Williams scores 30 to lead Montana to road win

Saturday, December 6

Grand Forks, N.D.

6:00 PM (MT)

Montana

5-5,0-0Big Sky

North Dakota

3-8,0-0Summit League

Montana

North Dakota

Photo by: Marley Barboeisel/University of Montana

12/6/2025 8:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

Few players in the long, proud history of Montana basketball have had the ability to take over a game like Money Williams. The Preseason MVP in the Big Sky Conference did so once again on Saturday night, pouring in 30 points to lead Montana to a road win over North Dakota.

Williams reached the 30-point mark for the third time this season and the fifth time in his career, tying Anthony Johnson for the most 30-point games this century for Montana. The Grizzlies needed every point from the star guard in a 79-75 win over the Fighting Hawks.

The win snaps a four-game losing streak for Montana (5-5) and sets them up for another winning non-conference season with just three games remaining, two of which will be at home against non-D-I opponents.

Need a clutch bucket? Call Money 📞

He reached 30 points for the 5th time in his career and gives Montana a 3 point lead late in Grand Forks 👏 pic.twitter.com/Ty6DpCRVZU
— Montana Griz Basketball (@MontanaGrizBB) December 7, 2025

It was an efficient night for Williams, scoring his 30 points on just 14 field goal attempts. He made 5-of-7 shots from beyond the arc, and went 3-of-3 from the free throw line. It could have been an even bigger night if not for foul trouble in the first half that limited him to just 27 minutes of game action.

Montana shot 52 percent as a team on the night, and went 12-of-24 from three-point range on an impressive shooting night. Tyler Thompson was 4-of-5 from the arc and scored 17 points to contribute on the offensive end.

Williams got Montana out of the gates hot, scoring the first points of the game by throwing an inbounds pass off the back of a defender and laying it in. Williams had 10 of the first 14 points in the game for Montana, but early foul trouble forced him to the sidelines early.

North Dakota was able to rally with Williams out of the game, taking a 26-25 lead after nine minutes on the bench for Williams.

The Grizzlies had a cold stretch at the end of the first half, going over four minutes without a point as North Dakota was able to pull in front 30-25 following a 9-0 scoring run. Courtney Anderson Jr. finally ended the Grizzly drought with a three to cut the lead back to two points.

The Fighting Hawks would score six straight points to go ahead 39-30 late in the half, but a three on the final possession of the half from Kadyn Betts cut the North Dakota lead to six at the halftime break.

North Dakota scored the first four points of the second half to take their largest lead of the game at 10 points. Montana responded with a 12-0 run with seven of the points coming from Williams as they turned the deficit into a 45-43 Grizzly lead.

But it was a second half of big runs for both sides. Montana would go cold following the 12 straight points and North Dakota responded with a big run of their own. The Fighting Hawks went on an 11-0 run to retake the lead at 54-45 with just over 13 minutes to play.

The scoring streak ended on a three-pointer from Williams. He would knock down another three on Montana's next possession to bring the Grizzlies back within a possession at 54-51.

After the Hawks were able to rebuild the lead, it was the scoring of Tyler Thompson that brought Montana back level. Thompson hit a pair of free throws and connected on a triple on the next trip down the floor to tie the game up at 58-all with just over nine minutes to play.

Thompson is up to 13 points and the Griz are back level in Grand Forks 📈 pic.twitter.com/xzU9tIV0ks
— Montana Griz Basketball (@MontanaGrizBB) December 7, 2025

Williams would give the Grizzlies the lead back at 60-58 after a pair of free throws.

The Grizzlies relied on the play of the starting backcourt for much of the night. Williams and Thompson combined for nearly 60 percent of Montana's total points on the night while Tyler Isaak contributed 9 points and led the Grizzlies with 7 rebounds.

"at this point it's just kind of comical" 😂@mxney___ is up to 28 points on the night after the impressive 3-point play. pic.twitter.com/QHWf8svIy2
— Montana Griz Basketball (@MontanaGrizBB) December 7, 2025

North Dakota wouldn't give in. The Fighting Hawks fought right back and took a 71-66 lead with just over four minutes remaining. But from that point, it was nearly all Griz down the stretch.

Thompson connected on his 4^th three of the night to cut the lead to just two points and Connor Dick added a tough layup to tie the game up with three minutes to go. After a bucket from UND, Montana would rattle off six straight points to take control of the game.

Kenyon Aguino scored the first three points, converting a free throw and then scoring with 90 seconds left in the game to put Montana ahead 74-73. The two defenses both stood tall with stops, setting Montana up with a possession inside the final minute.

The Grizzlies gave the ball to Williams and cleared the way. He drove into the lane, stepped to his left, and knocked down a pull-up jumper over a double team to reach the 30-point mark and put Montana ahead 76-73 with just 19 seconds to play.

Montana made its free throws down the stretch to close out a 79-75 road win and earn the clinching 1.5 points for the Big Sky Conference on night two of the Big Sky-Summit Challenge. It's the first time in the three-year history of the event that the Big Sky has claimed the crown.

The Griz held a 36-15 advantage in scoring from beyond the arc, using the three-ball effectively in the win. It helped them overcome 17 turnovers that led to 18 North Dakota points.

The Fighting Hawks also narrowly won the rebounding battle 34-33, which in turn led to a 19-13 advantage in second chance points.

Williams, with his 3^rd 30-point performance of the season, is now tied with Tarleton State's Dior Johnson for the most 30-point games in the country this season.

The performance upped his season scoring average to 20.4 points per game, making him one of 33 players in the country averaging over 20 points per contest.

Montana will return home for two straight mid-week contests in December. The Griz will host Salish Kootenai on Wednesday, Dec. 10 and then play Montana Tech on Dec. 17 inside Dahlberg Arena. The Griz wrap up the non-conference schedule on Dec. 20 at #6 Louisville.