Sunday, December 3
Missoula, Mont.
7PM
Montana
5-3
86
vs
68
Cal State Northridge
1-6
1
2
F
CSUN
36
32
68
Montana
41
45
86
Photo by: Todd Goodrich
Pridgett records double-double in victory over CSUN
12/3/2017 10:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MISSOULA, Mont. – Montana played its most complete game of the season on Sunday night, defeating CSUN, 86-68, at Dahlberg Arena. Four players scored in double figures and the Grizzlies shot above 50 percent for the second time in three games, as Montana stayed unbeaten at home this season (3-0).
The Grizzlies led by as many as 22 and held a comfortable lead for most of the second half.
"I thought tonight was a really good win," head coach Travis DeCuire said. "We played together and aggressively, on both sides of the ball."
There was plenty to be excited about, especially considering Montana was coming off of a game at Stanford in which it shot just 29 percent. The Grizzlies bounced back by shooting 51.7 percent, tying a season high for points and posting its largest margin of victory on the young season.
Sophomore Sayeed Pridgett recorded his first career double-double with 20 points and a personal-best 12 rebounds, in addition to four assists, two blocked shots and a steal. He shot 8-of-14 from the floor. During a two-minute stretch early in the game – from the 15:38 through 13:37 mark – Pridgett had three baskets, a steal, an assist, a block and an offensive rebound.
After CSUN went on a 10-0 run to regain the lead, Montana answered with an 11-2 run, which included six points by Pridgett in addition to Niko Bevens' first basket as a Grizzly. Montana would lead for the remainder of the contest, including by double digits for the final 10:53.
"I moved him back to the 4, where he played most of his minutes last year, and put him in some slashing situations and let him do what he does – get to the rim, get to the paint, make some good decisions," DeCuire said about Pridgett. "He had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio and his 12 rebounds were huge. We just played him a little bit more where he's naturally comfortable and let him do what he does."
Junior Ahmaad Rorie was coming off of a game in which he scored just four points on 1-of-12 shooting. It was the second-lowest scoring output of his Grizzly career. DeCuire said the two had a talk this week about his shot selection and role on the team, and it flipped a switch.
"We had a little conversation, mostly to relieve him of stress," DeCuire said. "He's had a lot on his shoulders and sometimes that gets in the back of your mind. I told him to just be yourself and play, and look what he did."
The junior scored a season-most 27 points – two shy of his career high – on 9-of-16 shooting, including 3-of-4 from long range. Rorie has now scored 20 or more points four times on the year, including three times in Montana's last four games.
Michael Oguine had just three points through the first 30 minutes, but finished with 13 thanks to a series of plays late in the game in which he had three impressive dunks within several possessions. He has now scored in double figures in all eight games this season, also adding seven rebounds and two steals on Sunday. Jamar Akoh was the other Grizzly in double figures, totaling 11 points, four assists and three of Montana's six blocked shots.
CSUN shot 48 percent on the night, but also was forced into 16 turnovers – which Montana turned into 17 points. The Matadors entered the contest ranked eighth in the country, turning the ball over just 10.2 times per game. Montana also limited CSUN to 39-percent shooting in the second half after the Matadors shot 62 percent in the opening frame.
"We did a better job of getting ahead of them and not letting them get to the rim," DeCuire said. "We scrapped a lot more in the second half and played together as a team."
The Grizzlies were also effective from the free-throw line. Montana made a season-most 20 free throws and shot a season-best 80 percent. Pridgett and Bobby Moorehead were 4-for-4 apiece, while Rorie was 6-of-7.
Coming off of their best all-around performance of the season, Montana will enter another road trip with some confidence. The Grizzlies travel to face a 7-1 UCLA squad on Wednesday before flying across the country to take on Georgia State on Saturday.
"We're in a good spot right now," DeCuire said. "We let some games get away, but those are growing pains. We're excited about where our team is headed."
(12/3/2017) MBB vs. CSUN
The Grizzlies led by as many as 22 and held a comfortable lead for most of the second half.
