Tuesday’s Regional Briefs

Colbert nabs weekly honor

BOZEMAN – Senior guard Marcus Colbert won Big Sky Player of the Week for his performances against San Jose State and Wyoming, the league announced Tuesday.

Colbert tallied 27-points, six assists and two rebounds in Montana State’s 81-69 win over SJSU on Friday. On Sunday, he scored 29 points, dished out six assists and grabbed three rebounds in an 83-82 win over Wyoming.

Colbert scored 56 points on 18-for-31 shooting in the two games, including 5-for-9 from the three-point arc. He hit 15 of 17 free throws, including four straight in the final 47 seconds to seal the win over the Cowboys.

“I think the ball’s moving better this year,” MSU head coach Brian Fish said. “He’s doing a better job getting downhill on the defense, he’s taking a better leadership role. Last year’s success has allowed him to handle this year’s success better. He’s probably a more balanced player, not so emotional up and down, and he’s doing a better job attacking defenses.”

Colbert’s averaging 16.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists a game this season. He shoots 48% from the floor, 44% from the arc, and 75% from the free throw line. He leads the team in scoring, assists and steals.

4 Griz, 2 Cats named to conference’s first team

OGDEN, Utah – The Big Sky Conference has announced its Football All-Conference team and individual award winners for the 2015 regular season.

The team was selected by the league’s coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their student-athletes. Then, the votes were compiled by the league office.

Four Montana players and two Montana State players were named to the first team. Among those from the Grizzlies were Jamaal Jones (WR), Caleb Kidder (DT), Tyrone Holmes (DE) and Herbert Gamboa (OLB). John Weidenaar (OT) and Beau Sandland (TE) were the two chosen for the Cats. (See page 2S for a full list of Montana, Montana State players who were selected.)

Eastern Washington receiver Cooper Kupp is this year’s Offensive Player of the Year, and is also a first-team wide receiver. A three-time first-team receiver in the Big Sky, Kupp was a consensus selection to this season’s first-team. He led the FCS in five categories – receptions (114), receptions per game (10.4), reception yards (1,642), reception yards per game (149.3) and touchdown receptions (19). Kupp also has set eight Big Sky records in his career .

Southern Utah defensive end James Cowser is the recipient of this season’s Defensive Player of the Year award, in part due to his role leading the Big Sky’s top defense. Cowser, who is a two-time all-Big Sky first-team player, finished the season with 11 sacks and 17 tackles-for-loss. In the process of posting those statistics, Cowser set the FCS all-time record in both categories, as well as besting the Big Sky records posted by Idaho State’s Jared Allen.

For the first time ever in the history of the Freshman of the Year award, the league’s coaches unanimously voted for two players to win the award- Northern Arizona quarterback Case Cookus and North Dakota running back John Santiago. Both Cookus and Santiago are candidates for the National Freshman of the Year award.

Portland State quarterback Alex Kuresa won the league’s Newcomer of the Year award, and his victory symbolizes the effort of a Portland State team that barged its way into the league’s upper echelon, as the Vikings finished the regular season with a 9-2 record.

Kuresa helped manage Portland State’s offense in two wins over FBS opponents, including the Pac-12’s Washington State. Kuresa threw for 1,863 yards and 16 touchdowns, while also rushing for 707 yards on the season. A transfer from Snow College, Kuresa is the first Portland State player to win the award, and was also an all-Big Sky honorable mention at quarterback.

Montana State guard JP Flynn earning his third all-Big Sky selection, placing on the third team.

Overall, Northern Arizona led all teams by placing five players on the first team, followed by Southern Utah and Montana placing four players on the first team. Southern Utah and Montana led all teams with 12 players selected for all-Big Sky honors, with North Dakota and Portland State adding 11 players to the mix.

Holmes a finalist for prestigious award

Montana senior defensive end Tyrone Holmes is in the running to cement his place as one of the Grizzlies all-time greats, as a finalist for the STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year award.

Holmes is one of 25 of the best defensive players in the nation, and one of four Big Sky Conference defenders in the running for the prize formally known as the Buck Buchanan award. A four-year starter for the Griz, Holmes (6-4, 250, Eagle Point, Ore.) is having the best season of his career, and one of the best seasons of any player in a long line of decorated defensive players for Montana.

Highlighted by an FCS-best 14 sacks this season, Holmes currently sits in fourth place on Montana’s all-time career sack list with 30.5. In the FCS playoffs, he will get the chance to climb the ranking, needing two more sacks to move into third place with 32, and just 2.5 more move into second place.

Holmes has also picked up 43.5 career tackles-for-loss, placing him in sixth place on Montana's all-time ranking. With just two more TFLs this season, Holmes can pass three more former Grizzlies, and move into third on the all-time ranking with 45.5. His impressive senior year stats also include 77 total tackles (28 solo), seven quarterback hits and a pair of forced fumbles. His 77 tackles are third most for the Griz this season, putting him at 204 career tackles.

Holmes has also received the Big Sky Conference’s Defensive Player of the Week award twice this season. Nationwide voting for the STATS FCS annual awards will conclude on Saturday.

Argos take on Seattle

The University of Great Falls men’s basketball team is on the road Wednesday night for a matchup with Seattle University.

UGF’s squad, coached by Anthony Owens, is led by Lamar Falley, who is averaging a team-best 16 points per game. Jarrett Givens is putting up 15.5.

The Argos are 5-1 on the season.