Griz to play for Big Sky title on ESPN2

MONTANA (21-9, 14-3 Big Sky) vs. EASTERN WASHINGTON (10-20, 6-11 Big Sky)
Monday, March 3 / 9:00 PM / ESPN2 / Live Stats / Tickets

The Montana Grizzlies return to Dahlberg Arena on Monday night, and they bring with them the opportunity to clinch the program's 13^th regular season title when they face the Eastern Washington Eagles on ESPN2.

It's Montana's first home game on one of the two main ESPN channels under DeCuire and the first time on any ESPN channel since the 2022 Brawl of the Wild was on ESPNU. The game is scheduled for a 9 p.m. tip.

The Griz are coming off a heartbreaking loss at Portland State on Saturday night, and will have a quick turnaround before facing the Eagles. Montana and Northern Colorado are now tied at 14-3 atop the league standings.

A win on Monday night would clinch at least a share of the regular season Big Sky title. It would be the fourth regular season championship for DeCuire, and 6^th overall title. It would also be the 7^th since 2000, which would break a tie with Weber State for the most in the league this century.

It is also the first home game for head coach Travis DeCuire since breaking the program's all-time wins record in Sacramento on Feb. 27. DeCuire's 222^nd career win moved him past George "Jiggs" Dahlberg, the man the arena Montana plays inside is named after, on the wins list.

The Grizzlies felt the trophy slip through their fingers in a wild game on Saturday night in Portland. There were massive momentum swings back and forth in a game between two of the top three teams in the league. Montana took a double-digit lead inside of five minutes to play, but Portland State ended regulation on a 10-0 run to force overtime.

Once there, the Vikings never trailed, pulling away for a 79-76 victory. It was the first loss for Montana in a Big Sky game decided by single digits. They had been 11-0 in such games, including a 2-0 record in one-possession games.

It also ended Montana's 10-game winning streak. It was the 12^th time in program history they had strung together at least 10 victories.

Money Williams had the performance of a lifetime against the Vikings, nearly carrying Montana to a victory single handedly in the second half. The sophomore guard scored 36 points on 11-of-22 shooting, pouring in 33 of them in the second half and overtime.

Williams scored the final 15 points in regulation for the Grizzlies, and had a chance to win it for Montana at the buzzer rim out.

It's the most points in a Big Sky Conference game by a Grizzly player since Michael Oguine had 39 at Portland State in January of 2018.

The Grizzlies needed every one of his points as several other guards were banged up in the loss at Sacramento State. Te'Jon Sawyer was the only other Grizzly to enter double figures, scoring 10 points.

The loss on Saturday stings, but Montana still has everything to play for entering "Dahlberg After Dark." There will be a pregame celebration of DeCuire's record and the potential for a trophy celebration following the game if Montana defeats Eastern Washington.

Dahlberg Arena has been very good to the Grizzlies this year. They are 14-1 at home, which is tied for the fifth most home wins in a season for Montana. They will look to make it 15 on Monday night in order to cut down the nets and hang yet another banner in the rafters.

DAHLBERG AFTER DARK
Montana will be playing in the late game on ESPN2 tipping at 9:00 p.m. There will be several promotions for "Dahlberg After Dark," including a Zoo Crew pregame show starting at 7:30, a $1,000 cash giveaway, free shirts to the first 200 students, free beer/concessions for the first 100 students, and much more.

CHANCE AT A CHAMPIONSHIP
The Grizzlies can clinch at least a share of the regular season Big Sky Championship with a win on Monday. They are currently tied with Northern Colorado at the top of the league standings. Northern Colorado owns the tiebreaker for seeding at the Big Sky Tournament.

Montana is looking for its 13th regular season title, which is the second-most in the Big Sky Conference behind only Weber State. It would be the 7th regular season title since 2000, which would pass Weber State for the most during the quarter-century.

It would be the first title since 2019 for Montana.

The Grizzlies have already locked up a top-two seed, guaranteeing that they will play on Sunday at the Big Sky Tournament.

DeCUIRE BREAKS DAHLBERG'S RECORD
Head coach Travis DeCuire won his 222nd career game at Sacramento State on Thursday. The win pushes DeCuire ahead of George "Jiggs" Dahlberg for the program record.

In 11 seasons, DeCuire's teams have averaged over 20 wins per year, and they have reached the 20-win mark for the sixth time under DeCuire this season.

WILLIAMS SCORES 36 AT PORTLAND STATE
Sophomore guard Money Williams had the best game of his impressive career on March 1 at Portland State, scoring a career high 36 points for Montana in an overtime loss. Williams scored 33 of his points after the halftime buzzer, including the final 15 points of regulation for the Grizzlies.

It's the most points by a Grizzly in a Big Sky game since Michael Oguine had 39 at Portland State in January of 2018.

FANTASTIC IN FEBRUARY
Montana finished the month of February undefeated, going 7-0 in the month. It's the third time in program history that Montana has been perfect in February, and first time since 2012.

Montana has typically improved as the season progresses under Coach DeCuire, as is evident by the head coach's record in games played in the month of February. Now in his 11th season, DeCuire is 58-23 (.716). The 58 wins are the 24th most in the NCAA during the span, and the .716 winning percentage is 19th best in the NCAA and best in the Big Sky in that time.

20 WIN SEASONS
Montana reached 20 wins on the season with a rivalry win on the road against Montana State on Feb. 22. It's the sixth time under DeCuire that the Grizzlies have won at least 20 games in a season, and the second straight time they've done it.

