Monday, January 16
Cheney, Wash.
7 PM (MT)
Montana
9-10,3-4Big Sky
57
at
64
Eastern Washington
12-7,6-0Big Sky
1
2
F
Montana
28
29
57
Eastern Wash.
27
37
64
Eagles remain unbeaten with 64-57 win over Griz
1/16/2023 9:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The two highest scoring offenses in the league, both averaging over 73 points per contest, were slowed down on Monday night in Cheney, but it was the league leading Eastern Washington Eagles that emerged from a defensive battle with a 64-57 win to stay undefeated in Big Sky play.
The Grizzlies (9-10, 3-4 Big Sky) led for over 19 minutes and held an Eagle offense that entered the night averaging 84 points per game to just 64 points, but it wouldn't be enough. Montana had a cold shooting night, being held under 40 percent from the field for just the third time this season.
"Just too many empty possessions. This team leads the league in scoring at 84 a game, and if we're not fouling down the stretch and we just play that last minute out we hold them under 60," head coach Travis DeCuire said. "When you defend that well, you should win."
Dischon Thomas led the Grizzly offense with 19 points, going 3-for-7 from three-point range. Outside of Thomas, the Griz went just 2-for-21 from the arc as the shots just weren't falling at Reese Court. Josh Bannan had 17 points and eight rebounds and Brandon Whitney was also in double-figures with 11.
The last time the Griz and Eagles met it was the Eastern Washington offense and a huge advantage on the boards that paced them to the win. Montana improved dramatically in both areas, holding them to 23 fewer points and splitting the boards evenly at 32-32.
Whitney got things started for Montana with the first four points of the night, then he stole the ball to set up a fast break opportunity for the Griz. Martin Jr. tossed it up, and for the second straight game Bannan threw it down for a highlight-reel alley-oop. It gave Montana its first lead of the game.
The Griz struggled shooting from the jump, missing their first seven attempts from deep but still led for much of the first half. Thomas finally snapped the cold spell, hitting the first three of the night to make it 17-14. It started an impressive streak for him, knocking down three shots from the arc in four possessions to give Montana a 23-16 lead, the largest of the night for Montana.
"(Thomas) got it going early. He hit three threes in that first half and then got cold a little bit but when we got him the ball around the basket he was effective," DeCuire said. "He got fouled, made some shots. I would have liked to have gotten him a few more touches. I thought he was very active on the defensive side of the ball though. He got some loose balls, contested some shots, it felt like he had more than five rebounds."
The final 10 minutes of the first half saw Montana hold a lead the entire time, but it was relinquished early in the second half. The defenses really flexed their muscles out of the gates, as both teams opened the second half 2-8 shooting from the field.
Both teams went over three minutes without scoring before Thomas knocked down a jumper that put Montana up 32-29. The Griz were outrebounding the Eagles 24-17 at the time, but the Eagles would close out with an eight-rebound advantage down the stretch.
Gallery: (1-16-2023) MBB: at Eastern Washington (1.16.23)
The hottest streak of the night for either side came from Eastern Washington, who made five straight shots to take a 46-38 lead. The Griz battled back, getting it within three points on a three from Martin Jr. It was the first make from a Grizzly not named Thomas from distance, as the rest of the team started 0-14.
The shots kept falling, as Moody would hit his lone three of the night later to cut it down to 47-46. The teams then traded baskets, and Bannan tied the game up with two minutes remaining on a big and-one finish through contact. It made it 57-57, but the Eagles locked in defensively down the stretch. A 7-0 run ended it. It was the eighth consecutive win for Eastern Washington, who remained unbeaten in Big Sky play.
The Grizzly bench was held scoreless for just the second time this season. They were able to win the battle in the paint by a significant margin (28-18), but nearly half of Eastern Washington's made field goals came from three-point range which proved to be the difference maker.
"Our offense failed us a little bit tonight. We got good shots, they just didn't go in," DeCuire said. "It's the guys we want shooting the ball, and they just didn't go in. It's going to happen from time to time, it's just unfortunate that it happened tonight when we felt like we were catching our stride a little bit. We've got an opportunity to make up for it at home and at some point we'll catch our stride."
Montana now will have some time off before taking on rival Montana State this Saturday in Missoula. The Bobcats also fell on Monday night, giving Idaho its first win of the conference season.
"We've got to find a way to catch a break and have a little fresh run. Hopefully we can get it started at home."
The Grizzlies (9-10, 3-4 Big Sky) led for over 19 minutes and held an Eagle offense that entered the night averaging 84 points per game to just 64 points, but it wouldn't be enough. Montana had a cold shooting night, being held under 40 percent from the field for just the third time this season.
