Montana State, Wyoming To Renew Basketball Rivalry

Montana State and Wyoming will renew their basketball rivalry next season when the teams meet in Billings, Mont., according to athletic department officials from both schools.

The game, scheduled for Dec. 19 in MetraPark Arena at Billings, will kick off a four-game series which will see the teams meet in Laramie in 1997, Billings in 1998 and again in Laramie in 1999.

The teams last met in 1993 in Billings, when Wyoming won 78-62. A year earlier, MSU won in Casper 74-64. Wyoming leads the series with 29 victories to Montana State’s 10.

“This rivalry is a natural because of the regional interest, and we’re excited to once again be able to bring it to our fans in Billings and the eastern part of Montana,” MSU athletics director Chuck Lindemenn said.

Wyoming interim A.D. Dan Viola said the schedule could lead to a very interesting matchup.

“The 1993 game between the two schools at Billings was a big success, and now, with the alternating games between Billings and Laramie, I believe we have the ingredients for a very healthy rivalry,” Viola said.

He said the games would give Cowboys’ fans in northern Wyoming a good chance to see the team.