Griz embark on Boise for Big Sky Championship
3/8/2021 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
ON TOP OF THE BIG SKY
Throughout history, it's hard to find many teams across the region who have enjoyed more success than Montana. The Grizzlies have won 12 Big Sky Conference regular-season titles, 11 tournament championships and have played in the NCAA tournament 12 times.
The Grizzlies' 12 regular-season titles rank second to Weber State, but more recently, Montana has been the team on top. The Grizzlies have the most Big Sky titles in the past decade, and are tied with Weber State since the turn of the century. Eight of Weber State's championships came prior to 1973.
Montana has been even better in the tournament. The school's 11 tournament titles are a league record. Of the past 10 tournaments, Montana has advanced to the title game eight times, including in four of five tournaments under Travis DeCuire. On a national scale, only Gonzaga and New Mexico State have played in their conference championship more times over the past decade.
TOURNAMENT TALK
EYEING A 3-PEAT
Despite Montana playing as the No. 6 seed, the Grizzlies have the chance to make history this week in Boise, Idaho. With the 2020 tournament being wiped out due to COVID-19, Montana is the two-time defending champions, having won in both 2018 and 2019.
No Montana team has ever won three consecutive Big Sky tournaments, and in fact, the feat has only been done once before in Big Sky history – more than 40 years ago (Weber State from 1978-80).
In 2019, Montana became the 11th school to repeat as tournament champions, joining Weber State, 1978-79; Weber State, 1979-80; Idaho, 1981-82; Nevada, 1984-85; Idaho, 1989-90; Montana, 1991-92; Boise State, 1993-94; Montana, 2005-06; Portland State, 2008-09; and Montana, 2012-13.
WIN 4 AND YOU'RE IN
Montana will have an uphill challenge this week, needing to win four games in four days in order to punch its ticket to March Madness for the third consecutive tournament. If the Grizzlies can do so, they will make history.
Since the Big Sky tournament moved to four rounds in 2016, no team that has played in the first round has advanced past the semifinals. Four teams have won two games and advanced to the semifinal round: No. 5 seed North Dakota (2016), No. 5 seed Northern Colorado (2018), No. 10 seed Southern Utah (2018) and No. 7 seed Southern Utah (2019).
Montana will also be playing in unfamiliar territory. The Grizzlies will play in the first round for the first time under the current format.
With that said, a Big Sky team has won the tournament twice after having to play in the first round – with Montana being the team to do so both times (2005, as the No. 3 seed and 2010, as the No. 4 seed). In both instances, the tournament had three rounds, instead of the four it currently consists of.
PLAYING AS THE NO. 6 SEED
Previously, Montana has been the No. 6 seed or worse just three other times, playing as the No. 6 in 1994 and 2004 and the No. 7 in 1988.
The Grizzlies are 0-2 as the No. 6 seed, losing to No. 3 Idaho in the 1994 quarterfinals and No. 3 Idaho State in the 2004 first round.
Under the current format, the No. 6 seed is 3-2 against the No. 11 seed in the first round and 0-3 in the quarterfinals.
RIDING MOMENTUM
Montana is riding a season-best four-game winning streak entering the Big Sky tournament, sweeping Idaho State on the road to close February, before beating Warner Pacific twice last week in a pair of late additions to the schedule.
The Grizzlies have entered the Big Sky tournament on a four-game winning streak four times in their history (1990, five; 1995, six; 2012, 12; and 2013, four). The last two times, in 2012 and 2013, Montana carried that momentum to tournament titles.
ANOTHER WINNING SEASON
Montana moved above .500 for the first time this season with its non-conference win over Warner Pacific (March 6). The win was significant in the fact that the Grizzlies are guaranteed to finish at least .500 for the 13th consecutive season.
Entering the year, Montana was one of 20 teams nationally to boast that claim, joining Arizona, Baylor, Belmont, Cincinnati, Duke, Florida State, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Memphis, Michigan State, Ohio State, Saint Mary's, San Diego State, Vermont, VCU and Xavier.
FRESHMEN OF THE YEAR
None of Montana's three freshmen were named the Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year, but collectively, there's no debate that the Grizzlies have the top group of freshmen. In fact, Montana's three freshmen – Josh Bannan, Robby Beasley III and Brandon Whitney – have already set multiple team records. All three rank among Montana's top-four scorers, and collectively, the group accounts for 37.5 percent of the team's scoring. The percentage is on pace to smash a school record (currently held by the 2002-03 class, at 30.15 percent). On Saturday, the current group surpassed the 2002-03 team's school record for points scored by a freshman class.
Even more impressive, with 10 points this week, Beasley will become the 15th true freshman in school history to score 200 points. Including Beasley, four are currently on Montana's roster (this year's class, along with sophomore Derrick Carter-Hollinger), with two more (Michael Oguine and Sayeed Pridgett) also coached by Travis DeCuire.
FREQUENT STARTS
Montana's freshmen are scoring at a high rate, but all three are also playing a high number of minutes. In fact, the trio has combined to start 51 games, a school record previously held by the 2019-20 group (40).
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Not only is Montana's freshman class making a splash, but the majority of Montana's roster is underclassmen, with seven of Montana's top-nine rotation players being freshmen or sophomores.
MONEY FROM THE LINE
Montana owns the eighth-best free-throw percentage in the country, connecting on 79.1 percent of its attempts from the charity stripe. The Grizzlies have had several spectacular team performances, including twice shooting 21-of-22 (Jan. 2 vs. Northern Colorado, Feb. 13 vs. Weber State). Their current percentage is on pace to break a school record, currently held by the 2012-13 championship team (76.7 percent).
Not only is Montana making its shots, though, it is also getting to the line at a great frequency. The Grizzlies have made more free throws than their opponents in 15 games, and on the season rank 13th nationally for total free throws made. A season ago, for comparison, Montana ranked 313th. Montana is 10-2 on the season when shooting more free throws than its opponent, compared to 3-10 when failing to do so.
Montana's top-nine rotation players are all shooting at least 73 percent from the free-throw line, led by freshman Robby Beasley III (58-of-61, .951) and sophomore Josh Vazquez (30-of-33, .901). Beasley, who started his collegiate career with 33 consecutive makes, currently ranks second nationally for free-throw percentage. He's currently on track to break both Montana (Kendal Manuel, .905 in 2019-20) and Big Sky Conference (Idaho State's Tim Erickson, .930 in 2000-01) records.
Gallery: (2-11-2021) MBB: vs. Weber State (02.11.21)
DOMINANT DEFENSE
Montana has hung its hat on defense this season, ranking among the nation's elite for several defensive categories:
During Big Sky play, just three times has an opponent reached its regulation scoring average against the Griz (Weber State once, Eastern Washington twice).
MORE ON THE DEFENSE
Montana is once again one of the best shooting teams in the country, ranking 66th nationally (top 20 percent) with a .462 team shooting percentage. The Grizzlies are even better from 3-point range (.372, 40th) and incredibly good from the charity stripe (.791, eighth).
Montana has done all this despite having an offense that has no players ranked among the top 25 in the Big Sky Conference for scoring. Montana doesn't have a single player averaging more than 10.8 points per game, but has seven scorers averaging between 7.8 and 10.8. The balanced scoring has led to eight different players leading the Grizzlies for scoring in a game this season, but none doing so more than five times (four players have done so five times apiece).
Montana has eclipsed 80 points in a game seven times, including an 80-67 win over Weber State, but its most impressive offensive performance might have come at Sacramento State (Jan. 21), when Montana scored 78 points against the nation's fifth-best scoring defense. In that game, Montana's bench scored 55 points (70.5 percent of the team's total), the nation's third-highest bench production of the season, up to that point.
