Griz win close Big Sky contest at Sac State
1/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Freshman guard Will Cherry scored on a lay-up with 18 seconds remaining in the game, and The University of Montana Grizzlies hung on for a 57-56 Big Sky Conference victory over the host Sacramento State Hornets in the Hornets Nest Friday evening.
It was a close game throughout, featuring 15 lead changes and six ties.
The Hornets (7-11 overall/1-4 Big Sky) took a 52-51 lead with 4:39 remaining on a three-point shot by senior guard Antonio Flaggs.
Sac State maintained its lead for the next few minutes, but when Grizzly freshman forward Mathias Ward scored on a lay-up he cut the Hornets??? lead to a point (56-55) with 1:11 left to play.
Flaggs then missed a three-pointer on Sac???s next possession, but senior center Justin Eller got the offensive rebound to give the Hornets a chance to regain the lead. But then came Cherry???s late-game heroics, as he stole the ball away from Sac senior guard Mike Marcial and scored his game-winning basket and what proved to be the final points of the tense contest.
Cherry had another steal with 10 seconds to go and he had a chance to give UM a three-point lead, but he missed a pair of free throws, giving the Hornets new life and a chance to pull out the win.
But on its final possession Marcial missed a jumper with three seconds to go and his missed shot caromed out of bounds, giving Montana (13-6/4-3) possession of the ball with 0.4 seconds remaining, and the Grizzlies had their first league road win of the season.
Senior guard Anthony Johnson was Montana???s only double-figure scorer with 18 points, with 12 of those coming in the second half. Johnson was 7-of-10 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
Cherry added 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals. Ward tied his career-high with 8 points. Senior forward Jack McGillis, junior center Brian Qvale, and sophomore forward Derek Selvig led UM with 5 rebounds each, although Qvale was held to just one point.
Eller led the Hornets with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
The Grizzlies made 21-of-50 (42.0%) field goal shots, 5-of-19 (26.3%) three-pointers, and went 10-of-17 (58.8%) from the line.
The Hornets were 21-of-58 (36.2%) from the floor, made 3-of-12 (25.0%) treys, and 11-of-14 (78.6%) free throws. Sac State had a 37-34 edge in rebounds. The Hornets led 30-29 at halftime.
Montana???s next game is Saturday, Jan. 23rd at Montana State.
