Grizzlies sweep LMU, win 79-61 in home slate
12/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Senior guard Kevin Criswell and sophomore forward Andrew Strait scored 17 points each, and The University of Montana Grizzlies had five players score in double figures, as the host Griz defeated the Loyola Marymount University Lions 79-61 Tuesday evening in front of 3,260 fans in UM??s Dahlberg Arena.
This is the second time this season Montana has defeated Loyola Marymount, as the Griz beat them 81-75 on November 21 in Los Angeles. UM was led by Criswell and Strait in that earlier encounter, as they scored 24 and 19 points, respectively.
It was a back-and-forth first half, as the teams changed leads four times and were tied on a couple of occasions. The Lions (2-5) took their first lead at 18-16 with 10:16 to go until halftime on three-pointer by sophomore guard Jon Ziri.
The Grizzlies (5-1) regained the lead (19-18) briefly on a three-pointer by junior forward Matt Dlouhy. LMU got the lead back when junior guard John Montgomery hit a three-pointer with 6:46 left until intermission, making the score 23-20 Lions.
Criswell made a three-pointer in the final seconds of the opening half to put Montana on top 28-25 and the Grizzlies never trailed in the game again. UM led 28-27 at halftime.
The Grizzlies, who have now won five games in a row, out-scored the Lions 20-10 in the first nine minutes of the second half, and took a 50-37 advantage with 11:48 remaining on a three-point shot by sophomore guard Matt Martin.
The Lions of the West Coast Conference cut the Montana lead to seven when junior forward Matthew Knight made two free throws, making the score 52-45 with 8:55 to go. However, Criswell nailed another three-pointer on UM??s next possession, making it 55-45 Montana, and the Griz led by double figures the rest of the way.
Also in double-digits for the Grizzlies were Dlouhy (13 points), while Martin and senior guard Virgil Matthews each tallied 10 points.
Matthews led UM and tied his career-high with 9 rebounds, while Strait had 8, and Dlouhy hauled down 7.
Criswell??s 17 points gives him 1,246 career points as he passes Lou Rocheleau (1,235 points from 1945-49) to move up to eighth on Montana??s career list. He needs 44 points to become UM??s seventh leading career scorer and go by forward Derrick Pope, who scored 1,289 points from 1979-83.
The Lions were led by Knight who had game-highs of 22 points and 11 rebounds. He was
Loyola Marymount??s only double-figure scorer. Ziri and junior guard Brandon Worthy scored 9 points each.
Montana, who entered the game shooting 54% from the floor, struggled offensively in the first half, making just 10-of-29 field goal attempts (34.5%). The Griz improved their shooting in the second half, though, converting on 19-of-37 shots for 51.5%, compared to LMU??s 12-of-33 (36.4%) second-half shooting.
For the game Montana made 29-of-66 (43.5) shots, 7-of-22 (31.8%) three-pointers, and 14-of-17 (82.4% free throws.
Loyola Marymount was 24-of-61 (39.3%) from the floor, made just 3-of-19 (15.8%)
treys, and were 10-of-16 (62.5%) from the charity stripe.
The Griz out-rebounded the Lions 44 to 35. UM had two less (19 to 17) turnovers than LMU.
Montana will be in Des Moines, Iowa this weekend, December 9-10, participating in the Drake Regency Classic, and have a first-round match-up against Mississippi State Valley. The other first-round game is host Drake against North Dakota State.
The Lions host USC on Saturday, December 10.
This is the second time this season Montana has defeated Loyola Marymount, as the Griz beat them 81-75 on November 21 in Los Angeles. UM was led by Criswell and Strait in that earlier encounter, as they scored 24 and 19 points, respectively.
It was a back-and-forth first half, as the teams changed leads four times and were tied on a couple of occasions. The Lions (2-5) took their first lead at 18-16 with 10:16 to go until halftime on three-pointer by sophomore guard Jon Ziri.
The Grizzlies (5-1) regained the lead (19-18) briefly on a three-pointer by junior forward Matt Dlouhy. LMU got the lead back when junior guard John Montgomery hit a three-pointer with 6:46 left until intermission, making the score 23-20 Lions.
Criswell made a three-pointer in the final seconds of the opening half to put Montana on top 28-25 and the Grizzlies never trailed in the game again. UM led 28-27 at halftime.
The Grizzlies, who have now won five games in a row, out-scored the Lions 20-10 in the first nine minutes of the second half, and took a 50-37 advantage with 11:48 remaining on a three-point shot by sophomore guard Matt Martin.
The Lions of the West Coast Conference cut the Montana lead to seven when junior forward Matthew Knight made two free throws, making the score 52-45 with 8:55 to go. However, Criswell nailed another three-pointer on UM??s next possession, making it 55-45 Montana, and the Griz led by double figures the rest of the way.
Also in double-digits for the Grizzlies were Dlouhy (13 points), while Martin and senior guard Virgil Matthews each tallied 10 points.
Matthews led UM and tied his career-high with 9 rebounds, while Strait had 8, and Dlouhy hauled down 7.
Criswell??s 17 points gives him 1,246 career points as he passes Lou Rocheleau (1,235 points from 1945-49) to move up to eighth on Montana??s career list. He needs 44 points to become UM??s seventh leading career scorer and go by forward Derrick Pope, who scored 1,289 points from 1979-83.
The Lions were led by Knight who had game-highs of 22 points and 11 rebounds. He was
Loyola Marymount??s only double-figure scorer. Ziri and junior guard Brandon Worthy scored 9 points each.
Montana, who entered the game shooting 54% from the floor, struggled offensively in the first half, making just 10-of-29 field goal attempts (34.5%). The Griz improved their shooting in the second half, though, converting on 19-of-37 shots for 51.5%, compared to LMU??s 12-of-33 (36.4%) second-half shooting.
For the game Montana made 29-of-66 (43.5) shots, 7-of-22 (31.8%) three-pointers, and 14-of-17 (82.4% free throws.
Loyola Marymount was 24-of-61 (39.3%) from the floor, made just 3-of-19 (15.8%)
treys, and were 10-of-16 (62.5%) from the charity stripe.
The Griz out-rebounded the Lions 44 to 35. UM had two less (19 to 17) turnovers than LMU.
Montana will be in Des Moines, Iowa this weekend, December 9-10, participating in the Drake Regency Classic, and have a first-round match-up against Mississippi State Valley. The other first-round game is host Drake against North Dakota State.
The Lions host USC on Saturday, December 10.
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