DOWN TO THE WIRE
Montana believes it is better than its record shows, especially considering the number of narrow losses the Grizzlies have suffered. Montana began Big Sky Conference play 0-3, with its three losses coming by a combined four points – and all coming in the final seconds.
Overall, seven of Montana's 20 Division-I contests have been decided by four points or fewer (2-5) and 13 of them finishing with a single-digit margin of difference (5-8).
In Big Sky play, 10 of Montana's 16 games were decided by six points or fewer, with the winning basket coming in the closing seconds or overtime. In their first four Big Sky losses, the Grizzlies held the lead with 5 minutes to play each time.
NARROW LOSSES
Montana doesn't shoot many 3-pointers, ranking among the lowest in the nation for both attempts (14.6) and makes (5.4). That's not to say the Grizzlies aren't a good 3-point shooting team, however. They're just selective of when to take the shots.
Montana ranks 40th nationally, connecting on 37.2 percent of its 3-point attempts. The Grizzlies are led beyond the arc by Josh Vazquez (39 triples on .448 shooting). Montana has five players who have canned at least 13 3-pointers on the season, with all shooting at least 37 percent, and four connecting at a 42-percent clip or better.
While Montana ranks 40th for 3-point shooting, on the flip side, opponents are shooting just .305 from long range against the Griz (35th in NCAA).
STARTING STRONG
Montana has held a halftime lead in 18 of 25 contests this season, going 12-6 when doing so. On the contrary, Montana is just 1-6 when trailing at halftime, with its lone halftime deficit overcome coming in a Jan. 4 win over Northern Colorado.
Four times this season Montana has used major first-half runs to create early separation: 17-0 run vs. Northern Arizona on Jan. 16; 16-0 run at Sacramento State on Jan. 23; 14-0 run at Sacramento State on Jan. 23; and 15-0 run at Idaho State on Feb. 25).
CAM'S DIMES
Junior Cameron Parker knows a thing or two about assists, setting an NCAA single-game record in December 2019 with 24 assists while playing for Sacred Heart. He ranked among the nation's leaders for assists in his two seasons with the Pioneers, and is once again up there in 2020-21.
Parker's 123 assists rank 21st nationally, with the junior averaging 4.9 assists per game. He leads the Big Sky Conference for the category and ranks second with a 2.5 assist-to-turnover ratio.
PLENTY OF GAMES
Despite having five games canceled during a pandemic-altered season, Montana was still able to fill its schedule and play 25 games. In fact, the Grizzlies played more contests than any Big Sky opponent.
The Grizzlies didn't have their first cancelation until late January when their series vs. Montana State was called off. At that point, the Grizzlies were one of five teams in the entire country who had zero postponements or alterations to their schedule (Auburn, Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State, Toledo).
THE DECUIRE FACTOR
In seven seasons overseeing his alma mater, Travis DeCuire has had unpresented success, amassing 140 wins while winning three regular-season championships and two tournament titles in five chances.
Not only does Montana have three left-handed players on its roster, but all three are contributing factors. Freshman Josh Bannan has started 20 games for the Grizzlies, while sophomore Kyle Owens is the team's leading scorer and ranks second for minutes played and rebounding. Junior southpaw Cameron Parker is generally the first player off the bench – often times playing starter minutes – and leads the Big Sky Conference for assists.
The Grizzlies are one of five teams nationally to have had at least three different lefties start in a game this season.
CALIFORNIA PIPELINE
When the Griz traveled to USC to open the season (Nov. 28), it felt like home for many players. At the time, Montana had nine California natives on its roster. The Grizzlies joined UCLA (13 from California), North Florida (nine, Florida), Manhattan (nine, New York), UCF (nine, Florida) and Norfolk State (nine, Virginia) as the NCAA's only schools with nine or more players from the same state.
Even more impressive, Montana began the season as the only school to have nine players from one state, outside of the university's state. Louisiana Tech (eight from Texas), Middle Tennessee (seven from Georgia), Oklahoma State (seven from Texas) and Wisconsin (seven from Minnesota) round out the top five.
HOME-COURT SUCCESS
Even with a couple uncharacteristic home losses this season, dating back to February 2017, Montana has won 46 of its past 55 home games (.836), with the Grizzlies boasting the nation's 21st-best home winning percentage during that span.
In its history, the Grizzlies have a strong home-court advantage, averaging more than 4,000 fans per game in 2019-20, a better figure than three Pac-12 schools. Montana is 732-254 all-time inside Dahlberg Arena (.742), including 148-34 over the past decade (.823, 29th in NCAA). Additionally, Montana is one of just 10 Division-I schools nationally to have been playing in its current home venue for at least 60 years and winning at least 70 percent of its home games.
INDIVIDUALLY SPEAKING
UNCHARACTERISTIC SEASON
One could pin it on a number of factors, ranging from youth to narrow losses to COVID-19, but the 2020-21 basketball season has seen Montana come up on the short end in a number of uncharacteristic ways:
Montana opened the 2020-21 season with eight games in a 25-day period, traveling more than 25,000 miles during that span. Before adding two home non-Division-I games once the season began, all six of Montana's games scheduled for November and December were on the road.
EARNING A DUB AT U-DUB
Montana earned a 66-58 road win at Washington on Dec. 16, beating a Pac-12 opponent for the first time since December 2010. The victory snapped a 14-game losing streak to the conference.
Montana used a 17-3 first-half run to build a double-digit lead, an advantage Montana would hold for 28 consecutive minutes until Washington took a brief 53-51 lead with 3:50 to play. The Grizzlies were unfazed, however, responding with a 10-0 run and holding the Huskies to 1-of-10 shooting over the game's final 6 minutes.
Over the past three seasons, Washington is 23-3 in non-conference games on its home court, with the three losses coming to No. 1 Gonzaga, No. 9 Gonzaga and Montana.
WINNING BY A WIDE MARGIN
Montana led from start to finish Dec. 12 vs. Yellowstone Christian College, routing the Centurions 102-42.
Montana earned its first win of the season on Dec. 12, defeating Yellowstone Christian College in dominant fashion (102-42). Before the win, Montana was 0-4 for just the third time in the past 50 seasons.
Two of the Grizzlies' losses came to Power 5 teams – USC of the Pac-12 and Georgia of the SEC – and two more – both at Southern Utah – came by a combined two points, marking the first time in 37 years that the Grizzlies lost back-to-back one-point games.
During that 50-year span that Montana has started a season 0-4, the Grizzlies have finished .500 or better all three times (1971-72, 2016-17 and 2020-21).
DÉJÀ VU
Montana fell in heartbreaking fashion not once, but twice, at Southern Utah.
On Dec. 3 in Cedar City, the Grizzlies led for more than 31 minutes, including by as many as 11 points. The Grizzlies then fell behind, only to tie the game in the final minute on a Josh Vazquez 3-pointer. Needing one defensive stop to send the game to overtime, Montana, was called for a foul, sending Southern Utah to the free-throw line with 2.6 seconds remaining, and allowing the Thunderbirds to win the game at the line.
Two nights later, the Grizzlies once again led by double figures in the second half. The Grizzlies then fell behind, only to tie the game in the final minute on a Josh Vazquez 3-pointer. Once again needing one defensive stop to send the game to overtime, Montana was once again called for a foul, sending Southern Utah to the free-throw line with 1.3 seconds remaining, and again allowing the Thunderbirds to win the game at the line.
