Grizzlies blast Vikings Friday, fall to Eagles Saturday
2/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The price of poker goes up the closer it gets to tournament time, and Big Sky Conference teams are seeing higher stakes everywhere they look.
And high-stakes games they were last weekend in Dahlberg Arena as the Griz men's basketball team beat sixth-ranked Portland State University Friday and were edged out by Eastern Washington University Saturday.
Having split with both teams the last time the Griz faced them, head coach Don Holst wanted to make this a win-win weekend for Montana.
Maybe it was because his jump hook is so hard to defend, maybe it was because PSU posts were keying too much on his teammate Dan Trammel, maybe it was his night to shine. For whatever reason, Griz veteran Travis Greenwalt had the game of his life Friday.
Scoring a career-high 23 points and snagging 8 boards, Greenwalt proved to be a force in the paint. Using both his left and right hands, the Grizzly center hooked over PSU defenders in the key and connected from around the perimeter hitting multiple 15-foot jumpers.
Greenwalt used the adjustments Portland State coaches had to make after the last meeting between the schools to his advantage.
The last time the Griz faced Portland State, the team broke a record for the number of three-pointers in a game with 16. After that shooting display, PSU head coach Joel Sobotka said they reorganized their defense in order to stick more outside pressure on gunners like David Bell and Brent Cummings.
Greenwalt, a poor free-throw shooter this season, shooting just 50 percent, had a great night from the charity stripe, hitting 7-9 as PSU big men continually put him on the line.
Although Greenwalt's 23-point contribution helped UM win, it was the Grizzly defense that set the tone.
"We wanted to focus on being a lot more aggressive on D'," said Holst. "We can score, that's no problem, but I don't want to have to score a hundred to win."
The Griz allowed PSU to score forty points in the first half, but limited the Vikings to only 26 in the second.
"I came in at halftime and the guys were talking about how we needed to step it up on defense," said Holst. "They all agreed and we just went back out after the half and stuck it to 'em".
Third-place Eastern Washington strolled into Missoula Saturday after upending conference front-runner Montana State Friday. Both teams were looking to continue momentum after wins on Friday night.
In a game that was close throughout, the Eagles only mustered as much as a seven-point lead, and the Griz led by six at one point.Shortly before halftime EWU hit two technical free-throws, giving them a one-point advantage with 30 seconds to go. But on the last UM possession of the half, Montana's Brent Cummings hit a baseline jumper after nearly fumbling the pass out-of-bounds to give the Griz a one-point edge heading into the locker room..
Grizzly shooting-guard Bell started the game shooting cold from behind the arc, hitting only one for seven, but he would be there to bail the Griz out in the last moments of the game.
With the Griz down three with 29 seconds to go, Holst called his last time out and drew up a plan for Bell.
Holst said he thought about using Bell as a decoy, and letting Cummings attempt the last shot, but they'd run the situation in practice Bell is specifically seasoned to make those types of clutch shots.
"We ran him off the stagger-- I didn't even need to draw the play up because David knew what he had to do, and he knocked it down and delivered it," said Holst.
Tied at 78 with time ticking away and the shot clock running uniform to the game clock, EWU had the upper hand. Even if a last-ditch play didn't work, the game would still go into overtime.
EWU threw two sharp passes along the perimeter and when Cummings jumped out to help stop EWU guard Daren Cooper from driving in the key, Cooper dished a pass to teammate Chris Hester for an easy up-and-in with 1.8 seconds remaining on the clock.
A full-court shot attempt by Sam Riddle was all the Griz had time for as the barn-burner had ended with them on the losing side of a 80-78 defeat.
"We lost and it was a tough one, but what I really like is that our guys stepped it up and came back from behind," Holst said. "I was proud of them for climbing that mountain and with that momentum on our side I'm not so sure that we don't win if it goes to OT."
Free throws made a big difference in the loss as the Eagles shot 22-24 from the line total, nine for nine in the second half. Montana also shot a decent 21-29 from the line, including clutch free throws made by Cummings and Bell.
Currently at 5-5 in the Big Sky Conference and 11-12 overall, Holst said he is really looking for a win this weekend when the Griz take to the road to play Idaho State.
"We need to get this bad taste out of our mouths, get on the road to Idaho State and get this one back," Holst said. "We need to get that road win and then finish our season strong at home."
