Griz come back to blow out Jacks
1/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
University of Montana guards Anthony Johnson and Will Cherry combined for 47 points as the Grizzlies defeated the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 84-64 in a pivotal Big Sky Conference game Saturday evening in NAU???s Walkup Skydome.
The victory improves Montana record to 6-4 in the Big Sky, while NAU, which had won four games in a row, goes to 5-5 and 11-10.
The score was tied 13 times, with the final deadlock coming with 12:31 remaining on a jump shot by Johnson, making it 45-45.
But after Johnson???s game-tying jumper, the Grizzlies went on a tear, out-scoring the Lumberjacks 19 to 3 over the next seven minutes. When Johnson scored on a lay-up with 5:37 left to play Montana took a 16-point, 64-48 lead, and maintained a double-digit advantage the rest of the game.
It was a close first half, featuring seven ties and three lead changes, and the Jacks led 30-29 at intermission.
But the second half was all Grizzlies, as they made 19vof their 25 shots (76.0%), hit 2-of-4 three-pointers, and were 15-of-17 (88.2%) from the line ??? outscoring the Lumberjacks 55-34 in the final 20 minutes.
Johnson scored a season-high 28 points, making 9-of-14 field goal attempts and was a perfect 9-of-9 from the line. Cherry scored a career-high 19 points, going 7-of-10 from the field and 5-of-6 from the charity stripe.
Johnson made 8-of-9 shots and all nine of his free throws in the second stanza and scored 25 points; while Cherry was 5-of-6 from the floor and made 5-of-6 free throws en route to his 15 points in the second half; the backcourt duo combining for 40 of UM???s 55 second-half points.
UM forward Jack McGillis added 9 points and 5 rebounds, while center Brian Qvale and guard Ryan Staudacher had 7 points each. Cherry added a game and career-high 7 rebounds.
NAU was led by guard Cameron Jones with 22 points, while forward DeAngelo Jones scored 14 points off the bench, and forward Nick Larson added 13.
For the game, Montana made 31-of-55 shots for a season-high 59.6%, while its 84 points was its fourth highest total of the season. Overall, UM made 4-of-8 treys and shot 85.7% (18-of-21) from the line. The Griz out-rebounded the Jacks 30-25.
NAU was 24-of-55 (43.5) from the floor, made 5-of-19 (26.3%) treys and 11-of-16 (68.8%) free throws.
Montana hosts league-leading Weber State (8-1/14-7) and Idaho State (3-6/6-15) next Friday and Saturday, Feb. 5th and 6th, with tip-off for both games at 7:05 p.m. in UM Dahlberg Arena. NAU is at Northern Colorado on Sunday, Feb. 7th for a game on Altitude TV.
