Bobcats’ Ford III shares Big Sky honor

BOZEMAN —  Behind a pair of double-doubles that helped lead Montana State to two big home wins this past weekend, Robert Ford III was selected Big Sky co-Player of the Week, the conference office announced on Tuesday.

Ford, a redshirt senior from Portland, Oregon, averaged 14.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 3.5 steals across victories over Northern Arizona (79-50) on Thursday and Northern Colorado (90-81) on Saturday. At 7.9 boards a game, the 6-foot point guard is second in NCAA Division I in rebounding among players shorter than 6-3. His 49 steals ranks fifth in the country.

He shared the honor with Saint Thomas of Northern Colorado, who averaged 32 points and 11 rebounds on the weekend, including a 37-point effort in the Bears’ 98-92 overtime win at Montana on Thursday.

The Grizzlies’ Dischon Thomas was also nominated for the award.

Ford is averaging career highs in nearly every statistical category, including points (13.9), rebounds, field goal percentage (44.4%), three-point percentage (39.3%), and steals per game (2.9). 

The two wins pushed MSU’s record to 8-9, and 3-1 in Big Sky games ahead of Saturday night’s 306th men’s basketball meeting between the Bobcats and Montana Grizzlies (11-6, 2-2 in league). Tip-off is at 7 p.m. at Worthington Arena.

The game will air on MTN and stream live on ESPN+, with live radio play-by-play broadcast on the Bobcat Sports Radio Network and Montana Grizzly Sports Radio Network.

Weber State’s Jadyn Matthews was the Big Sky women’s player of the week after averaging 23.5 points and eight boards in two Wildcat wins.

Montana nominated Carmen Gfeller for the award, while no MSU player was nominated.

The Lady Griz visit MSU to play the Bobcats Saturday at 2 p.m.