"Just too many empty possessions. This team leads the league in scoring at 84 a game, and if we're not fouling down the stretch and we just play that last minute out we hold them under 60," head coach Travis DeCuire said. "When you defend that well, you should win."
Dischon Thomas led the Grizzly offense with 19 points, going 3-for-7 from three-point range. Outside of Thomas, the Griz went just 2-for-21 from the arc as the shots just weren't falling at Reese Court. Josh Bannan had 17 points and eight rebounds and Brandon Whitney was also in double-figures with 11.
The last time the Griz and Eagles met it was the Eastern Washington offense and a huge advantage on the boards that paced them to the win. Montana improved dramatically in both areas, holding them to 23 fewer points and splitting the boards evenly at 32-32.
threading the 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑙𝑒
— Montana Griz Basketball (@MontanaGrizBB) January 17, 2023
Perfect pass from Bannan leads to an easy lay-in for Whitney!#GrizHoops #BigSkyMBB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/AkNuLSePlL
Whitney got things started for Montana with the first four points of the night, then he stole the ball to set up a fast break opportunity for the Griz. Martin Jr. tossed it up, and for the second straight game Bannan threw it down for a highlight-reel alley-oop. It gave Montana its first lead of the game.
The Griz struggled shooting from the jump, missing their first seven attempts from deep but still led for much of the first half. Thomas finally snapped the cold spell, hitting the first three of the night to make it 17-14. It started an impressive streak for him, knocking down three shots from the arc in four possessions to give Montana a 23-16 lead, the largest of the night for Montana.
"(Thomas) got it going early. He hit three threes in that first half and then got cold a little bit but when we got him the ball around the basket he was effective," DeCuire said. "He got fouled, made some shots. I would have liked to have gotten him a few more touches. I thought he was very active on the defensive side of the ball though. He got some loose balls, contested some shots, it felt like he had more than five rebounds."
Great ball movement leads to the 𝗦𝗟𝗔𝗠 from @dischonthomas down low!#GrizHoops #BigSkyMBB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/yAL73TVCjc
— Montana Griz Basketball (@MontanaGrizBB) January 17, 2023
The final 10 minutes of the first half saw Montana hold a lead the entire time, but it was relinquished early in the second half. The defenses really flexed their muscles out of the gates, as both teams opened the second half 2-8 shooting from the field.
Both teams went over three minutes without scoring before Thomas knocked down a jumper that put Montana up 32-29. The Griz were outrebounding the Eagles 24-17 at the time, but the Eagles would close out with an eight-rebound advantage down the stretch.
The hottest streak of the night for either side came from Eastern Washington, who made five straight shots to take a 46-38 lead. The Griz battled back, getting it within three points on a three from Martin Jr. It was the first make from a Grizzly not named Thomas from distance, as the rest of the team started 0-14.
The shots kept falling, as Moody would hit his lone three of the night later to cut it down to 47-46. The teams then traded baskets, and Bannan tied the game up with two minutes remaining on a big and-one finish through contact. It made it 57-57, but the Eagles locked in defensively down the stretch. A 7-0 run ended it. It was the eighth consecutive win for Eastern Washington, who remained unbeaten in Big Sky play.
Picture perfect sideline OB play here gets Bannan the runway, and he finishes through contact to tie this game up at 57-all! Buckle up!#GrizHoops #BigSkyMBB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/2DY0VxYhMU
— Montana Griz Basketball (@MontanaGrizBB) January 17, 2023
The Grizzly bench was held scoreless for just the second time this season. They were able to win the battle in the paint by a significant margin (28-18), but nearly half of Eastern Washington's made field goals came from three-point range which proved to be the difference maker.
"Our offense failed us a little bit tonight. We got good shots, they just didn't go in," DeCuire said. "It's the guys we want shooting the ball, and they just didn't go in. It's going to happen from time to time, it's just unfortunate that it happened tonight when we felt like we were catching our stride a little bit. We've got an opportunity to make up for it at home and at some point we'll catch our stride."
Montana now will have some time off before taking on rival Montana State this Saturday in Missoula. The Bobcats also fell on Monday night, giving Idaho its first win of the conference season.
"We've got to find a way to catch a break and have a little fresh run. Hopefully we can get it started at home."
Team Stats
Mont
EWU
FG%
.375
.408
3FG%
.179
.429
FT%
.909
.833
RB
32
32
TO
11
11
STL
6
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
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