock (2,734)
Television: Altitude
   Play-by-play: Blake Olson
   Analyst: Mark Randall
   Sideline: Lauren Gardner
Radio: 1310 KFKA (Greeley)
   Play-by-play: Troy Coverdale
   Web stream: 1310KFKA.com
Live stats: none
Series: MSU, 30-13
   Last: NC, 65-55 (1-22-09)

SOME STORY LINES

• The Bears have already qualified for their first Big Sky Conference tournament, but there is still work to be done. A victory today against Montana State clinches the fifth seed for Northern Colorado, instead of the sixth-and-final spot.

• The Bears have won four straight home games, and a win today would give them five in a row for a second time in just three years under head coach Tad Boyle. Northern Colorado won five straight last season, too.

• With 43 meetings between them, the Bears’ series with the Bobcats goes farther back than against any other BSC opponent. Northern Colorado has won two straight in the series, as well, for the first time since 1952-1954.

• The Bears finished 4-4 in February last season, which was the school’s first non-losing February since going 5-4 in February 1992. Northern Colorado is 4-3 this February following its 67-57 victory against Montana.

SERIES HISTORY
OVERALL: MSU, 30-13
HOME: MSU, 20-8
AWAY: MSU, 10-5
NEUTRAL: N/A

ABOUT THE BOBCATS

• Montana State is playing for a fifth straight Big Sky tournament berth, which would be the school’s longest string since qualifying for seven straight from 1993-99. The Bobcats play Weber St. on Tuesday, as well, which could loom large if they lose today.

• Montana State features three players (Bobby Howard, Will Bynum and Divaldo Mbunga) who average double figures in points. Five players average 8.0 or more points for the Bobcats, including Danny Piepoli and Erik Rush.

• If today’s game comes down to the free-throw stripe, Northern Colorado has a decided advantage. Montana State, at 67 percent from the line, is the second-worst FT% team in the Big Sky. The Bears, at 72 percent, are the second best.