The last time the Grizzlies played back-to-back games decided by one point came during the 1993-94 season (80-79 loss at Montana State, 70-69 win at Eastern Washington). The last time the Grizzlies lost back-to-back games by a single point came in February 1984, in the midst of a 23-7 season under Mike Montgomery (59-58 loss at Weber State, 60-59 loss at Montana State).
BIG SKY OPENERS
Montana's Dec. 3 loss at Southern Utah snapped a streak that dated back more than a decade. Prior to the defeat, Montana had won 11 consecutive Big Sky Conference openers.
Montana went on to lose its first three conference games for just the second time in the past 50 seasons, and the first time since 1997. Prior to this year, Montana had never lost two of its first five Big Sky games under Travis DeCuire.
2014-15 7-1 start
2015-16 6-0 start
2016-17 4-1 start
2017-18 13-0 start
2018-19 13-2 start
2019-20 7-1 start
2020-21 0-3 start
GETTING AN EARLY START
Montana's second game of the season was a Big Sky Conference game, which was historic on several levels:
Montana had five players make their Griz debuts at USC (Nov. 28), including freshmen Josh Bannan and Brandon Whitney, who led the team for both scoring and minutes played. Additionally, three transfers played their first games for Montana. Over the next several weeks, three more Grizzlies made their Griz debuts, including freshman Robby Beasley III, who missed the first six games with a leg injury.
WHITNEY MAKES HISTORY IN DEBUT
Brandon Whitney became the first freshman to ever lead the Grizzlies in scoring in a season opener, scoring 17 points in his debut. The performance was also tied for the most points ever scored by a player making his collegiate debut in a season opener.
Impressively, of the eight freshmen to ever score in double figures in a season opener, five have come under Travis DeCuire, with four happening in the past two seasons:
THE WAITING GAME
From Montana's 2019-20 regular-season finale on March 7 until its opener at USC in late November, the program went 266 days between games. It was the longest break in action since the 1999 offseason. The Nov. 28 start date was Montana's latest start to a season since opening the 1992-93 campaign on Dec. 1.
TOGETHER IN SOLIDARITY
Looking to join together, not just as a team but as an entire human race, Montana elected to put the single word 'Solidarity' on the backs of its jerseys this season. The decision came after several team meetings about social justice, with another decision resulting in every eligible player and coach voting in the November 2020 election. On the front of Montana's jerseys, a patch reads, 'Equality. Justice. Unity', which is also being worn by every Montana student-athlete this year, and was derived from Montana's diversity and inclusion committee, which sophomore Kyle Owens and associate head coach Chris Cobb serve on.
On Martin Luther King Day, Montana launched the University of Montana's Diversity Appreciation Library, a standalone structure that is housed on campus and can be filled with books for people to freely borrow or add to. The library, which was funded by the men's basketball program, was filled with anti-racism and minority-themed literature in hopes that it can help educate the campus and community.
Complete Game Notes in PDF format, including additional notes, stats, charts and player pages
Gallery: (1-18-2021) MBB: Diversity Appreciation Library
Throughout history, it's hard to find many teams across the region who have enjoyed more success than Montana. The Grizzlies have won 12 Big Sky Conference regular-season titles, 11 tournament championships and have played in the NCAA tournament 12 times.
The Grizzlies' 12 regular-season titles rank second to Weber State, but more recently, Montana has been the team on top. The Grizzlies have the most Big Sky titles in the past decade, and are tied with Weber State since the turn of the century. Eight of Weber State's championships came prior to 1973.
Montana has been even better in the tournament. The school's 11 tournament titles are a league record. Of the past 10 tournaments, Montana has advanced to the title game eight times, including in four of five tournaments under Travis DeCuire. On a national scale, only Gonzaga and New Mexico State have played in their conference championship more times over the past decade.
TOURNAMENT TALK
- Montana has advanced to the Big Sky tournament 42 times in the past 44 seasons, tied with Weber State for the most appearances during that span (1978-present).
- Montana is 43-29 all-time in the tournament, the second-most wins of any Big Sky team.
- The Grizzlies have won the championship a league-best 11 times.
- Montana has played in the finals 20 times (first), including in eight of the past 10 tournaments and four of five under Travis DeCuire.
- The Grizzlies are looking to become the second school in Big Sky history – and first in more than 40 years – to win three consecutive tournament championships. The only time it has happened came from 1978-80, by Weber State.
- Since Montana's first tournament title in 1991, Montana is 11-4 in the championship game.
- Montana has won eight consecutive semifinal games dating back to 2010.
- Montana will look to break a run of recent success by the No. 1 seed:
- The No. 1 seed has won the conference tournament in 27 of 45 seasons, including eight of the past nine and all four times that the game has been played on a neutral site.
- The No. 1 seed has advanced to the title game in 13 of the past 14 tournaments, with 2010 (Weber State) being the lone exception.
At Montana, we've built a 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 tradition. 4 #BigSkyMBB title game appearances in the past 5 seasons, 8 in the past decade! #GrizHoops #UpWithMontana
Posted by Montana Griz Basketball on Monday, August 10, 2020
EYEING A 3-PEAT
Despite Montana playing as the No. 6 seed, the Grizzlies have the chance to make history this week in Boise, Idaho. With the 2020 tournament being wiped out due to COVID-19, Montana is the two-time defending champions, having won in both 2018 and 2019.
No Montana team has ever won three consecutive Big Sky tournaments, and in fact, the feat has only been done once before in Big Sky history – more than 40 years ago (Weber State from 1978-80).
In 2019, Montana became the 11th school to repeat as tournament champions, joining Weber State, 1978-79; Weber State, 1979-80; Idaho, 1981-82; Nevada, 1984-85; Idaho, 1989-90; Montana, 1991-92; Boise State, 1993-94; Montana, 2005-06; Portland State, 2008-09; and Montana, 2012-13.
WIN 4 AND YOU'RE IN
Montana will have an uphill challenge this week, needing to win four games in four days in order to punch its ticket to March Madness for the third consecutive tournament. If the Grizzlies can do so, they will make history.
Since the Big Sky tournament moved to four rounds in 2016, no team that has played in the first round has advanced past the semifinals. Four teams have won two games and advanced to the semifinal round: No. 5 seed North Dakota (2016), No. 5 seed Northern Colorado (2018), No. 10 seed Southern Utah (2018) and No. 7 seed Southern Utah (2019).
Montana will also be playing in unfamiliar territory. The Grizzlies will play in the first round for the first time under the current format.
With that said, a Big Sky team has won the tournament twice after having to play in the first round – with Montana being the team to do so both times (2005, as the No. 3 seed and 2010, as the No. 4 seed). In both instances, the tournament had three rounds, instead of the four it currently consists of.
PLAYING AS THE NO. 6 SEED
Previously, Montana has been the No. 6 seed or worse just three other times, playing as the No. 6 in 1994 and 2004 and the No. 7 in 1988.
The Grizzlies are 0-2 as the No. 6 seed, losing to No. 3 Idaho in the 1994 quarterfinals and No. 3 Idaho State in the 2004 first round.
Under the current format, the No. 6 seed is 3-2 against the No. 11 seed in the first round and 0-3 in the quarterfinals.
RIDING MOMENTUM
Montana is riding a season-best four-game winning streak entering the Big Sky tournament, sweeping Idaho State on the road to close February, before beating Warner Pacific twice last week in a pair of late additions to the schedule.
The Grizzlies have entered the Big Sky tournament on a four-game winning streak four times in their history (1990, five; 1995, six; 2012, 12; and 2013, four). The last two times, in 2012 and 2013, Montana carried that momentum to tournament titles.
