Griz top NAU, stretch winning streak to seven
2/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The University of Montana Grizzlies had four players in double figures, led by junior guard Anthony Johnson???s 24 points, and defeated the host Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 73-54 in a Big Sky Conference game Saturday evening in NAU???s Walkup Skydome.
It is Montana???s (10-3 Big Sky/16-9 overall) seventh win in a row, while NAU (4-9/7-17) has lost five of its last seven. The victory kept the Grizzlies in second place with a 10-3 league record, while Weber State remains in first place at 10-1, although the Wildcats host Portland State later tonight. There were six lead changes and four ties in the contest, but most of those came in the first half. The third tie was 24-all, but when senior forward Kyle Sharp scored on a lay-up with 3:03 to go until halftime the Griz took a 26-24 advantage. UM led 28-24 at intermission and is now 14-0 when leading at the half. The fourth and final tie of the game came with 19:00 left, when sophomore forward Shane Johannsen scored on a three-point play to make it 29-29. But, after that the Grizzlies out-scored the Lumberjacks 9-0 and when UM sophomore center Brian Qvale scored on a lay-up Montana took a 38-29 lead with 16:34 to go. Montana opened up a double-digit lead for good on a three-pointer by Johnson, giving UM a 48-37 advantage with 10:103 remaining. The Grizzlies led by 10 or more point the rest of the way. Johnson scored 16 of his 24 points in the second half. Also in double figures for the Griz were Hasquet and junior guard Ryan Staudacher with 12 points each, while sophomore guard Michael Taylor added 10 points. Hasquet had a game-high 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season and the 16th of his career. Sharp added 8 rebounds and Staudacher tied his career-high with 6 assists. Johannsen led the Jacks with 17 points, while senior forward Zarko Comagic had 14 points and a team-high 7 rebounds. Montana played solid defense, holding NAU to 33.3% (17-of-51) shooting from the field and from three-point range 6-of-18 (33.3%) . The Grizzlies shot an even 50% from the field (24-of-48) and from three-point range (12-of-24). The Griz had a 32-31 rebounding edge. UM had a season-best 20 assists and just 6 turnovers. Montana hosts first-place WSU next Thursday, Feb. 19, and Idaho State on Saturday, Feb. 21, on ""Senior Day." NAU hosts Sac State next Saturday.
