Griz look to get past Utes in Salt Lake City

THE GAME: The University of Montana Grizzlies (0-1) play another tough road game, on Wednesday, Nov. 17, facing the University of Utah Utes (1-0) in 15,000-seat Hunstman Center (press row phone: 801-581-6677).

LAST GAME: At Nevada 81, Montana 66: The Wolf Pack overcame a 34-32 halftime deficit to get the win in the season opener for both teams. UM senior center Brian Qvale scored a game high 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds. No other Grizzly was in double figures for points. Junior forward Derek Selvig had a game-high 11 rebounds.

GRIZ RETURN ONE SENIOR/TWO STARTERS: Montana???s only senior is Qvale, UM???s top rebounder (7.1 rpg) and second leading scorer (10.2 ppg) last season. The other returning starter is 6-1 guard Will Cherry, the team???s fourth-leading (8.3 ppg) scorer a year ago.

ALSO BACK: Also back is Selvig, UM???s second leading rebounder (5.1 rpg). The only other lettermen back are guard Shawn Stockton and 6-7 forward Mathias Ward.

YOUNG TEAM: The Griz have eight players new to the D-1 ranks, including five freshmen and three junior college transfers. From the JC ranks UM added guard Chase Adams (Bakersfield College), forward Art Steward (Casper College), and guard Jordan Wood (Snow College). UM???s five players from the prep ranks are guard Vaughn Autry (Serra HS in Los Angeles), forward Kareem Jamar (Westchester HS), forward Billy Reader (Lake Oswego HS, Oregon), and 6-7 forward Mike Weisner (Walla Walla HS, Wash.). Forward Eric Hutchison redshirted last year and is also a freshman.

GRIZ LAST SEASON: Montana (22-8) secured its eighth NCAA Tournament berth in school history with a dramatic 66-65 come-from-behind (UM trailed 40-20 at halftime) win over host Weber State in the Big Sky???s postseason tournament title game. Senior guard Anthony Johnson scored a school-record 42 points in the win -- 34 of them coming in the second half. UM lost to New Mexico, 62-57, in a first round NCAA Tournament game in San Jose, Calif.

ALWAYS IN IT: In Montana???s 10 losses last season, three were by two points or less, and eight were by single digits. UM???s only double-digit loss was 11 points, 59-48, to Northern Colorado at home on Dec. 5th. Montana won 12 of its last 16 games.

MONTANA GRIZZLY TENT. STARTERS *PPG *RPG MISC.
F-1-Art Steward, 6-4, 210, Jr., JC 8.0 2.0 Started Ex. game
OR
F-32-Kareem Jamar, 6-5, 210, Fr., HS 7.0 3.0 Started Nevada game
F-24-Derek Selvig, 7-0, Jr., 2V 5.0 11.0 6 TOs at Nevada
G-5-Will Cherry, 6-1, 177, So., 1V 8.0 2.0 61 steals last yr.
G-12-Jordan Wood, G, 6-3, 200, Jr., JC 9.0 4.0 3x7 in 3???s in Ex.
C-41-Brian Qvale, C, 6-11, 260, Sr., 3V 20.0 8.0 153 career blocks
6-22-Shawn Stockton, G, 6-1, 195, Jr., 2V 6.0 3.0 4 assists at Nevada
Head Coach: Wayne Tinkle
*Stats from Nov. 13 game at Nevada

UTAH UTES TENT. STARTERS *PPG *RPG
F-21-Will Clyburn, 6-7, 200, Jr., JC 14.0 8.0
C-42-Jason Washburn, 7-0, 230, So., 1V 12.0 5.0
G-15-Josh Watkins, 6-0, 200, Jr., TR 11.0 2.0 (6.0 assists)
G-20-J.J. O???Brien, 6-7, 215, Fr., HS 6.0 8.0
G-32-Shawn Glover, 6-7, 195, So., 1V 9.0 8.0
Head Coach: Jim Boylen (Maine, 1987), 4th season
*Stats from Nov. 12. game vs. Grand Canyon

GRIZ TRAVEL PLANS: The team will depart for Salt Lake on Tuesday, Nov. 16. Lodging is at the Salt Lake City Marriott (801-581-1000). The team returns home on Thursday, Nov. 18, with ETA in Missoula at 11:18 a.m.

University of Montana Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Chase Adams

Vaughn Autry

Will Cherry

Eric Hutchison

Kareem Jamar

Brian Qvale

Billy Reader

Derek Selvig

Art Steward

Shawn Stockton

Mathias Ward

Jordan Wood

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