The Grizzlies play their final three games at home including a regular season-ending rematch against Montana State.
And high-stakes games they were last weekend in Dahlberg Arena as the Griz men's basketball team beat sixth-ranked Portland State University Friday and were edged out by Eastern Washington University Saturday.
Having split with both teams the last time the Griz faced them, head coach Don Holst wanted to make this a win-win weekend for Montana.
Maybe it was because his jump hook is so hard to defend, maybe it was because PSU posts were keying too much on his teammate Dan Trammel, maybe it was his night to shine. For whatever reason, Griz veteran Travis Greenwalt had the game of his life Friday.
Scoring a career-high 23 points and snagging 8 boards, Greenwalt proved to be a force in the paint. Using both his left and right hands, the Grizzly center hooked over PSU defenders in the key and connected from around the perimeter hitting multiple 15-foot jumpers.
Greenwalt used the adjustments Portland State coaches had to make after the last meeting between the schools to his advantage.
The last time the Griz faced Portland State, the team broke a record for the number of three-pointers in a game with 16. After that shooting display, PSU head coach Joel Sobotka said they reorganized their defense in order to stick more outside pressure on gunners like David Bell and Brent Cummings.
Greenwalt, a poor free-throw shooter this season, shooting just 50 percent, had a great night from the charity stripe, hitting 7-9 as PSU big men continually put him on the line.
Although Greenwalt's 23-point contribution helped UM win, it was the Grizzly defense that set the tone.
"We wanted to focus on being a lot more aggressive on D'," said Holst. "We can score, that's no problem, but I don't want to have to score a hundred to win."
The Griz allowed PSU to score forty points in the first half, but limited the Vikings to only 26 in the second.
"I came in at halftime and the guys were talking about how we needed to step it up on defense," said Holst. "They all agreed and we just went back out after the half and stuck it to 'em".
Third-place Eastern Washington strolled into Missoula Saturday after upending conference front-runner Montana State Friday. Both teams were looking to continue momentum after wins on Friday night.
In a game that was close throughout, the Eagles only mustered as much as a seven-point lead, and the Griz led by six at one point.Shortly before halftime EWU hit two technical free-throws, giving them a one-point advantage with 30 seconds to go. But on the last UM possession of the half, Montana's Brent Cummings hit a baseline jumper after nearly fumbling the pass out-of-bounds to give the Griz a one-point edge heading into the locker room..
Grizzly shooting-guard Bell started the game shooting cold from behind the arc, hitting only one for seven, but he would be there to bail the Griz out in the last moments of the game.
With the Griz down three with 29 seconds to go, Holst called his last time out and drew up a plan for Bell.
Holst said he thought about using Bell as a decoy, and letting Cummings attempt the last shot, but they'd run the situation in practice Bell is specifically seasoned to make those types of clutch shots.
"We ran him off the stagger-- I didn't even need to draw the play up because David knew what he had to do, and he knocked it down and delivered it," said Holst.
Tied at 78 with time ticking away and the shot clock running uniform to the game clock, EWU had the upper hand. Even if a last-ditch play didn't work, the game would still go into overtime.
EWU threw two sharp passes along the perimeter and when Cummings jumped out to help stop EWU guard Daren Cooper from driving in the key, Cooper dished a pass to teammate Chris Hester for an easy up-and-in with 1.8 seconds remaining on the clock.
A full-court shot attempt by Sam Riddle was all the Griz had time for as the barn-burner had ended with them on the losing side of a 80-78 defeat.
"We lost and it was a tough one, but what I really like is that our guys stepped it up and came back from behind," Holst said. "I was proud of them for climbing that mountain and with that momentum on our side I'm not so sure that we don't win if it goes to OT."
Free throws made a big difference in the loss as the Eagles shot 22-24 from the line total, nine for nine in the second half. Montana also shot a decent 21-29 from the line, including clutch free throws made by Cummings and Bell.
Currently at 5-5 in the Big Sky Conference and 11-12 overall, Holst said he is really looking for a win this weekend when the Griz take to the road to play Idaho State.
"We need to get this bad taste out of our mouths, get on the road to Idaho State and get this one back," Holst said. "We need to get that road win and then finish our season strong at home."
The Grizzlies play their final three games at home including a regular season-ending rematch against Montana State.
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