On the eve of the Frontier Conference home opener, the MSU-Northern Skylights prepare for Montana Tech. Before that, New Media Broadcasters spoke with head coach Chris Mouat and said what the gameplan was like after only scoring one basket in the first quarter of the contest.
“I thought we had good shots; that was the sad thing,” Mouat said. “We just didn’t score.”
“Credit Western. They got after us and did some things to turn us over a few times,” Mouat continued. “We just dug ourselves a hole and I think from that point forward, our kids played so hard. (However, if) you dig a hole like that it’s really hard to get out of it. At their place on the road, it’s going to make it even harder.”
Thursday’s contest with the Montana Tech Orediggers will present a couple of big keys that the Skylights have been working all week. Coach Mouat explains more about the challenges Montana Tech will bring to the basketball court.
“They are tall, long, athletic,” Mouat said. “They shoot a ton of (3-pointers), including their post (players).”
“They’re really going to stretch us out, so the biggest thing I think with them is rebounding (averaging 42 rebounds a game this season),” Mouat continued. “They’re one of the best rebounding teams in the league right now and on the offensive end, they all crash (the boards).”
“Our big focus in practice (all week has been) rebounding,” Mouat said. “They do press you full court some, so taking care of the ball in the full court (is) an issue we’re going to have to deal with.”
Tipoff of the Skylights (6-8, 0-1 in the Frontier Conference) and Orediggers (10-4, 1-0) will take place at 5pm. Listen to the game on KPQX-92.5FM and HiLineToday.com with Noah Friedman calling the action from the Armory Gym.
