Saturday, March 7
Missoula, Mont.
7 PM
Montana
18-13, 14-6BSC
80
vs
85
Southern Utah
16-15, 9-11BSC
1
2
OT 1
F
Southern Utah
34
37
14
85
Montana
41
30
9
80
Thunderbirds come from behind to beat Griz
3/7/2020 11:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MISSOULA, Mont. – A night that started out so promising ended so heartbreaking, with the Grizzlies falling in their regular-season finale, 85-80 in overtime, to Southern Utah.
Montana recognized its senior class prior to tip, and the celebration carried over to the game action, with the Grizzlies' three seniors scoring the team's first three baskets. Montana was hitting left and right, and forced a Thunderbirds timeout less than 4 minutes into the contest, with the Grizzlies on an 11-0 run and already holding an early double-digit lead.
Through the first 18 minutes, Montana had made 15 of 25 shot attempts (.600), never missing consecutive shots. The Grizzlies held a seven-point advantage at halftime, and shortly into the second half had built their lead back up to double digits.
Sayeed Pridgett was cruising up the school's all-time scoring list – he passed three players on the night, including former roommate Ahmaad Rorie, to move into fourth place – and was on early triple-double watch.
Then the Grizzlies went cold, missing nine of 10 shots and allowing the Thunderbirds to tie the game at 50-50 with 10:21 on the clock.
Coming out of a timeout, Montana got back-to-back big buckets from Kendal Manuel and Josh Vazquez – both draining 3-pointers – but Southern Utah wouldn't go away, tying the score at 56-56, 58-58 and 59-59, before taking a 62-60 lead on a Harrison Butler triple – the Thunderbirds' first lead since 2-0.
But then Montana went cold again. Southern Utah would score the game's next six points and Montana would go scoreless for 3 minutes until Pridgett buried a huge 3-pointer, giving the Grizzlies a 69-68 lead with 1:43 to play.
Unfortunately for Montana, though, it would be its last made field goal of regulation, with its final two points coming from a 2-for-4 effort from the free throw line. Southern Utah had the last shot of regulation, but missed both the runner and attempted tip-in to send the game into overtime.
Montana would score the first points of the extended period, a Pridgett layup, but the senior fouled out of the game on the other end, exiting the Dahlberg Arena court for the final time to a standing ovation, albeit not in the way he expected.
Gallery: (3/7/2020) MBB: vs. Southern Utah (03.07.20)
With Pridgett on the bench, Southern Utah scored 14 points in the final 3:11, making 7-of-8 free throws to take its largest lead of the night and ice the game.
Montana has now lost five consecutive overtime games over the past two seasons.
The loss doesn't affect the Grizzlies' seeding for next week's Big Sky tournament in Boise, but does mean the Grizzlies will be going in on a skid. Montana will play as the No. 3 seed, and will meet either No. 6 Northern Arizona or No. 11 Idaho State Thursday night at 8 p.m. in the quarterfinals.
Playing in his final game inside Dahlberg Arena, Pridgett was spectacular, scoring 27 points, in addition to eight assists and five rebounds. He has 16 points, six assists and five rebounds in the first half alone, once again flirting with a rare triple-double.
Montana's three seniors accounted for 73 percent of the team's scoring, with Manuel scoring 19 – including 14 after halftime – and Jared Samuelson scoring a dozen.
Another key factor was Southern Utah's 43 free throw attempts – including 32 makes. Montana shot a similar percentage from the line, but took 17 fewer attempts.
(on the game overall)
"It's a tough way to end the week. You feel bad for the seniors, because you want to see them go out with a W. Hats off to Southern Utah; they showed up, they made plays, they were ultra-aggressive at the rim and they shot 43 free throws in an opponent's gym."
(on the start to the game, and how the flow changed late in the first half)
"We had momentum, we were flowing, the ball was moving. Then it became a free-throw battle, and it was hard to have a flow. I'm not sure we were mature enough to grind that out."
(on the seniors)
"They got off to a good start, and I was excited about where they were mentally. You hate to see guys sitting on the sidelines for long stretches, especially in their last home game, but they seemed to have good spirits in the locker room."
(on Pridgett's final game in Missoula)
"He showed up. I thought he did a lot of good things for us. Obviously he scored the ball, but he distributed the ball and defended too. I thought the minutes he gave us exemplified who he is as a basketball player, and how competitive he is and how entertaining he is."
Looking Ahead
Montana will now hit the restart button and have a clean slate going into the Big Sky tournament in Boise. The Grizzlies have won the last two titles, and will look to become the first team since Weber State in 1978-80 to win three years in a row.
The No. 3 Grizzlies will play either No. 6 Northern Arizona or No. 11 Idaho State in the quarterfinals (Thursday at 8 p.m. MT).
Montana recognized its senior class prior to tip, and the celebration carried over to the game action, with the Grizzlies' three seniors scoring the team's first three baskets. Montana was hitting left and right, and forced a Thunderbirds timeout less than 4 minutes into the contest, with the Grizzlies on an 11-0 run and already holding an early double-digit lead.
Through the first 18 minutes, Montana had made 15 of 25 shot attempts (.600), never missing consecutive shots. The Grizzlies held a seven-point advantage at halftime, and shortly into the second half had built their lead back up to double digits.