ANOTHER WINNING SEASON
Montana moved above .500 for the first time this season with its non-conference win over Warner Pacific (March 6). The win was significant in the fact that the Grizzlies are guaranteed to finish at least .500 for the 13th consecutive season.
Entering the year, Montana was one of 20 teams nationally to boast that claim, joining Arizona, Baylor, Belmont, Cincinnati, Duke, Florida State, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Memphis, Michigan State, Ohio State, Saint Mary's, San Diego State, Vermont, VCU and Xavier.
FRESHMEN OF THE YEAR
None of Montana's three freshmen were named the Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year, but collectively, there's no debate that the Grizzlies have the top group of freshmen. In fact, Montana's three freshmen – Josh Bannan, Robby Beasley III and Brandon Whitney – have already set multiple team records. All three rank among Montana's top-four scorers, and collectively, the group accounts for 37.5 percent of the team's scoring. The percentage is on pace to smash a school record (currently held by the 2002-03 class, at 30.15 percent). On Saturday, the current group surpassed the 2002-03 team's school record for points scored by a freshman class.
Even more impressive, with 10 points this week, Beasley will become the 15th true freshman in school history to score 200 points. Including Beasley, four are currently on Montana's roster (this year's class, along with sophomore Derrick Carter-Hollinger), with two more (Michael Oguine and Sayeed Pridgett) also coached by Travis DeCuire.
FREQUENT STARTS
Montana's freshmen are scoring at a high rate, but all three are also playing a high number of minutes. In fact, the trio has combined to start 51 games, a school record previously held by the 2019-20 group (40).
- The 51 starts made by Montana's true freshmen are the sixth-most in the country this season, trailing only Kentucky, Kansas State, Washington State, Duke and North Carolina.
- Montana has started at least two true freshmen in 21 of 25 games this season and has started all three in each of the past seven contests.
- Montana is one of 10 teams nationally to start three or more true freshmen in the same game this season, and one of five teams to do so at least seven times (Kentucky, Duke, Kansas State and Washington State).
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Not only is Montana's freshman class making a splash, but the majority of Montana's roster is underclassmen, with seven of Montana's top-nine rotation players being freshmen or sophomores.
- Montana is one of 10 teams nationally with zero seniors on its roster.
- Montana is one of 23 teams nationally that returned five or fewer letterwinners from its 2019-20 roster.
- Montana began the season with nine underclassmen (freshmen or sophomores), one of 22 teams nationally to do so.
MONEY FROM THE LINE
Montana owns the eighth-best free-throw percentage in the country, connecting on 79.1 percent of its attempts from the charity stripe. The Grizzlies have had several spectacular team performances, including twice shooting 21-of-22 (Jan. 2 vs. Northern Colorado, Feb. 13 vs. Weber State). Their current percentage is on pace to break a school record, currently held by the 2012-13 championship team (76.7 percent).
Not only is Montana making its shots, though, it is also getting to the line at a great frequency. The Grizzlies have made more free throws than their opponents in 15 games, and on the season rank 13th nationally for total free throws made. A season ago, for comparison, Montana ranked 313th. Montana is 10-2 on the season when shooting more free throws than its opponent, compared to 3-10 when failing to do so.
Montana's top-nine rotation players are all shooting at least 73 percent from the free-throw line, led by freshman Robby Beasley III (58-of-61, .951) and sophomore Josh Vazquez (30-of-33, .901). Beasley, who started his collegiate career with 33 consecutive makes, currently ranks second nationally for free-throw percentage. He's currently on track to break both Montana (Kendal Manuel, .905 in 2019-20) and Big Sky Conference (Idaho State's Tim Erickson, .930 in 2000-01) records.
DOMINANT DEFENSE
Montana has hung its hat on defense this season, ranking among the nation's elite for several defensive categories:
- Scoring defense: 66.4 points per game (69th)
- Field-goal defense: .421 (113th)
- 3-point field-goal defense: .305 (35th).
During Big Sky play, just three times has an opponent reached its regulation scoring average against the Griz (Weber State once, Eastern Washington twice).
MORE ON THE DEFENSE
- In Montana's Feb. 11 win over Weber State, the Wildcats were held to 67 points, 18 below their season scoring average. Weber State entered the game ranked seventh nationally for scoring offense. What's more, the Wildcats ranked second nationally for 3-point shooting and 10th for overall field-goal percentage, but were limited to 3-of-14 shooting from deep (.214) and a .440 clip for the game.
- The Grizzlies beat Dickinson State on Dec. 18, holding the Blue Hawks to 21.7-percent shooting in the second half, including a 9-minute stretch in which Dickinson State shot 0-for-11 from the floor.
- In a win over Washington (Dec. 16), Montana went on a 10-0 run down the stretch, holding the Huskies to one made field goal over the game's final 6 minutes (1-of-10). Quade Green, Washington's McDonald's All-American who is averaging a team-best 14.9 points per game, was held to his worst shooting performance of the season, shooting 1-of-11 and scoring four total points.
- Montana held Yellowstone Christian to .279 shooting and 42 points (Dec. 12).
- Georgia entered its matchup with Montana (Dec. 8) ranked in the top 30 nationally for scoring and shooting. The Bulldogs, however, were held 26 points below their season scoring average and were limited to .397 shooting and 63 total points.
- On Dec. 3 at Southern Utah, the Grizzlies limited the Thunderbirds to .327 shooting (16-of-49), including a .286 clip from deep. Over the game's final 14 minutes, Southern Utah shot just 3-of-14.
- After USC (Nov. 28) shot .714 in the first half of Montana's season opener (15-of-21), the Griz held the Trojans to .320 shooting in the second half. USC went nearly 8 minutes late in the game without a made field goal, and shot 2-of-10 over the game's final 10 minutes. Trojans' freshman Evan Mobley, the No. 1 high school recruit in the country and a projected NBA lottery pick, was limited to three made field goals. Only Utah held Mobley, USC's top scorer at 16.9 points per game, to fewer made field goals in a game this season.
Montana is once again one of the best shooting teams in the country, ranking 66th nationally (top 20 percent) with a .462 team shooting percentage. The Grizzlies are even better from 3-point range (.372, 40th) and incredibly good from the charity stripe (.791, eighth).
Montana has done all this despite having an offense that has no players ranked among the top 25 in the Big Sky Conference for scoring. Montana doesn't have a single player averaging more than 10.8 points per game, but has seven scorers averaging between 7.8 and 10.8. The balanced scoring has led to eight different players leading the Grizzlies for scoring in a game this season, but none doing so more than five times (four players have done so five times apiece).
Montana has eclipsed 80 points in a game seven times, including an 80-67 win over Weber State, but its most impressive offensive performance might have come at Sacramento State (Jan. 21), when Montana scored 78 points against the nation's fifth-best scoring defense. In that game, Montana's bench scored 55 points (70.5 percent of the team's total), the nation's third-highest bench production of the season, up to that point.
DOWN TO THE WIRE
Montana believes it is better than its record shows, especially considering the number of narrow losses the Grizzlies have suffered. Montana began Big Sky Conference play 0-3, with its three losses coming by a combined four points – and all coming in the final seconds.
Overall, seven of Montana's 20 Division-I contests have been decided by four points or fewer (2-5) and 13 of them finishing with a single-digit margin of difference (5-8).
In Big Sky play, 10 of Montana's 16 games were decided by six points or fewer, with the winning basket coming in the closing seconds or overtime. In their first four Big Sky losses, the Grizzlies held the lead with 5 minutes to play each time.
NARROW LOSSES
- Dec. 3 at Southern Utah – Montana led for 32 minutes, by as many as eight points. The Grizzlies tied the game with a 3-pointer with 31 seconds to play, before losing at the free-throw line with 2.6 seconds remaining.
