Eagles stun Griz

Thursday, February 5

Missoula, Mont.

7:00 PM

Montana

13-11,7-4Big Sky

Eastern Washington

6-17,4-6Big Sky

Eastern Wash.

Montana

Photo by: Ryan Brennecke / University of Montana

2/5/2026 10:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana men's basketball team fell 82-74 to Eastern Washington on Thursday night inside Dahlberg Arena. The Grizzlies led by as many as nine points in the second half, but Eastern Washington used a 29-10 run over an 8-minute stretch to pull off the upset.

Montana falls to 13-11 and 7-4 in Big Sky play after the loss. It snaps an 11-game home winning streak during conference play for the Grizzlies.

"Our defense failed us," head coach Travis DeCuire said. "We had a hard time containing penetration and we lost shooters time after time after time. We looked like we were in quicksand and you can't win a game like this giving up 57 percent in the second half."

Defense had been a strength for Montana to open Big Sky play and particularly over it's four-game winning streak in late January. The Grizzlies didn't allow an opponent over 72 points during the run and held back-to-back teams to just 60 points in wins of Idaho State and Portland State.

In the last two games, the Griz have allowed an average of 84 points. Eastern Washington pulled off the comeback after making 10 out of 11 field goals over an eight minute stretch with the only miss being put back in on a second chance.

The Grizzlies, on the other side, went cold in the final four minutes, making just 1-of-7 shots to close things out.

Montana had great stretches of play and led the game for over 21 minutes of action. They led 34-26 in the first half after a stretch of seven straight made field goals, including a pair of threes from Money Williams and another triple from Grant Kepley.

Te'Jon Sawyer scored his 1,000^th point at the D-I level and the 1,500^th point of his career on Thursday night and had dominant stretches of play during the game as he finished with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting.

"We shared the ball, we got great shots, and we got some open threes and some things around the basket," DeCuire said. "We had some bunnies that didn't really go when we needed them to go. Guys got going at times, Money had stretches, Grant got us going early in the first half, Te'Jon's field goal percentage was great."

The game featured 14 lead changes as the teams traded runs early in the first half. Montana built a large lead, but the Eagles were able to close the half on an 8-2 run to head into the break down just 36-34.

They pulled things level early on in the second half before Montana started to regain some momentum. Kenyon Aguino had four straight points, Grant Kepley added another three and Williams knocked down a couple of baskets to put the Grizzlies ahead 53-44.

But the next eight minutes belonged to Eastern Washington as they got hot offensively and held Montana to just two made field goals. It resulted in a complete momentum shift with the Eagles up 74-63 after two Kiree Huie free throws.

The Grizzlies didn't go away. Williams found a rhythm on offense and went on a personal 9-0 run to cut the Eagle lead to just 74-72. A big reason for that comeback was the defensive play and effort from Connor Dick.

The Missoula Hellgate graduate had an offensive rebound that led to Williams' first points of the run and several key defensive plays that ignited the Dahlberg Arena crowd.

"He's tough. You're talking about a guy that broke his nose a week ago and he's in the scrum face first," DeCuire said. "His defensive energy, his attempts on the offensive glass, his deflections. He's made a lot of things happen with his aggression, which is what we needed."

Just as it appeared that Montana would take control in the closing four minutes, Eastern Washington completely shut off the run. Alton Hamilton IV scored four straight points to extend the lead to two possessions. Dick scored late for the Grizzlies, but his were the only two points of the final four minutes for Montana as they fell 82-74.

Turnovers have plagued the Grizzlies all season and they did so once again on Thursday. The Grizzlies had 17 turnovers, nine of which came in the second half, that led to 16 Eagle points.

"We have to do a better job playing possession by possession and not be so concerned about the final score, our next opponent, banners, things like that," DeCuire said. "We have to be better possession by possession because a lot our decision making is pressing for things that aren't necessarily there and that's where the turnovers come from."

Williams led Montana with 25 points, going 10-of-17 from the floor and 3-of-6 from three-point range. It's the 12^th time in Williams' career that he has scored 25 or more points.

Sawyer had 13 points in 33 minutes of action and Kepley scored 11, making a season-high three 3-pointers. Brooklyn Hicks contributed six points off the bench.

Montana now has five losses, which is the most in a season since 2016-17.

The Grizzlies will look to rebound on Saturday at 4 p.m. when they face off against Idaho. Montana defeated the Vandals 79-73 in the first meeting between the two this year on Jan. 8 in Moscow.

"Idaho is a good team," DeCuire said. "Explosive offensively, they have two quick guards that play in space and shoot threes and we will have to do a better job containing them."