It's the 10th time since 2010 that they've reached the total, and the 26th time in program history that Montana has won 20 games.MONTANA (21-9, 14-3 Big Sky) vs. EASTERN WASHINGTON (10-20, 6-11 Big Sky)
Monday, March 3 / 9:00 PM / ESPN2 / Live Stats / Tickets

The Montana Grizzlies return to Dahlberg Arena on Monday night, and they bring with them the opportunity to clinch the program's 13^th regular season title when they face the Eastern Washington Eagles on ESPN2.

It's Montana's first home game on one of the two main ESPN channels under DeCuire and the first time on any ESPN channel since the 2022 Brawl of the Wild was on ESPNU. The game is scheduled for a 9 p.m. tip.

The Griz are coming off a heartbreaking loss at Portland State on Saturday night, and will have a quick turnaround before facing the Eagles. Montana and Northern Colorado are now tied at 14-3 atop the league standings.

A win on Monday night would clinch at least a share of the regular season Big Sky title. It would be the fourth regular season championship for DeCuire, and 6^th overall title. It would also be the 7^th since 2000, which would break a tie with Weber State for the most in the league this century.

It is also the first home game for head coach Travis DeCuire since breaking the program's all-time wins record in Sacramento on Feb. 27. DeCuire's 222^nd career win moved him past George "Jiggs" Dahlberg, the man the arena Montana plays inside is named after, on the wins list.

The Grizzlies felt the trophy slip through their fingers in a wild game on Saturday night in Portland. There were massive momentum swings back and forth in a game between two of the top three teams in the league. Montana took a double-digit lead inside of five minutes to play, but Portland State ended regulation on a 10-0 run to force overtime.

Once there, the Vikings never trailed, pulling away for a 79-76 victory. It was the first loss for Montana in a Big Sky game decided by single digits. They had been 11-0 in such games, including a 2-0 record in one-possession games.

It also ended Montana's 10-game winning streak. It was the 12^th time in program history they had strung together at least 10 victories.

Money Williams had the performance of a lifetime against the Vikings, nearly carrying Montana to a victory single handedly in the second half. The sophomore guard scored 36 points on 11-of-22 shooting, pouring in 33 of them in the second half and overtime.

Williams scored the final 15 points in regulation for the Grizzlies, and had a chance to win it for Montana at the buzzer rim out.

It's the most points in a Big Sky Conference game by a Grizzly player since Michael Oguine had 39 at Portland State in January of 2018.

The Grizzlies needed every one of his points as several other guards were banged up in the loss at Sacramento State. Te'Jon Sawyer was the only other Grizzly to enter double figures, scoring 10 points.

The loss on Saturday stings, but Montana still has everything to play for entering "Dahlberg After Dark." There will be a pregame celebration of DeCuire's record and the potential for a trophy celebration following the game if Montana defeats Eastern Washington.

Dahlberg Arena has been very good to the Grizzlies this year. They are 14-1 at home, which is tied for the fifth most home wins in a season for Montana. They will look to make it 15 on Monday night in order to cut down the nets and hang yet another banner in the rafters.

DAHLBERG AFTER DARK
Montana will be playing in the late game on ESPN2 tipping at 9:00 p.m. There will be several promotions for "Dahlberg After Dark," including a Zoo Crew pregame show starting at 7:30, a $1,000 cash giveaway, free shirts to the first 200 students, free beer/concessions for the first 100 students, and much more.

CHANCE AT A CHAMPIONSHIP
The Grizzlies can clinch at least a share of the regular season Big Sky Championship with a win on Monday. They are currently tied with Northern Colorado at the top of the league standings. Northern Colorado owns the tiebreaker for seeding at the Big Sky Tournament.

Montana is looking for its 13th regular season title, which is the second-most in the Big Sky Conference behind only Weber State. It would be the 7th regular season title since 2000, which would pass Weber State for the most during the quarter-century.

It would be the first title since 2019 for Montana.

The Grizzlies have already locked up a top-two seed, guaranteeing that they will play on Sunday at the Big Sky Tournament.

DeCUIRE BREAKS DAHLBERG'S RECORD
Head coach Travis DeCuire won his 222nd career game at Sacramento State on Thursday. The win pushes DeCuire ahead of George "Jiggs" Dahlberg for the program record.

In 11 seasons, DeCuire's teams have averaged over 20 wins per year, and they have reached the 20-win mark for the sixth time under DeCuire this season.

WILLIAMS SCORES 36 AT PORTLAND STATE
Sophomore guard Money Williams had the best game of his impressive career on March 1 at Portland State, scoring a career high 36 points for Montana in an overtime loss. Williams scored 33 of his points after the halftime buzzer, including the final 15 points of regulation for the Grizzlies.

It's the most points by a Grizzly in a Big Sky game since Michael Oguine had 39 at Portland State in January of 2018.

FANTASTIC IN FEBRUARY
Montana finished the month of February undefeated, going 7-0 in the month. It's the third time in program history that Montana has been perfect in February, and first time since 2012.

Montana has typically improved as the season progresses under Coach DeCuire, as is evident by the head coach's record in games played in the month of February. Now in his 11th season, DeCuire is 58-23 (.716). The 58 wins are the 24th most in the NCAA during the span, and the .716 winning percentage is 19th best in the NCAA and best in the Big Sky in that time.

20 WIN SEASONS
Montana reached 20 wins on the season with a rivalry win on the road against Montana State on Feb. 22. It's the sixth time under DeCuire that the Grizzlies have won at least 20 games in a season, and the second straight time they've done it.

It's the 10th time since 2010 that they've reached the total, and the 26th time in program history that Montana has won 20 games.

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Players Mentioned

Te'Jon Sawyer

Money Williams

University of Montana Athletics