- Dec. 5 at Southern Utah – Montana led for 21 minutes, by as many as 13 points. The Grizzlies tied the game with a 3-pointer with 9.7 seconds to play, before losing at the free-throw line with 1.3 seconds remaining.
- Jan. 2 vs. Northern Colorado – Montana led for 8 minutes, by as many as five points. The Grizzlies tied the game with three free throws with 15.4 seconds to play, before losing on a layup with 1.0 seconds remaining.
- Jan. 16 vs. Northern Arizona – Montana led for more than 33 minutes and by eight, 58-50, with 5:32 to play, but the Grizzlies couldn't score again. Northern Arizona closed the game on a 12-0 run, holding the Griz to 0-of-5 shooting and two turnovers.
- Jan. 23 at Sacramento State – Montana overcame a 5-point deficit with under 4 minutes to play, taking a 68-65 lead with under 1 minute left in regulation. Sacramento State tied the game with 12 seconds on the clock, however, and eventually won in double overtime. Montana led for more than 23 minutes during the game.
- Feb. 6 at Portland State – Montana led for 11 minutes, by as many as seven points. The Grizzlies went more than 6 minutes in the second half without a made field goal, however, falling by five points after being within a possession in the final minute.
Montana doesn't shoot many 3-pointers, ranking among the lowest in the nation for both attempts (14.6) and makes (5.4). That's not to say the Grizzlies aren't a good 3-point shooting team, however. They're just selective of when to take the shots.
Montana ranks 40th nationally, connecting on 37.2 percent of its 3-point attempts. The Grizzlies are led beyond the arc by Josh Vazquez (39 triples on .448 shooting). Montana has five players who have canned at least 13 3-pointers on the season, with all shooting at least 37 percent, and four connecting at a 42-percent clip or better.
While Montana ranks 40th for 3-point shooting, on the flip side, opponents are shooting just .305 from long range against the Griz (35th in NCAA).
STARTING STRONG
Montana has held a halftime lead in 18 of 25 contests this season, going 12-6 when doing so. On the contrary, Montana is just 1-6 when trailing at halftime, with its lone halftime deficit overcome coming in a Jan. 4 win over Northern Colorado.
Four times this season Montana has used major first-half runs to create early separation: 17-0 run vs. Northern Arizona on Jan. 16; 16-0 run at Sacramento State on Jan. 23; 14-0 run at Sacramento State on Jan. 23; and 15-0 run at Idaho State on Feb. 25).
CAM'S DIMES
Junior Cameron Parker knows a thing or two about assists, setting an NCAA single-game record in December 2019 with 24 assists while playing for Sacred Heart. He ranked among the nation's leaders for assists in his two seasons with the Pioneers, and is once again up there in 2020-21.
Parker's 123 assists rank 21st nationally, with the junior averaging 4.9 assists per game. He leads the Big Sky Conference for the category and ranks second with a 2.5 assist-to-turnover ratio.
PLENTY OF GAMES
Despite having five games canceled during a pandemic-altered season, Montana was still able to fill its schedule and play 25 games. In fact, the Grizzlies played more contests than any Big Sky opponent.
The Grizzlies didn't have their first cancelation until late January when their series vs. Montana State was called off. At that point, the Grizzlies were one of five teams in the entire country who had zero postponements or alterations to their schedule (Auburn, Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State, Toledo).
THE DECUIRE FACTOR
In seven seasons overseeing his alma mater, Travis DeCuire has had unpresented success, amassing 140 wins while winning three regular-season championships and two tournament titles in five chances.
- Entering the Big Sky Conference tournament, DeCuire holds a 140-83 record at Montana (.628). He is one win shy of tying Blaine Taylor – his coach while DeCuire played for the Griz in the 1990s and his boss when he was an assistant at Old Dominion – for fourth on Montana's all-time wins list (George 'Jiggs' Dahlberg, 221; Wayne Tinkle, 158; Mike Montgomery, 155; Taylor, 141; DeCuire, 140).
- In 2018, DeCuire became the fastest coach in Big Sky history to win 50 league games, needing just 65 games to do so.
- DeCuire is 92-36 in Big Sky play, with his .719 conference winning percentage ranking fifth in Big Sky history and first among coaches with more than five seasons in the league.
- Further, his conference winning percentage ranks seventh nationally among active coaches with at least five seasons at their current school. Ahead of DeCuire is Mark Few (Gonzaga); John Becker (Vermont); Nathan Davis (Bucknell); Bill Self (Kansas); and John Calipari (Kentucky).
- DeCuire is the only coach in Montana history to win three regular-season conference championships. He also has won the league tournament twice, taking the Grizzlies to March Madness in 2018 and 2019.
- DeCuire was named coach of the year by the Big Sky and NABC District 6 in 2018.
- DeCuire has a winning record over every Big Sky opponent.
- DeCuire is one of 35 active coaches to currently lead his alma mater, with three coming from the Big Sky (also Brian Katz at Sacramento State and Danny Sprinkle at Montana State).
- Montana is a perfect 7-0 when holding opponents to 60 points or fewer. The Grizzlies are 0-7 when an opponent reaches 70.
- Montana's opponents are averaging 59.8 points per game during the Grizzlies' four-game winning streak, with all four shooting .383 or worse.
- Montana has not played a neutral-site game this season.
- While Montana has used the same starting lineup in five consecutive games, the Grizzlies have used 10 different lineups this season, with no player starting every contest.
- Montana has had eight different players lead the Griz for scoring in a game this season, with no player doing so more than five times.
- Just five times this season has a player led Montana for scoring in back-to-back games, and never has a player led the Grizzlies in three consecutive games.
- Freshmen Josh Bannan (three times) and Robby Beasley III (three times) have led Montana for minutes played in each of the past six games. Prior that that stretch, those two players led Montana for minutes just twice total.
- Freshman Josh Bannan has led Montana for rebounding a season-most seven times this season, including four times in the past six games.
- Junior Cameron Parker has led Montana for assists 18 times this season, including 10 times in the past 12 games.
- Montana has held a halftime lead in 18 of 25 games this season, going 12-8 when leading at the break, compared to 1-6 when trailing. The Grizzlies have led at halftime in four consecutive games.
- Montana has out-rebounded its opponent in three consecutive games, despite winning the rebounding battle just nine times this season (8-1). The Grizzlies have out-rebounded a Division-I opponent just four times, but one of the instances came Feb. 4 at Portland State, when Montana out-rebounded the Vikings, 41-37, despite Portland State entering the contest ranked 18th nationally for rebounding.
- Montana has been called for fewer fouls just twice in the past 13 games.
- Montana has turned the ball over fewer times than its opponent just nine times this season (5-4). Limiting, and forcing, turnovers has been a staple under Travis DeCuire. For instance, from 2018-20, Montana recorded fewer turnovers than its opponent in 74 of 100 contests, and posted a 77-percent winning percentage when doing so.
Not only does Montana have three left-handed players on its roster, but all three are contributing factors. Freshman Josh Bannan has started 20 games for the Grizzlies, while sophomore Kyle Owens is the team's leading scorer and ranks second for minutes played and rebounding. Junior southpaw Cameron Parker is generally the first player off the bench – often times playing starter minutes – and leads the Big Sky Conference for assists.
The Grizzlies are one of five teams nationally to have had at least three different lefties start in a game this season.
