Additional video, photos, notes from big win at Portland State

Montana earned an improbable victory over Portland State on Thursday, with Robby Beasley III nailing a 30-foot shot at the buzzer to send the game into overtime. Montana won despite trailing for 37 minutes of regulation, and trailing by three points, without the ball, with under 10 seconds to play. Catch up on the action below:

Beasley's Game-Tying Shot

One-On-One Interview with Beasley

Game Notables

Thursday's win was Montana's first overtime victory since March 2018, against Northern Colorado in the Big Sky Conference semifinals. The Grizzlies had previously lost six consecutive overtime contests.
- The win was Montana's first overtime road win since November 2017 at Pitt, and first overtime Big Sky Conference road win since December 2015 at Northern Arizona.
Montana led despite leading for just more than 3 minutes of regulation. The Grizzlies held leads at 3-0, 3-2 and 26-25, but trailed for the final 19 minutes of the second half, until Robby Beasley III's deep game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.
- Montana scored the first basket of the overtime period and never trailed, leading for the final 4:20 of the game.
Despite Portland State ranking 18^th nationally for rebounding (40.5 per game), the Grizzlies out-rebounded the Vikings (41 to 37).
- On the season, Montana is a perfect 5-0 when out-rebounding its opponents.
- Eight different Grizzlies had at least three rebounds, with six recording four or more. Sophomore Derrick Carter-Hollinger posted a season-high eight rebounds.
Portland State entered the night ranked fifth nationally for offensive rebounding. The Vikings were near their season average of 14.3 offensive boards per game (13), but were limited to just five second-chance points (two over the game's final 35 minutes).
Four Grizzlies were in double figures for scoring: freshman Robby Beasley III (14), freshman Brandon Whitney (14), sophomore Kyle Owens (12) and senior Michael Steadman (12).
- Steadman shot 6-of-8 from the floor and totaled a dozen points on the night, after being held to two points in the opening half.
- Beasley shot 4-of-5 from 3-point range, with none bigger than his game-tying 3-pointer at the end of regulation.
Portland State entered the night ranked 329^th nationally for 3-point shooting (.275), while the Griz defense ranked 46^th, allowing opponents to shoot just .300. Despite this, Portland State attempted 29 3-pointers on the night, converting at just a .207 clip (6-of-29).
Montana won despite turning the ball over a season-high 24 times (previous high was 20). Nearly 40 percent of Portland State's points came off of Montana giveaways (24 of 64, 37.5 percent).
Montana out-shot Portland State (.453 to .362) and had just one fewer made field goal (24 to 25), despite taking 16 fewer shots.
In the overtime period, Montana was 3-of-4 from the floor and a perfect 10-of-10 from the free-throw line.
Montana recorded a season-high eight blocked shots, with Carter-Hollinger and Steadman each tallying three.
Playing 20 minutes from his childhood home in Beaverton, Oregon, Parker had a team-high six assists. He also scored four points and secured three rebounds.
Montana used a different starting lineup for the third consecutive game, with Beasley III earning his first career start, Mack Anderson earning his first start of the season and Parker starting for the first time since Montana's season opener.
Montana scored the game's first three points, but shot 0-for-4 with two turnovers over the next several minutes, allowing Portland State to take a 9-3 lead.
Montana wouldn't lead again until a Whitney layup with 4 seconds remaining in the first half (26-25). The Grizzlies closed the half on a 9-2 run, holding the Vikings to one made basket over the final 6:35 (1-of-12 shooting).
The Grizzlies opened the second half with turnovers on three consecutive possessions, allowing Portland State to use a 7-0 run and regain the lead. Montana wouldn't lead again until overtime (56-54).
Despite not holding a lead over the final 19 minutes of regulation, the Grizzlies never let Portland State pull away. The Vikings never led by more than eight points, including five or fewer over the final 8 minutes.
Montana was within a single possession for the final 3:37 of regulation, and down the stretch was within a single point three times.
- After a Whitney steal and layup cut the score to 50-49 with 3:12 to play, the Grizzlies had several opportunities to recapture the lead, but never could:
  - Down 50-49 with 2:35 to play, Montana turned the ball over, allowing the Vikings to push their lead back to three points (52-49).
  - Once again down one point, 52-51, after a pair of free throws, Montana had an opportunity to take a lead but missed a layup with 1:17 left in regulation.
  - The Grizzlies forced two misses on the other end of the court, but with 36 seconds left and the ball, Montana turned the ball over near midcourt, leading to a fast-break layup for the Vikings (54-51).
  - Looking to cut into its three-point deficit, Montana missed two free throws with 26 seconds remaining (54-51).
  - Still down three, the Grizzlies were able to force a steal, but missed a layup with 9 seconds to play (54-51).
  - Montana was forced to foul and got new life after Portland State missed the front end of a one-and-one, leading to Beasley's game-tying 3-pointer (54-54).
Montana had lost its previous two games played at Viking Pavilion.

Final Call

🐇🎩#GrizHoops #BigSkyMBB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/ME6GB2uB17
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) February 5, 2021

Inside The Den Podcast Episode

𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲!#GrizHoops #BigSkyMBB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/6qEL7ovqqG
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) February 5, 2021

Photo Gallery

Gallery: (2-5-2021) MBB: at Portland State (02.04.21)

University of Montana Athletics

Additional video, photos, notes from big win at Portland State

Players Mentioned

Mack Anderson

Robby Beasley III

Derrick Carter-Hollinger

Kyle Owens

Michael Steadman

Brandon Whitney

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