Big second half leads Idaho State past Montana

Saturday, January 18

Pocatello, Idaho

6:00 PM

Montana

11-8,4-2Big Sky

Idaho State

8-8,3-2Big Sky

Montana

Idaho St.

Photo by: Jackson Wagner

1/18/2025 8:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

The Idaho State Bengals used a big second half to pull away from Montana on Saturday night in Pocatello. The Grizzlies were outscored 50-18 in the second half of the 86-62 loss.

Montana had a 44-36 advantage at the break, but the rebounding ability of the Bengals shifted the game in favor of the hosts. Idaho State entered the night 4^th in the NCAA in rebounding margin, averaging 11.5 more per game than their opponents.

The Griz won the battle of the boards 21-12 in the first half, and used that advantage to take a lead into the locker rooms. But for the first time this season, Montana couldn't defend a halftime lead. Idaho State won the second half 26-5 on the boards, grabbing 10 on the offensive end.

It's a weekend split for the Grizzlies, who remain in second place in the Big Sky standings. Montana is 3-1 on the road through the first three weeks of Big Sky play.

"Splits are good on the road. You've already got a sweep. We are in a good spot in that regard," DeCuire said. "We are not in a good spot in terms of playing together, executing, and putting two games together back-to-back. We've got to improve on our mental approach and physical toughness, and that's on me."

Malik Moore led Montana with 12 points, and Jensen Bradtke reached double figures for the third time this season with 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting. Money Williams had a team-high five assists, all coming in the first half.

Joe Pridgen had more than a third of Montana's total rebounds on the night, grabbing nine. He was one shy of his sixth game with double-digit rebounds.

The host Bengals had a hot start, jumping out to an 11-4 lead early. Idaho State didn't torch the nets offensively, but they held Montana to just one made field goal on their first seven attempts.

The one make was emphatic, as Joe Pridgen added to his collection of posters this season with a huge one-handed slam, the 23^rd of the season for Pridgen.

STARTING THE SCORING WITH A 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐆𝐄𝐍 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑™️#GrizHoops | #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/h0xuw8Ij1R
— Montana Griz Basketball (@MontanaGrizBB) January 19, 2025

Montana found a nice rhythm through the middle portion of the half. Moore started it with a made lay-up, and from there the Griz made five straight field goals to cut the deficit to just one point.

Montana took its first lead of the game on a three from Money Williams with seven minutes left in the half that made it 25-24. The lead would change hands five more times in the next three minutes as both offenses got hot.

The Griz went on a 6-0 run over the final 90 seconds of the half to take a 44-36 lead at the break.

"We were good in the first. We executed on the defensive side of the ball, which is typical in the first half because you have the coaches in front of the bench," DeCuire said. "We were calling out some of the sets we saw coming."

Idaho State pulled away from Montana early in the second half, scoring the first 14 points and opening the half on a 20-2 run. They would push it all the way out to lead by double figures behind hot shooting and dominant rebounding.

Montana stagnated on the offensive side of the ball out of the gates.

"We set a goal for 15 assists. We knew the difference between wins and losses, and points being scored, was assists," DeCuire said. "We had 10 at halftime and said, 'Guys, we need to come out of halftime and do the same thing.' We did not pass the ball our first six shots, they were off of 1-on-1 play. We just weren't focused coming out of halftime."

The Bengals started the half 14-of-22 shooting, and grabbed seven offensive rebounds on their eight misses. It led to an average of nearly 2.0 points per possession, while Montana started 4-of-12 from the field and didn't get a single offensive rebound.

The lead would grow to as much as 26 on the night as the Bengals pulled away down the stretch. The Bengals scored on 24 of their 29 second-half possessions, grabbing 10 offensive rebounds that led to 16 second chance points.

"We just did not do a good job executing, and they did," DeCuire said. "We didn't do a good job of rebounding the ball. They did."

The win snapped a six-game winning streak in the series for Montana. The Grizzlies have still won 28 of the previous 30 matchups against the Bengals.

Montana will have a quick turnaround to try to put the loss behind them. The Grizzlies host Idaho on Monday night in Missoula looking to complete the sweep of the Vandals this year. The game will tip at 7:00 p.m. and be televised on SWX with a stream available via ESPN+.