CALIFORNIA PIPELINE
When the Griz traveled to USC to open the season (Nov. 28), it felt like home for many players. At the time, Montana had nine California natives on its roster. The Grizzlies joined UCLA (13 from California), North Florida (nine, Florida), Manhattan (nine, New York), UCF (nine, Florida) and Norfolk State (nine, Virginia) as the NCAA's only schools with nine or more players from the same state.
Even more impressive, Montana began the season as the only school to have nine players from one state, outside of the university's state. Louisiana Tech (eight from Texas), Middle Tennessee (seven from Georgia), Oklahoma State (seven from Texas) and Wisconsin (seven from Minnesota) round out the top five.
HOME-COURT SUCCESS
Even with a couple uncharacteristic home losses this season, dating back to February 2017, Montana has won 46 of its past 55 home games (.836), with the Grizzlies boasting the nation's 21st-best home winning percentage during that span.
In its history, the Grizzlies have a strong home-court advantage, averaging more than 4,000 fans per game in 2019-20, a better figure than three Pac-12 schools. Montana is 732-254 all-time inside Dahlberg Arena (.742), including 148-34 over the past decade (.823, 29th in NCAA). Additionally, Montana is one of just 10 Division-I schools nationally to have been playing in its current home venue for at least 60 years and winning at least 70 percent of its home games.
INDIVIDUALLY SPEAKING
- #0 Kyle Owens – All-Big Sky Conference honorable mention… Leads Montana with 10.8 points per game and ranks second for minutes (27.0) and rebounding (5.7, 11th in Big Sky)… Has been in double figures for scoring 17 times... Has totaled five or more rebounds on 17 occasions, including eight consecutive games from Dec. 8-Jan. 9 and three in a row to close the regular season… Has led Montana for scoring a team-high-tying five times and rebounding on six occasions… Has a team-most 19 charges drawn… Scored a career-high 27 points in a win over Weber State (Feb. 11)… Shot 11-of-16 from the floor, including a career-best four 3-pointers… Scored 11 of Montana's first 13 points as the Griz raced out to an early lead and trailed for just 14 seconds on the night... In a rare appearance off the bench, scored 22 points in a win at Sacramento State (Jan. 21)… Shot 8-of-13 from the floor while connecting on three 3-pointers… During the weekend series at Sacramento State (Jan. 21-23), shot 5-of-7 from 3-point range, after entering the weekend 4-of-11 from deep on the season… Made 22 consecutive free throws from Dec. 22-Jan. 21, and is shooting .756 from the charity stripe on the season… Scored in double figures in nine consecutive games to open the season, including 21 points at Southern Utah (Dec. 5) and 17 the following game at Georgia (Dec. 8)… Recorded his first career double-double vs. Yellowstone Christian (Dec. 12), with 10 points and a career-most 13 rebounds… Has been held to 5.7 points on 12-of-28 shooting over the final six games of the regular season, reaching double figures just once.
- #2 Darius Henderson – As a midyear transfer, became eligible once fall grades posted in December… Played in five consecutive games from Feb. 18-March 5, after not seeing the floor in 12 consecutive games dating back to Dec. 18… Nearly half of his season minutes total came against Warner Pacific (March 5), playing 13 minutes and scoring a season-high seven points on 3-of-7 shooting… Also pulled own five rebounds and stole a pass… Scored his first Griz points vs. Dickinson State (Dec. 18)… Made his Griz debut at Georgia (Dec. 8).
- #3 Josh Vazquez – Is averaging 7.8 points per game while playing 25.6 minutes (third)… Has started 16 games, including 13 in a row from Dec. 5-Jan. 23… Leads Montana with 39 3-pointers made, connecting on at least one triple in all but seven games, and has made multiple 3-pointers 12 times… Is shooting .909 from the free-throw line (30-of-33), at one point making 15 consecutive attempts… Has a 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio on the season, just once recording more turnovers than assists… His 40 assists rank third on the team... Ranks second with 18 steals, including three in a road win at Idaho State (Feb. 25)… Has been in double figures for scoring nine times, including back-to-back games to close the regular season (March 5-6)… In that series vs. Warner Pacific, he averaged 12.5 points per game while shooting 7-of-12 from 3-point range… Also added 11 rebounds, including a career-high nine on March 6… Scored a career-high 17 points vs. Weber State (Feb. 13), connecting on 6-of-11 shot attempts, including three 3-pointers... During a two-game stretch (Jan. 9-14), was in double figures in both games, averaging 14.5 points on .600 shooting… Scored 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting (3-of-5 from deep) in a win over Northern Arizona (Jan. 14), also recording six rebounds… Tallied a career-best five assists vs. Whitworth (Jan. 9), in addition to 14 points… Scored 14 points while connecting on four 3-pointers vs. Southern Utah (Dec. 3)… In back-to-back games vs. the Thunderbirds, made game-tying 3-pointers in the final 30 seconds.
- #5 Robby Beasley III – Ranks third on the team with a 10.0 points-per-game average… Has been in double figures for scoring nine times in 19 games, reaching 16 points five times… Has been in double figures in four of his past six games, including a career-high 25 at Eastern Washington (9-of-16 shooting, 3-of-6 from deep)… Has led Montana for scoring a team-high-tying five times… Ranks second in the nation with a .951 free-throw percentage, which is on pace to set a school and Big Sky record… Made his first 33 free-throw attempts to begin his collegiate career and is currently 58-of-61… Enters the Big Sky tournament having made 20 consecutive free throws… Has played a team-high for minutes three times in the past five games… Ranks second on the team with 26 3-pointers… Scored 18 points in a road win at Idaho State (Feb. 27)… Made a 30-foot, game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer at Portland State (Feb. 4), sending the game into overtime... Finished the night with 14 points, including four made 3-pointers... Scored 17 points at Sacramento State (Jan. 21)… Scored 17 points at Arizona (Dec. 22), shooting 5-of-9 from the floor… Scored 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting at Arizona (Dec. 22), before reaching 17 points again at Sacramento State (Jan. 21)… Had three assists in back-to-back games (Jan. 4-9)… Also stole two passes vs. Northern Colorado (Jan. 4)… Recorded five rebounds in the previous game vs. Northern Colorado (Jan. 2), also doing so in his 25-point performance at Eastern Washington (Feb. 18)… Made his collegiate debut vs. Dickinson State (Dec. 18), scoring five points in 11 minutes of action… Missed the first six games of the season due to a knee injury.
- #10 Eddy Egun – Has played in 19 games this season, earning three starts… Has seen extended minutes over the past six games, after not playing in the previous four games (Feb. 4-13)... Has made the most of the time, scoring in double figures three times, including a career-most 16 points at Eastern Washington (Feb 18) and team-high 14 vs. Warner Pacific (March 5)… Against the Eagles, shot 4-of-6 from the floor while pulling down six rebounds… Has made multiple 3-pointers three times in the past six games and four times this season… Ranks fifth on the team with 13 made 3-pointers this season… Started back-to-back games at Sacramento State (Jan. 21-23)… Scored seven points, in addition to three rebounds and a steal, vs. Whitworth (Jan. 9)… Had a career night at Georgia (Dec. 8), totaling 11 points and recording personal bests for 3-pointers (three) and minutes played (25), while also adding two assists... Earned his first career start near his hometown, playing 11 minutes and scoring three points at USC (Nov. 28)… Is one of Montana's top defenders.
