Griz host Pilots Friday, at UCLA Sunday

THE GAMES: The University of Montana Grizzlies (3-2) host the University of Portland Pilots (6-2) on Friday, Dec. 3, at 7:05 p.m. in UM???s 7,321-seat Dahlberg Arena (press row phone: 406-243-4281).

UP NEXT: The Griz play the UCLA Bruins in Pauley Pavilion on Sunday, Dec. 5th.

GRIZ LAST TWO GAMES:
At Montana 75, Cal Fullerton 67: Sophomore guard Will Cherry scored 24 points to lead the Griz to the come-from-behind win, including 18 in the second half. UM took the lead (46-45) on a free throw by Cherry with 9:24 left. The Titans (2-5) led by as many as eight points (31-23) early in the second half. Junior forward Derek Selvig had 16 points and 7 assists for the Griz, while senior center Brian Qvale added 14 points and 6 blocked shots. Cherry also had 7 steals and 5 assists. ???True??? freshman forward Kareem Jamar led the Griz with nine rebounds.

At Montana 75, Idaho 33: The Griz were led by Cherry???s career-high 24 points, while Qvale added 21. The Griz started the game with a 32-4 run and led 47-12 at halftime. UM???s defense held UI to 12% shooting (6-of-50). Jamar grabbed a game-high 9 rebounds.

QVALE MOVES UP CAREER BLOCKS LIST: With his six blocks against the Titans, Qvale moves him past Larry McBride (162) to second all-time in Montana history and fifth in Big Sky Conference history with 167 career blocks. Qvale needs 46 more rejections to pass Daren Engellant who holds the Montana and Big Sky Conference records with 212.

GRIZ RETURNEES: 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 Cherry, the team???s fourth-leading (8.3 ppg) scorer, who also had a team-high 61 steals last season. Also back is Selvig (5.1 rpg), as well as junior guard Shawn Stockton and sophomore forward Mathias Ward. Freshman forward Eric Hutchison redshirted last season.

YOUNGSTERS: The Griz have eight players new to the D-1 ranks, including five freshmen and three junior college transfers.

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.

NCAA FIRST-ROUND LOSS: Montana made its eighth trip to the NCAA Tournament last season, losing 62-57 in a first-round game against New Mexico, in San Jose, Calif.

ALWAYS IN IT: In UM???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.

MONTANA TENT. STARTERS (3-2) PPG RPG MISC.
F-32-Kareem Jamar, 6-5, 210, Fr., HS 7.6 6.4 2nd in rebounding
F-24-Derek Selvig, 7-0, Jr., 2V 10.2 5.0 11 pts. in 2nd half vs. Ful.
C-41-Brian Qvale, 6-11, 260, Sr., 3V 15.6 7.6 15 blocks this season
G-5-Will Cherry, 6-1, 177, So., 1V 17.2 4.0 3.8 steals per game
G-12-Jordan Wood, G, 6-3, 200, Jr., JC 4.0 2.8 1 pt. vs. Fullerton
6-01-Art Steward6-4, 210, Jr., JC 7.2 4.0 11/6 vs. Titans
6-40-Mathias Ward, 6-7, 236, So., 1V 4.4 2.2 75.0 FT%
Head Coach: Wayne Tinkle (73-55, 5th season)

PORTLAND TENT. STARTERS (6-2) PPG RPG MISC.
F-43-Like Sikma, 6-8, 235, Sr., 3V 12.0 12.0 10 steals
C-45-Kramer Knutson, 6-9, 220, Sr., 3V 7.1 4.5 52.6 FG%
G-01-Eric Waterford, 6-1, 180, Jr., 2V 8.4 2.1 3.4 apg
G-20-Eric Stohl, 6-2, 165, Sr., 3V 16.0 1.4 51.7% 3-pters.
G-33-Nemanja Mitrovic, 6-5, 200, Jr., 2V 10.5 3.1 44.4% 3-pters.
6-03-Tanner Riley, 6-3, 195, Fr., HS 4.5 2.0 True frosh
Head Coach: Eric Reveno (64-71, 5th year)

University of Montana Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Will Cherry

Eric Hutchison

Kareem Jamar

Brian Qvale

Derek Selvig

Art Steward

Shawn Stockton

Mathias Ward

Jordan Wood

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