Nov. 9, 2006

Orem, UT- The Utah Valley State men's basketball team opens the 2006-07 regular season on Friday with a home game against Montana State of the Big Sky Conference. Tip off is set for 7:05 p.m. at the McKay Center. The game can be heard live on 1400 KSTAR with Steve Watts calling the action.

Friday is also Montana State's season opener and the first game for Brad Huse as the head coach of the Bobcats. Huse was an assistant Montana before taking the head job at MSU. Casey Durham, Carson Durr and Nick Dissly are all projected starters and they hail from the state of Montana.

"Montana State has three tough veteran Montana kids," Utah Valley State coach Dick Hunsaker said. "They'll be excited to open the season with coach Huse. They have an influx of new talented players. I know they will be well prepared."

This is the third meeting between the Bobcats and the Wolverines. The two teams played twice in 2004-05 with each team winning on its home court. Utah Valley beat Montana State 80-60 in the McKay Center while MSU won 61-45 in Bozeman.

Utah Valley State has five returning players and two players who returned from LDS missions in the off season. David Heck and Matt Peterson both led the Wolverines in scoring last year at 11.2 points a game. Chris Bailey, Richard Troyer and Peter Brown also return to the Wolverines this year.

Ryan Toolson and Brett Ravenberg both played as freshmen in 2003-04 before serving LDS missions.

Utah Valley State hosts Montana, a 2005-06 NCAA tournament team, on Monday at 7:05 p.m. in the McKay Center.