Sayeed Pridgett was cruising up the school's all-time scoring list – he passed three players on the night, including former roommate Ahmaad Rorie, to move into fourth place – and was on early triple-double watch.
Then the Grizzlies went cold, missing nine of 10 shots and allowing the Thunderbirds to tie the game at 50-50 with 10:21 on the clock.
Coming out of a timeout, Montana got back-to-back big buckets from Kendal Manuel and Josh Vazquez – both draining 3-pointers – but Southern Utah wouldn't go away, tying the score at 56-56, 58-58 and 59-59, before taking a 62-60 lead on a Harrison Butler triple – the Thunderbirds' first lead since 2-0.
Montana responded with a Manuel layup on the other end to the tie game, and looked to swing the momentum when Southern Utah head coach Todd Simon was called for a technical foul. Manuel calming sank both free throws to put the Grizzlies back on top.Kendal coming through clutch when we need it most! pic.twitter.com/56MpC044c8
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) March 8, 2020
But then Montana went cold again. Southern Utah would score the game's next six points and Montana would go scoreless for 3 minutes until Pridgett buried a huge 3-pointer, giving the Grizzlies a 69-68 lead with 1:43 to play.
Unfortunately for Montana, though, it would be its last made field goal of regulation, with its final two points coming from a 2-for-4 effort from the free throw line. Southern Utah had the last shot of regulation, but missed both the runner and attempted tip-in to send the game into overtime.
Montana would score the first points of the extended period, a Pridgett layup, but the senior fouled out of the game on the other end, exiting the Dahlberg Arena court for the final time to a standing ovation, albeit not in the way he expected.
With Pridgett on the bench, Southern Utah scored 14 points in the final 3:11, making 7-of-8 free throws to take its largest lead of the night and ice the game.
Montana has now lost five consecutive overtime games over the past two seasons.
The loss doesn't affect the Grizzlies' seeding for next week's Big Sky tournament in Boise, but does mean the Grizzlies will be going in on a skid. Montana will play as the No. 3 seed, and will meet either No. 6 Northern Arizona or No. 11 Idaho State Thursday night at 8 p.m. in the quarterfinals.
Playing in his final game inside Dahlberg Arena, Pridgett was spectacular, scoring 27 points, in addition to eight assists and five rebounds. He has 16 points, six assists and five rebounds in the first half alone, once again flirting with a rare triple-double.
Montana's three seniors accounted for 73 percent of the team's scoring, with Manuel scoring 19 – including 14 after halftime – and Jared Samuelson scoring a dozen.
Montana forced 15 turnovers, but was out-rebounded by 10, and after shooting .533 in the first half, connected at just a .269 clip in the second, allowing the Thunderbirds to erase a lead that late in the first half was as many as 16 points. After shooting .321 in the first half, Southern Utah shot .536 after the break.What a start to Senior Night. Our trio of seniors score our first three baskets of the game. pic.twitter.com/XcHGgZD4LA
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) March 8, 2020
Another key factor was Southern Utah's 43 free throw attempts – including 32 makes. Montana shot a similar percentage from the line, but took 17 fewer attempts.
Quoting DeCuireNo matter which block he's on. No matter how you guard him. @SP4THABOY will find a way to score! pic.twitter.com/GfCM8mcnB6
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) March 8, 2020
(on the game overall)
"It's a tough way to end the week. You feel bad for the seniors, because you want to see them go out with a W. Hats off to Southern Utah; they showed up, they made plays, they were ultra-aggressive at the rim and they shot 43 free throws in an opponent's gym."
(on the start to the game, and how the flow changed late in the first half)
"We had momentum, we were flowing, the ball was moving. Then it became a free-throw battle, and it was hard to have a flow. I'm not sure we were mature enough to grind that out."
(on the seniors)
"They got off to a good start, and I was excited about where they were mentally. You hate to see guys sitting on the sidelines for long stretches, especially in their last home game, but they seemed to have good spirits in the locker room."
(on Pridgett's final game in Missoula)
"He showed up. I thought he did a lot of good things for us. Obviously he scored the ball, but he distributed the ball and defended too. I thought the minutes he gave us exemplified who he is as a basketball player, and how competitive he is and how entertaining he is."
Looking Ahead
Montana will now hit the restart button and have a clean slate going into the Big Sky tournament in Boise. The Grizzlies have won the last two titles, and will look to become the first team since Weber State in 1978-80 to win three years in a row.
The No. 3 Grizzlies will play either No. 6 Northern Arizona or No. 11 Idaho State in the quarterfinals (Thursday at 8 p.m. MT).
FOUR. POINT. PLAY.
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) March 8, 2020
Count it plus one for @eddy_egun! pic.twitter.com/ZsdlTaUd3Q
There's no way he just turned 18!@SP4THABOY ➡️ @DJ_Carter35 for the oop! pic.twitter.com/jKAb6aTYJS
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) March 8, 2020
Team Stats
SUU
UM
FG%
.429
.415
3FG%
.333
.389
FT%
.744
.731
RB
44
34
TO
15
11
STL
4
3
Game Leaders
Pts
27
FGM
10
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
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