(editor’s note: story by Montana Sports Information)
MISSOULA – Coming off of a career-best performance, junior Sayeed Pridgett has been named this week’s Big Sky Conference Ready Nutrition Player of the Week. In two games, Pridgett averaged 22.5 points per game on 79.2 percent shooting, in addition to 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.5 assists per game.
The Oakland, Calif., native netted a career-high 29 points in Montana’s road win over previously unbeaten Northern Colorado. Pridgett scored Montana’s first 11 points, helping the Grizzlies jump out to an early lead. Montana led by 12 points at halftime, as many as 30 during the second half and by at least 20 over the final 13:28 of the game. Montana held the first-place Bears nearly 18 points below their season scoring average while out-rebounding them by 10.
In the contest, Pridgett’s 29 points came on 11-of-13 shooting. Two nights earlier, at Eastern Washington, he nearly recorded a double-double with 16 points and a team-high nine rebounds and three steals. He shot 8-of-11 in that contest.
After averaging 8.3 points per game through his first two seasons, Pridgett has elevated his game in 2018-19. His 13.0 points-per-game average ranks 17th in the Big Sky. He is shooting .582 from the floor (fifth) and is averaging 1.5 steals per game (sixth). He is on pace to become Montana’s 34th member of the 1,000-point scoring club late this year or early next season.
Pridgett is Montana’s first individual winner of the season. The Grizzlies travel to Moscow, Idaho this week to play Idaho on Saturday, before returning home for games vs. Idaho State (Jan. 24) and Weber State (Jan. 26).