- #11 Cameron Parker – Leads the Big Sky Conference and ranks 21st nationally with 123 assists (4.9 per game)… Also leads the Big Sky with a 2.3 assist-to-turnover ratio, recording a negative ratio just twice this season… Is Montana's first player off the bench and plays starter minutes, averaging 25.3 minutes per game (fourth)… Is averaging 8.9 points per game, scoring in double figures eight times this season, including five times in the past eight games… Has at least six assists in seven of the past eight games (7.7 average)… Became the first Grizzly in at least 30 years to come off the bench and record a points-assists double-double when he scored 12 points and dished out a season-high 10 assists vs. Eastern Washington (Feb. 20)… Scored 15 points in back-to-back games vs. Weber State (Feb. 11-13), connecting on five of seven 3-point attempts, in addition to a 13:2 assist-to-turnover ratio… Played 32 minutes while dishing out seven assists and pulling down a season-high-tying five rebounds vs. Sacramento State (Jan. 21), before scoring a season-high 20 points and recording five assists, five rebounds again and a new high for minutes (36) two nights later vs. the Hornets (Jan. 23)… All but two of his 20 points came after halftime, with the junior accounting for 16 of Montana's 23 points during a stretch late in the game and into overtime… Scored 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting at Southern Utah (Dec. 5)… Is shooting .497 overall and a team-high .462 from 3-point range (18-of-39), after shooting just .293 (12-of-41) a season ago at Sacred Heart… Has the third-most 3-pointers on the team, making at least one triple in 12 games… At one point made seven consecutive 3-pointers and was 15-of-22 shooting from Dec. 5-Feb. 13… Has a steal in 10 games, including two steals three times… Has five or more rebounds four times… Is 23 assists shy of 500 for his career.
- #12 Brandon Whitney – Ranks second on the team with 10.2 points per game and 64 assists, while leading the Griz with 29.5 minutes per contest and 23 steals… Has led Montana for minutes played a team-high seven times, steals a team-most nine times and scoring on a team-high-tying five occasions… Has been in double figures for scoring 13 times, including four straight games from Jan. 16-Feb. 4… During that span, he averaged 19.5 points per game on .560 shooting, including a career-high 22 points vs. Northern Arizona (Jan. 16), which was surpassed two games later with 28 at Sacramento State (Jan. 23)… The 28 points were the most by a Montana true freshman since Sayeed Pridgett in January 2017... Against the Hornets, he also totaled a career-best 13 made field goals (most by a Big Sky player this season), five rebounds and 49 minutes of action… Is shooting .472 from the floor on the season… Ranks second on the team with 64 assists, including four or more dimes eight times… His 3.0 assists-per-game average during Big Sky play ranked ninth… Has a positive assist-to-turnover ratio 18 times, including three occasions in which he has had five or more assists compared to one or fewer turnovers (vs. Weber State, Feb. 11; at Portland State, Feb. 6; vs. Northern Arizona, Jan. 14)… After turning the ball over eight times at Portland State (Feb. 4), had a 15:4 assist-to-turnover ratio over the next three games (Feb. 6-13)... Recorded career highs for assists (six) and rebounds (six) vs. Weber State (Feb. 11)... Has a steal in 14 games, and multiple steals seven times… Scored 20 points vs. Warner Pacific (March 6)… Tallied 14 points at Idaho State (Feb. 25), before sinking a game-winning free throw in the closing seconds the following game (Feb. 27)… Set a Montana record with 17 points at USC (Nov. 26), the most points ever by a freshman in a season opener.
- #13 Josh Bannan – Has started 20 games for Montana, including the Grizzlies' first 14 and most-recent six… Leads Montana with 143 rebounds (5.7 average) and ranks fourth on the team for scoring (8.9)… Is averaging 5.9 rebounds per Big Sky game, which ranks ninth in the league… Has been in double figures for scoring 12 times, leading the Griz for scoring a team-high-tying five times… Was in double figures for scoring in five consecutive games from Feb. 11-25, averaging 15.3 points on .620 shooting during that span… Led Montana with 19 points and 13 rebounds in a win at Idaho State (Feb. 25), scoring 10 of the Grizzlies' first 12 points… Nearly had a double-double the previous game, totaling a career-high 20 points and nine rebounds vs. Eastern Washington (Feb. 20)… Regained his form in a series vs. Weber State (Feb. 11-13), averaging 11.5 points on 10-of-13 shooting, and at one point making nine consecutive shots… Was in a slump prior to that performance shooting 9-of-31 over his previous seven games (1-of-13 at one point) while averaging just 3.6 points per contest… In a win over Weber State (Feb. 11), he shot 6-of-6 from the floor while recording 13 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and being praised for his defense… Scored in double figures in three consecutive games from Dec. 12-18… Had back-to-back double-doubles in December, scoring 12 points and pulling down 12 rebounds in a road win at Washington of the Pac-12 (Dec. 16), before totaling 16 points and 12 boards vs. Dickinson State (Dec. 18)… Scored 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting vs. Yellowstone Christian (Dec. 12)… Made a game-winning shot vs. Northern Colorado (Jan. 4), giving Montana the lead with 4.9 seconds to play… Scored 13 points in his collegiate debut at USC (Nov. 28), while playing 35 minutes.
- #23 Mack Anderson – Has seen extended playing time over the past six games (Feb. 18-20) and has made the most of it, scoring 43 points (7.2 average) after scoring 35 points over the season's first 19 games… Has started the past six games and is averaging 20.3 minutes per game during that span, including a career-high 31 at Idaho State (Feb. 25)… Has been in double figures for scoring twice, including a 15-point performance in a road win at Idaho State (Feb. 27)… Shot 5-of-6 from the floor, in addition to pulling down six rebounds (four offensive)… Had a breakout series at Sacramento State (Jan. 21-23), scoring 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting in the series opener (Jan. 21), before totaling a career-high 10 rebounds in the second game (Jan. 23)… Entering that week, he had just 13 points and 18 rebounds on the season, playing more than 10 minutes just once (Dec. 3 at Southern Utah)… Is shooting a team-best .634 from the floor… Leads the team with 10.1 rebounds per 40 minutes… Has a team-most 16 blocked shots… After shooting .527 from the free-throw line through his first two seasons, is converting at a .788 clip as a junior (26-of-33), including 21-of-24 dating back to Jan. 21… Has fouled out eight times this season, including five of the past six contests.
- #24 Freddy Brown III – Has played in eight games this season, scoring 13 points and recording four rebounds and three assists… Connected on a 3-pointer in 9 game minutes vs. Warner Pacific (March 5)… Scored eight points on 3-of-6 shooting vs. Yellowstone Christian (Dec. 12).
- #35 Derrick Carter-Hollinger – Has been limited due to various injuries throughout the season, missing seven games after being named the Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year in 2020… Is averaging 3.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per game, while playing 17.0 minutes per contest… Despite missing significant time, ranks second on the team with 13 blocked shots... Eight times has totaled three or more rebounds, including back-to-back games at Portland State (Feb. 4-6), where he had a season-high eight… In the two-game series vs. the Vikings, averaged 10.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, playing 31 minutes in both contests... After leading the Griz with eight rebounds and three blocked shots in the first game of the series, he led Montana for scoring in the second game, with a season-high 14... Twice has tallied three assists… Stole three passes vs. Whitworth (Jan. 9).
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 Over the past 3 decades, every four-year #GrizHoops player has won a conference championship! #GoGriz
Posted by Montana Griz Basketball on Tuesday, October 13, 2020
UNCHARACTERISTIC SEASON
One could pin it on a number of factors, ranging from youth to narrow losses to COVID-19, but the 2020-21 basketball season has seen Montana come up on the short end in a number of uncharacteristic ways:
- Montana began the season 0-4 and moved above .500 for the first time on March 6, its final game of the regular season.
- Montana's nine league losses are the most under Travis DeCuire.
