Bannan’s late free throws lift Griz past Portland State on the road

THE MATCHUP

Thursday, Montana Griz men’s basketball team took the court for the first time since losing 66-59 in Bozeman to rival Montana State on January 9. The Grizzlies took on a Portland State team that has consistently been a thrown in UM’s side during Travis DeCuire’s tenure at Montana.

THE RESULT

The Griz did not take the lead until 32 minutes of the game, but used a 13-3 run for its first advantage. A back and forth final eight minutes played out, culminating in Josh Bannan sinking two free throws with 14 seconds left to lift Montana to a 66-64 win over the Vikings.

The victory moves Montana to 5-2 in league play, 11-6 overall. PSU is now 2-4 in Big Sky play, 4-9 overall.

THE STANDOUTS

Portland State shot 52 percent from the floor in the first half, compared to just 31-percent shooting for the Grizzlies, but Montana trailed by just two points at the break. The Grizzlies, who trailed by more than two possessions (seven points) for just 20 total seconds, were always within striking distance.
 
But every time Montana closed, Portland State had the answer.

That changed with 7 minutes, 34 seconds to play, when sophomore forward Josh Bannan connected on a 3-pointer from senior Cameron Parker to take a 51-49 lead, Montana’s first advantage of the night. Bannan’s triple started a 6-0 run over 22 seconds and was part of an extended 13-3 run over a 5-minute stretch.
  
Bannan finished with 22 points to lead Montana. Sophomore Robby Beasley III scored 18 more to help the Griz to a road victory. Both players have now been in double figures for scoring in five consecutive games following the holiday break.
 
Bannan’s 22 points were the second-most of his career, as he shot 8-of-13 and added a team-best five rebounds. Beasley – playing in the venue in which he made a 35-foot, game-tying 3-pointer to send last year’s game to overtime – had 18 points, connecting on three 3-pointers. Parker, an Oregon native, added 13 points and four assists, with nearly all of his production coming in the second half.
 

QUOTABLE

“You can keep yourself in striking distance if you’re not making shots if you defend and rebound,” head coach Travis DeCuire said. “These guys scrap on the defensive side and that’s always going to give us a chance. They trust each other and guys took turns making shots.”

“I had been talking to the team about tough skin, and I think we needed to build it,” DeCuire said. “This is a group that needed to be on the road and fight through adversity and still find success. To come up out of it, and not be perfect, I think that’s growth.”

“We had a bunch of guys make big plays and have big possessions,” DeCuire said. “Tonight was a game of adjustments, we made a lot of them in the timeouts, and it feels good to come away with a win.”

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WHAT’S NEXT

Montana plays at Northern Arizona in Flagstaff on Saturday afternoon. Tip is at 2 p.m.