Montana leaves no doubt, advances to 8th title game in past 10 seasons

Friday, March 15

Boise, Idaho

5:30 PM

Montana

25-8

Weber State

18-15

Weber State

Montana

Photo by: David Staggs

Montana leaves no doubt, advances to 8th title game in past 10 seasons

3/15/2019 9:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery Press Conference

By: Montana Sports Information

BOISE, Idaho – Montana put together one of its most complete performances of the season Friday night, dominating Weber State, 78-49, to advance to the Big Sky Conference championship game for the eighth time in the past 10 seasons. The Grizzlies' 29-point margin of victory was their largest ever in a Big Sky tournament game.

Like they did Thursday vs. Sacramento State, the Grizzlies jumped out to an early lead, using an 8-0 run to take a 10-2 lead less than 3 minutes into the game. Montana was just getting started. The home team made its first five shot attempts, took a 15-point lead just over 7 minutes into the game and doubled up the Wildcats late in the first half.

Montana led by at least 20 points against Weber State in both meetings during the regular season, but both times, the Wildcats came storming back, getting within four points in both games. Montana left no doubt on Friday, however, pushing the lead to as many as 37 points, and leading by double figures for the final 35 minutes of the contest.

Ahmaad Rorie, who moved up to No. 6 on Montana's career scoring list, had a career night, tallying a season-best 28 points, in addition to seven rebounds and six assists compared to just one turnover. The senior made his first seven shot attempts and had 18 points by the intermission.

Equally impressive, though, was Rorie's defense. Squaring off against first-team All-Big Sky player Jerrick Harding, Rorie limited the junior to six points on eight shot attempts – both season lows. The junior entered the night averaging 21.9 points per game (21^st nationally). While Rorie was covering Harding, senior Bobby Moorehead was posting up against big man Zach Braxton, who made just two shots. Moorehead, meanwhile, had 13 points and 10 rebounds – his second double-double of the season.

Montana held Weber State – the nation's 31^st-best scoring offense – to a season-low 49 points. The Wildcats rank in the top 60 in the country for field-goal percentage, three-point shooting and free-throw efficiency, but were limited to a season-worst .315 shooting overall, including .238 from beyond the arc. The 49 points scored were more than 31 points below their season average.

Game Notables

The win was Montana's largest margin of victory ever in the Big Sky tournament, surpassing its 25-point win over Weber State in the 1997 semifinals. Three of Montana's top-five tournament victories have come against the Wildcats.
The win is Montana's 51^st in the past two seasons, the best two-year stretch in school history. The 1991 and 1992 teams won 50 combined games, as did the 2012 and 2013 teams.
Montana advanced to the championship game for the eighth time in the past 10 seasons.
Montana has won eight consecutive semifinal appearances. The last time the Grizzlies lost a semifinal game was in 2007.
The Grizzlies have won eight of the past 10 meetings vs. the Wildcats in the Big Sky tournament; the two teams played in the tourney for the seventh time in the past decade on Friday.
Montana never trailed in the contest, leading by double digits for the final 35 minutes and by at least 20 points for the final 14 minutes. In three games vs. Weber State this season, the Grizzlies trailed for 32 seconds across 120 minutes. They led by at least 20 points in all three games vs. the Wildcats.
Montana held Weber State to a season-low 49 points, more than 31 points below the Wildcats' season average. Weber State entered the night ranked 31^st in the NCAA with 80.2 points per game.
The Wildcats also ranked in the top 60 nationally for field-goal percentage, three-point shooting and free-throw efficiency. They were limited to a season-low .315 shooting, including .238 from beyond the arc.
Weber State's 49 points and 17 made field goals were season lows by a Griz opponent. Its .315 shooting percentage was the lowest by a Division-I opponent.
Ahmaad Rorie made his first seven field-goal attempts on his way to a season-most 28 points. The senior had 18 points in the first half alone, moving into sixth place on Montana's all-time career scoring list. He also added seven rebounds and six assists compared to just one turnover.
In addition to his offense, Rorie locked down two-time All-Big Sky first-team selection Jerrick Harding, limiting the junior to six points and eight shot attempts – both season lows. Harding entered the night ranked 21^st nationally, averaging 21.9 points per game.
Bobby Moorehead recorded his second double-double of the season, posting 13 points and 10 rebounds. He had back-to-back treys during a 10-0 Griz run that gave Montana its largest lead of the game (37).
Moorehead played in his 132^nd career game, tying former teammate Fabijan Krslovic for a school record. Moorehead is expected to pass Krslovic on Saturday.
Montana made just five three-pointers in each of the two meetings vs. Weber State this season, before knocking down 10 on Friday. The Wildcats have the nation's 54^th-best three-point defense.

Gallery: (3/15/2019) MBB: vs. Weber State (3.15.19)

Weber State was held to 22 first-half points. The Wildcats average 37.7 points per game in the first half this season, but averaged just 24.0 in three games against the Griz, never scoring more than 26.
Montana posted a +11 advantage on the glass (42 to 31), including three players with at least seven rebounds. The Grizzlies also made 12 more field goals (29 to 17) and turned the ball over three fewer times (seven to 10).
Junior Sayeed Pridgett scored 14 points while collecting five rebounds.
Senior Michael Oguine had eight points and eight rebounds, in addition to three assists, but most impressive were his three steals. Over the past three games, Oguine has 10 swipes; he ranks third in school history for career steals.
Like Thursday, Montana jumped out to an early lead, using an 8-0 run to go up 10-2 less than 3 minutes into the contest. The Grizzlies led by 15 (22-7) just 7:25 into the game. Weber State started 3-for-11 shooting while the Grizzlies were 9-of-11 – making their first five attempts.
Weber State got within 10, 24-14, but Montana responded with a 7-0 run to more than double up the Wildcats. The run started with a steal and dunk from Timmy Falls and was capped with a Rorie trey, his third of the game at the time.
Weber State got within 13, 33-20, before Montana scored nine points in a row and held the Wildcats without a point for 4:04 late in the first half.
Montana opened the game up even more in the second half, using a 10-0 run over just 93 seconds to take its first 30-point lead. The Grizzlies held the Wildcats without a made field goal for more than 5 minutes, with the Wildcats shooting 0-for-8.
Montana never stopped, using a 10-0 run, including back-to-back treys from Moorehead. The Grizzlies held the Wildcats without a basket for another four-minute stretch to take a game-high 37-point lead.

Check out a few highlights from @MontanaGrizBB semifinal victory over @ @WeberStateMBB pic.twitter.com/T0MJojeeOj
— Big Sky MBB (@BigSkyMBB) March 16, 2019

Looking Ahead
Montana and Eastern Washington will meet in a rematch of last year's title game. Tipoff is slated for Saturday at 6 p.m. MT on ESPNU. Like Montana, Eastern Washington – the No. 3 seed – won comfortably in its semifinal game, beating Southern Utah, 77-61. Montana and Eastern Washington split its two games during the regular season, with both teams winning on their home courts.