A reach across generations

For Daren Engellant, it completely caught him off guard.

"I honestly didn't know I still had it at this point," he said.

"I believe I knew I had the school record because I follow the Grizzlies."

But not the Big Sky Conference career rebounding record.

No way.

"I don't even know where to look for that (information)," the former Griz star from Geraldine said.

Engellant's league standard, which had survived 10 seasons, was finally broken on Jan. 20. Montana center Brian Qvale, 6-foot-11, 260-pound senior from Williston, N.D., became the Big Sky Conference's new career block record holder after he totaled three blocks against Idaho State. That gave him a career total of 215.

Qvale also scored 19 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in the Grizzlies' 75-65 victory at Pocatello, Idaho.

Engellant, an all-conference first-team selection for UM in 1991-92 who went on to play eight years of professional

basketball overseas, held the old career mark at 212. He set that from 1988-92.

"Some people had no idea I held the record," Engellant said.

"Some people had no idea I played basketball at Montana. It's been a neat experience for me (with all the attention over Qvale's breaking the record)."

Qvale started the season third at UM in career blocked shots and eighth in the Big Sky with 152. He finished his final year with 95 for a conference career record total of 247.

The 95 blocks are new UM and conference records for a season.

Engellant previously held the Montana record for most blocks in a season with 71.

Engellant, however, still has his name on one UM record - most blocks in a game with seven. He shares that with Qvale, who had seven blocks on Dec. 12, 2010, in a 50-48 loss at the University of San Francisco.

Engellant, a 6-10, 255-pound center, led the Grizzlies for three seasons in rebounding.

"I'm surprised it lasted that long," he said of his Big Sky career mark.

"I don't remember as much attention being drawn to the record (when I broke it).

"I was invited down (to Missoula) to give him (Qvale) the game ball after the (Idaho State) game," Engellant said.

"Just a brief chat (with Qvale). I've followed him ... he seems like a good kid."

Engellant says individual records were never a big deal when he was playing.

"We were more focused on winning a school record 27 wins," he said of his senior season.

"We were almost ranked in the top 20. That's what we were focused on.

"I'm glad there wasn't more attention (on my record). That would have taken away from the team."

Montana finished the 1991-92 campaign 27-4. The final game was a 78-68 loss to the Charlie Ward led Florida State Seminoles in the NCAA tournament.

The previous season, Engellant and the Griz were 23-8 and lost to UNLV in the NCAA tournament, 99-65.

Engellant, a successful agent/owner of Glacier Insurance in Evergreen, says he was happy that it was a Montana player that broke his old records.

"Right now, we're 1-2 in the conference," Engellant said of Qvale and him as career block leaders.

"That's a testament to the quality of the big men that have been produced by Montana."

Engellant said blocking shots was never a goal when he played.

"I took pride in being a good defensive player and protecting the basket," he said.

"Blocked shots were the end result."

Engellant spent four seasons (2004-08) coaching with the Flathead High School program. He spent two years at the JV level and one each with the sophomore and freshman.

"I loved the coaching," he said.

"It took a lot of time. Not being in the school district (teaching) was especially hard."

There are 20 different individual statistical records kept by the Big Sky Conference for men's basketball. Most of those have game, season and career marks.

Heading into the 2010-11 season, Steve Hayes of ISU had the most blocks for a game - 10 - set in 1976 versus Weber State. That mark still stands.

For a season, it was 93. That mark was held by Slim Millien of Idaho State, 200-506.