Griz survive Lumberjacks to sweep road trip

Saturday, February 8

Flagstaff, Ariz.

6:00 PM

Montana

17-8,10-2Big Sky

Northern Arizona

14-11,5-7Big Sky

Montana

Northern Ariz.

Photo by: Jackson Wagner

2/8/2025 9:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

Kai Johnson lit up the scoresheet, but the biggest play of the game in Flagstaff on Saturday from No. 1 came on the defensive end. The senior stole the ball, diving in the front court to recover it. It led to a Money Williams three pointer that turned a two-point deficit to a 67-65 Grizzly advantage, one that they would hold for the remainder of the game in a thrilling 83-80 win.

The hustle play exemplified his game, as Johnson had multiple steal and scores in the first half. He ended the night with a game-high 22 points, a season-high seven assists, five rebounds, and three steals.

Montana (17-8, 10-2) sweeps its second road trip of the season and remains in first place in the Big Sky Conference with the win. It's the first time since 2018-19 that Montana has swept multiple Big Sky road trips in the same season, and extends the overall winning streak to six games.

The play of the game tonight. Kai with the steal and superman dive to give Montana the ball, and Money pays it off with a huge three that gave us the lead for good. #GrizHoops | #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/4ngsSIi4La
— Montana Griz Basketball (@MontanaGrizBB) February 9, 2025

Northern Arizona, a team that features the nation's 3^rd leading scorer in Trent McLaughlin and leading rebounder in Carson Towt, always puts up a fight at 7,000 feet above sea level. But for the second straight year, Montana leaves Flagstaff as the victors.

"You've got to gut this out. It's a tough place to play, tough place to win," head coach Travis DeCuire said. "For the last two games I've put the same thing on the board, play physical, play tough, and play like winners. I think our toughness is what won us the game tonight."

Montana once again torched the nets, continuing a ridiculous run of shooting that extends back to the start of the winning streak. The Griz shot 61.2 percent from the floor, their second straight game over 60 and third time in the last four games.

The Grizzlies are one of just 15 teams in the NCAA with at least three games over 60 percent shooting, and they've done it all in the last two weeks.

They had 16 assists on 30 made shots in Flagstaff, and it's been the extra pass from good-to-great that has made the difference for Montana.

"We pass. At the end of the day, it's crazy how simple it is," DeCuire said. "Pass the ball guys. You're a good player, so is the guy over there that's wide open. We don't need to shoot contested shots. We don't need 30 percent shots. Ever since we got back from Idaho State, we've been passing the ball and that's what has led to the offense being as efficient as it has been."

Montana jumped out to an early lead behind a 9-0 run in the first three minutes. Malik Moore had five of the nine, starting out hot for the second straight contest. Northern Arizona responded with a couple of runs of their own to take the lead back at 16-14.

Money Williams, again making an instant impact coming off the bench, hit a three that put Montana back up by one. It started a barrage of three pointers from the Grizzlies down the stretch of the half as DeCuire went to his bench early on.

After playing just seven players four-or-more minutes on Thursday, DeCuire got 10 players into the game in the first half alone. Seven of them scored in the first 10 minutes, including Jensen Bradtke, who knocked down a three right at the 10 minute mark.

Montana went 8-of-14 (.571) from three point range in the first half with five different players knocking down a shot from the arc. It led to a 46-40 halftime lead in a high-scoing opening 20 minutes.

that's @ajpatt3 hitting @MontanaGrizBB's EIGHTH triple of the opening half.. 🔥#ExperienceElevated pic.twitter.com/y2xsaOppBk
— Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) February 9, 2025

"We exerted a lot of energy Thursday. And then we practiced yesterday. I knew the only way we would come in here and win was to practice," DeCuire said of his rotation extending. "We didn't go hard or long, but we sweat to prepare and I think it won us the game. We just didn't have legs, and we had to go deep and trust some other guys."

The lead go pushed into double figures at 55-45 after a Kai Johnson three pointer with 14 minutes left, but the Lumberjacks would battle back. The hosts would go on a 16-5 run to grab the lead back from Montana at 61-60 with 10 minutes to play.

From there, it was a battle. The teams traded the lead six times over the next three and a half minutes, until Johnson's diving play gave the momentum back to Montana.

"We were scrambling at that point. We had no momentum, we were stagnant on offense, we were struggling to get stops," DeCuire said. "For him to make that play, it gives guys a burst of energy. That's one of the things that we always talk about in how you help us win without making shots. It's plays like that."

Montana would go on an 11-3 extended run that included the Williams three, and take a 73-68 lead down the stretch.

Northern Arizona answered with four straight points to tie the game at 75 inside the two minute mark.

Joe Pridgen had the answer for Montana, taking Towt to the paint down low and spinning away for a bucket that would put Montana back on top. On the next NAU possession, Austin Patterson stole a pass that led to a transition chance.

Malik Moore finished through contact, converting a three-point play to give Montana an 89-75 lead. They would make the free throws down the stretch to go up 82-80, but the Lumberjacks had a chance in the final seconds.

Steal from AP, and-one finish on the other end from Malik, and the lead grows to 5!

@mooremalikk | #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/pJ5A7Ld0Ff
— Montana Griz Basketball (@MontanaGrizBB) February 9, 2025

McLaughlin, who averaged 21.8 points per game entering the night and had already made multiple game winners this year, got the ball. He didn't get a balanced shot off because of the defensive pressure of Johnson, and the leaning last-second attempt rimmed out.

"At the end of the day, it was Kai just staying attached and making him work," DeCuire said of the final play. "He kept passing the ball to Towt, and there were some other things we were trying to do defensively but fortunately we got the stop."

It clinched a sweep of the most difficult road trip in the Big Sky Conference this season, and keeps Montana tied with Northern Colorado atop the league standings.

Montana played to its strengths on the night, outscoring Northern Arizona 27-12 off the bench and 21-10 off of turnovers. It allowed them to overcome a 14-rebound advantage from NAU.

Money Williams had 15 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Malik Moore was the only other Grizzly in double figures, scoring 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting.

Brandon Whitney made some history on the night by becoming the 11^th player in program history to score 1,500 career points. He reached the number exactly, and is tied with Wayne Tinkle for 10^th all-time in scoring.

Congrats to Brandon Whitney for becoming the 11th player in program history with 1,500 career points!@bwhit_12 | #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/ha1v7VOwt1
— Montana Griz Basketball (@MontanaGrizBB) February 9, 2025

He also held McLaughlin under his season average for the second time this season. The Big Sky's top scorer shot just 6-of-16 and 2-of-7 from three for 19 points.

Portland State lost earlier in the day, which creates three games of separation between the duo of Montana/Northern Colorado and the rest of the Big Sky Conference. Sweeping a very difficult road trip puts Montana in great position with just three weeks remaining.

"Nobody is going to sweep it. I don't think there will be a sweep on this trip, so that's huge," DeCuire said. "We're in a good spot. To come here and sweep this in the second half of conference says we have a hungry group of young men in that locker room."

Montana returns home next week for a revenge game against Idaho State on Thursday. The Grizzlies led at the half in Pocatello but had an uncharacteristic showing in the final 20 minutes, leading to one of the two conference losses.

The Grizzlies then host Weber State for Senior Night. Both games will tip at 7:00 p.m.