"I thought tonight was a really good win," head coach Travis DeCuire said. "We played together and aggressively, on both sides of the ball."
There was plenty to be excited about, especially considering Montana was coming off of a game at Stanford in which it shot just 29 percent. The Grizzlies bounced back by shooting 51.7 percent, tying a season high for points and posting its largest margin of victory on the young season.
Sophomore Sayeed Pridgett recorded his first career double-double with 20 points and a personal-best 12 rebounds, in addition to four assists, two blocked shots and a steal. He shot 8-of-14 from the floor. During a two-minute stretch early in the game – from the 15:38 through 13:37 mark – Pridgett had three baskets, a steal, an assist, a block and an offensive rebound.
After CSUN went on a 10-0 run to regain the lead, Montana answered with an 11-2 run, which included six points by Pridgett in addition to Niko Bevens' first basket as a Grizzly. Montana would lead for the remainder of the contest, including by double digits for the final 10:53.
"I moved him back to the 4, where he played most of his minutes last year, and put him in some slashing situations and let him do what he does – get to the rim, get to the paint, make some good decisions," DeCuire said about Pridgett. "He had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio and his 12 rebounds were huge. We just played him a little bit more where he's naturally comfortable and let him do what he does."
Have yourself a first half, @SP4THABOY!
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) December 4, 2017
16 points, 6 boards, 3 assists, 1 block and 1 steal. pic.twitter.com/0REyNmHfFd
Junior Ahmaad Rorie was coming off of a game in which he scored just four points on 1-of-12 shooting. It was the second-lowest scoring output of his Grizzly career. DeCuire said the two had a talk this week about his shot selection and role on the team, and it flipped a switch.
"We had a little conversation, mostly to relieve him of stress," DeCuire said. "He's had a lot on his shoulders and sometimes that gets in the back of your mind. I told him to just be yourself and play, and look what he did."
The junior scored a season-most 27 points – two shy of his career high – on 9-of-16 shooting, including 3-of-4 from long range. Rorie has now scored 20 or more points four times on the year, including three times in Montana's last four games.
.@ARozayy14 is heating up! ???? pic.twitter.com/lzUjuGPSlU
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) December 4, 2017
Michael Oguine had just three points through the first 30 minutes, but finished with 13 thanks to a series of plays late in the game in which he had three impressive dunks within several possessions. He has now scored in double figures in all eight games this season, also adding seven rebounds and two steals on Sunday. Jamar Akoh was the other Grizzly in double figures, totaling 11 points, four assists and three of Montana's six blocked shots.
My goodness, @youngmike_1! Bringing the crowd to its feet with back-to-back dunks! pic.twitter.com/0jNf2QGIxs
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) December 4, 2017
CSUN shot 48 percent on the night, but also was forced into 16 turnovers – which Montana turned into 17 points. The Matadors entered the contest ranked eighth in the country, turning the ball over just 10.2 times per game. Montana also limited CSUN to 39-percent shooting in the second half after the Matadors shot 62 percent in the opening frame.
"We did a better job of getting ahead of them and not letting them get to the rim," DeCuire said. "We scrapped a lot more in the second half and played together as a team."
The Grizzlies were also effective from the free-throw line. Montana made a season-most 20 free throws and shot a season-best 80 percent. Pridgett and Bobby Moorehead were 4-for-4 apiece, while Rorie was 6-of-7.
Coming off of their best all-around performance of the season, Montana will enter another road trip with some confidence. The Grizzlies travel to face a 7-1 UCLA squad on Wednesday before flying across the country to take on Georgia State on Saturday.
"We're in a good spot right now," DeCuire said. "We let some games get away, but those are growing pains. We're excited about where our team is headed."
Team Stats
CSUN
UM
FG%
.481
.517
3FG%
.333
.333
FT%
.609
.800
RB
27
36
TO
16
12
STL
4
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
27
FGM
9
3FGM
3
FTM
6
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
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