The Wildcats host Montana on Thursday and Montana State on Saturday.

Saturday’s game brings the celebration of the 1995 team, which will take place with “several players and coaches” being recognized at halftime.

The 1995 team was WSU’s first in 12 seasons to make the NCAA Tournament, winning both the Big Sky Conference regular-season and tournament titles on the way to a 21-9 record.

Led by head coach Ron Abbeglen, 27 points from MVP Ruben Nembhard, and Jimmy DeGraffrenreid and Lewis Lofton, the 14-seed Wildcats defeated Michigan State 79-72 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

WSU then missed the Sweet 16 by one play, losing to Georgetown in the second round when Don Reid grabbed an Allen Iverson airball and dropped it in at the buzzer to hand Weber a 53-51 defeat.

Weber State is advertising a ticket deal for Saturday’s game: rows eight and above are being sold two for $19.95.

That deal is also available for Thursday’s game against Montana. Thursday’s game is also sponsored by Bank of Utah, with four free tickets available using the promo code BANKOFUTAH.

KOEHLER WINS PLAYER OF WEEK

Dyson Koehler’s hot shooting led him to Big Sky Conference men’s basketball player of the week honors.

Koehler shot 6 of 8 from the 3-point line, scoring 21 points to get WSU in the win column with a 77-69 road decision at Idaho State.

Koehler, a fifth-year senior from Draper, currently leads Weber State in conference scoring at 16.7 points per game.

MEN FINALLY BACK AT HOME

The WSU men’s team (7-10, 1-2 Big Sky, 240 NCAA NET) plays a home game for the first time in four weeks in hosting the Montana schools. After a six-point loss to UC Irvine, a four-point loss to North Dakota State and a two-point loss to Utah Valley, the Wildcats are seeking their first Division I home win of the season.

Montana (10-7, 3-1, 203 NET) was 8-0 at home this season and will likely be motivated after taking an 81-57 home loss to Northern Colorado to cap last week. In conference games, the Griz have the league’s quickest tempo, are top three in every shooting percentage, and are No. 1 in not giving up turnovers. UM has been OK defensively while allowing a good chunk of offensive rebounds.

Stellar sophomore Money Williams leads Montana at 14.2 points per game. That leads a group of four in double figures, the rest transfers: wing Malik Moore (13.7 ppg, Pepperdine), forward Joel Pridgen (12.8 ppg, fourth team, most recent Northeastern), and guard Kai Johnson (10.9 ppg, D2 Western Washington).

Then Montana State (6-11, 1-3, 189) comes to Ogden. The Bobcats are 1-3 in league play with all losses by five or less (including by one to unbeaten Northern Colorado) and, after trailing Northern Arizona 16-0, outscored the Lumberjacks 58-37 over the final 32 minutes to pick up a win. MSU excels at taking care of the basketball, defending the 3-point line and defensive rebounding.

Big man Brandon Walker leads MSU at 14.7 points per game and, through two weeks, is Ken Pomeroy’s statistical league MVP. Wyoming and Utah State transfer forward Max Abonkpolo gives his team some versatility and scores 12 points per game. Shooting guards Brian Goracke and Jabe Mullins (each just less than eight points per game) can get hot and fill up the bucket.

Both games tip at 7 p.m. MST and will stream on ESPN+.

WOMEN HIT THE ROAD

Weber State women’s basketball (5-8) is 2-1 to start Big Sky play for the first time in seven years. After six weeks away from the Dee Events Center, the Wildcats return to the road following four straight home games.

Montana (5-10, 1-3, 195 NET) beat Washington at home but has lost seven of its last eight, trying to find the same firepower it possessed last season. Mack Konig (11.3 ppg) leads the Griz in scoring while Avery Waddington (41.7%), Adria Lincoln (41.9%) and MJ Bruno (40.5%) are a combined 45 of 109 (41.3%) from the 3-point line.

The game tips at 7 p.m.

Saturday brings a matchup with Montana State (14-2, 4-0, 63 NET), who looks as good as ever. The Bobcats have two losses: one at nationally ranked Utah, and one in overtime at Oral Roberts, a team that rates higher in the NCAA NET than everyone in the Big Sky except MSU. The Bobcats have a scoring margin average of plus-14.3.

MSU has a balanced presence with forward Marah Dykstra scoring 14.3 points per game and senior guard (and Portland State transfer) Esmerelda Morales adding 14.8 points and 3.4 assists per outing. Fifth-year wing Katelynn Martin (née Limardo) adds 10.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, just recently eclipsing the 1,000-point career scoring mark.

That game is set for 2 p.m.