- Montana finished below .500 in Big Sky Conference play (7-9) for just the seventh time in the past 50 seasons, and first time since 2003-04.
- Montana is playing as the No. 6 seed in the Big Sky tournament, its lowest seed since the 2003-04 team played as the No. 6 seed.
- Montana had zero players earn all-conference recognition, being shut out of the postseason awards for the first time since 2000-01.
- In its eight conference series, Montana went 1-2-5. The two times the Grizzlies were swept (Southern Utah and Eastern Washington) were two of just five times in seven seasons under DeCuire that a Big Sky opponent has swept a season series over the Griz.
- Montana lost by 14 points at Eastern Washington on Feb. 18, its largest league loss in seven seasons under DeCuire. Two days later, in Missoula, Eastern Washington again won by a 14-point margin, handing the Grizzlies their worst home loss since 2008. It marked just the third and fourth times in 141 Big Sky games that DeCuire has lost by more than 10 points.
- The Grizzlies are 7-11 in overtime contests under Travis DeCuire, including 1-1 in 2020-21.
- Prior to Montana's win over Portland State on Feb. 4, the Grizzlies had lost five consecutive overtime contests dating back to March 2018.
- Prior to its win at Portland State, Montana's last overtime road win came in November 2017 at Pitt.
- Prior to its win at Portland State, Montana last beat a Big Sky Conference team in overtime on the road on Dec. 31, 2015, at Northern Arizona.
- Montana has played in five double-overtime contests under DeCuire. The Grizzlies' last triple-overtime contest came Feb. 14, 2015 at Northern Colorado (win).
Montana opened the 2020-21 season with eight games in a 25-day period, traveling more than 25,000 miles during that span. Before adding two home non-Division-I games once the season began, all six of Montana's games scheduled for November and December were on the road.
EARNING A DUB AT U-DUB
Montana earned a 66-58 road win at Washington on Dec. 16, beating a Pac-12 opponent for the first time since December 2010. The victory snapped a 14-game losing streak to the conference.
Montana used a 17-3 first-half run to build a double-digit lead, an advantage Montana would hold for 28 consecutive minutes until Washington took a brief 53-51 lead with 3:50 to play. The Grizzlies were unfazed, however, responding with a 10-0 run and holding the Huskies to 1-of-10 shooting over the game's final 6 minutes.
Over the past three seasons, Washington is 23-3 in non-conference games on its home court, with the three losses coming to No. 1 Gonzaga, No. 9 Gonzaga and Montana.
WINNING BY A WIDE MARGIN
Montana led from start to finish Dec. 12 vs. Yellowstone Christian College, routing the Centurions 102-42.
- The 60-point margin of victory is the third-largest in school history and widest in more than 40 years. The only other times Montana has won a game by 60 or more points came in 1945-46 (103-34 over Gonzaga) and 1979-80 (94-33 over Carroll).
- Montana scored 100 points for the 31st time in school history, including the fifth time in the past two decades.
Montana earned its first win of the season on Dec. 12, defeating Yellowstone Christian College in dominant fashion (102-42). Before the win, Montana was 0-4 for just the third time in the past 50 seasons.
Two of the Grizzlies' losses came to Power 5 teams – USC of the Pac-12 and Georgia of the SEC – and two more – both at Southern Utah – came by a combined two points, marking the first time in 37 years that the Grizzlies lost back-to-back one-point games.
During that 50-year span that Montana has started a season 0-4, the Grizzlies have finished .500 or better all three times (1971-72, 2016-17 and 2020-21).
DÉJÀ VU
Montana fell in heartbreaking fashion not once, but twice, at Southern Utah.
On Dec. 3 in Cedar City, the Grizzlies led for more than 31 minutes, including by as many as 11 points. The Grizzlies then fell behind, only to tie the game in the final minute on a Josh Vazquez 3-pointer. Needing one defensive stop to send the game to overtime, Montana, was called for a foul, sending Southern Utah to the free-throw line with 2.6 seconds remaining, and allowing the Thunderbirds to win the game at the line.
Two nights later, the Grizzlies once again led by double figures in the second half. The Grizzlies then fell behind, only to tie the game in the final minute on a Josh Vazquez 3-pointer. Once again needing one defensive stop to send the game to overtime, Montana was once again called for a foul, sending Southern Utah to the free-throw line with 1.3 seconds remaining, and again allowing the Thunderbirds to win the game at the line.
The last time the Grizzlies played back-to-back games decided by one point came during the 1993-94 season (80-79 loss at Montana State, 70-69 win at Eastern Washington). The last time the Grizzlies lost back-to-back games by a single point came in February 1984, in the midst of a 23-7 season under Mike Montgomery (59-58 loss at Weber State, 60-59 loss at Montana State).
BIG SKY OPENERS
Montana's Dec. 3 loss at Southern Utah snapped a streak that dated back more than a decade. Prior to the defeat, Montana had won 11 consecutive Big Sky Conference openers.
Montana went on to lose its first three conference games for just the second time in the past 50 seasons, and the first time since 1997. Prior to this year, Montana had never lost two of its first five Big Sky games under Travis DeCuire.
2014-15 7-1 start
2015-16 6-0 start
2016-17 4-1 start
2017-18 13-0 start
2018-19 13-2 start
2019-20 7-1 start
2020-21 0-3 start
GETTING AN EARLY START
Montana's second game of the season was a Big Sky Conference game, which was historic on several levels:
- Just once before had Montana's second game of the season been a league game. During the 1963-64 season, the first in Big Sky history, Montana's second game was at Gonzaga – then a Big Sky member – marking the only other time that Montana's second game of the season has been a conference game.
- Montana's Dec. 3 opener was the program's earliest Big Sky opener ever. The previous record came on Dec. 4, 2009, vs. Northern Arizona.
Montana had five players make their Griz debuts at USC (Nov. 28), including freshmen Josh Bannan and Brandon Whitney, who led the team for both scoring and minutes played. Additionally, three transfers played their first games for Montana. Over the next several weeks, three more Grizzlies made their Griz debuts, including freshman Robby Beasley III, who missed the first six games with a leg injury.
WHITNEY MAKES HISTORY IN DEBUT
Brandon Whitney became the first freshman to ever lead the Grizzlies in scoring in a season opener, scoring 17 points in his debut. The performance was also tied for the most points ever scored by a player making his collegiate debut in a season opener.
Impressively, of the eight freshmen to ever score in double figures in a season opener, five have come under Travis DeCuire, with four happening in the past two seasons:
THE WAITING GAME
From Montana's 2019-20 regular-season finale on March 7 until its opener at USC in late November, the program went 266 days between games. It was the longest break in action since the 1999 offseason. The Nov. 28 start date was Montana's latest start to a season since opening the 1992-93 campaign on Dec. 1.
TOGETHER IN SOLIDARITY
Looking to join together, not just as a team but as an entire human race, Montana elected to put the single word 'Solidarity' on the backs of its jerseys this season. The decision came after several team meetings about social justice, with another decision resulting in every eligible player and coach voting in the November 2020 election. On the front of Montana's jerseys, a patch reads, 'Equality. Justice. Unity', which is also being worn by every Montana student-athlete this year, and was derived from Montana's diversity and inclusion committee, which sophomore Kyle Owens and associate head coach Chris Cobb serve on.
On Martin Luther King Day, Montana launched the University of Montana's Diversity Appreciation Library, a standalone structure that is housed on campus and can be filled with books for people to freely borrow or add to. The library, which was funded by the men's basketball program, was filled with anti-racism and minority-themed literature in hopes that it can help educate the campus and community.
Complete Game Notes in PDF format, including additional notes, stats, charts and player pages
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