Like all sports, basketball is a game of numbers. But clearly visible in the Montana Grizzlies’ 80 – 73 loss to UC Santa Barbara in the title round of the Legends Classic consolation finals, hosted by Pepperdine in Malibu, California, another contrasting pair of numbers was just as important as the Gauchos’ seven-point final margin.
Those numbers: 56.1 versus 42.9. They represent the game-final shooting percentage of the Gauchos to that of the Grizzlies. Add in a stellar Gauchos’ 80 percent from the free throw line (28-35) and the numbers easily explain the seven-point UCSB win.
In a game of runs that saw Montana attempt a whopping 18 more field goals than UC Santa Barbara, other game stats didn’t mean as much as the Gauchos’ 13 percentage points better from the field while making four fewer field goals proved to be the difference.
Montana junior guard Michael Oguine goes to the hoop against UC Santa Barbara/ by Glenn Junkert, for Skyline Sports
Despite the team’s shooting woes, Montana assistant head coach Chris Cobb is encouraged with the Grizzlies’ play. “I think the signs are there that we’ll start shooting the ball a bit better,” said Cobb.
“We’ve got to get our guys more confidence, get them into spots where they can make better shots,” Cobb added.
“Sometimes when a few guys aren’t shooting it down, it can kind of trickle down and put the pressure the other guys to try to make shots. I think that’s what we’re doing right now.”
Despite the stats – and that they trailed by 18 points at one point in the first half – the Grizzlies were within striking range through the entire second half. Down by a nine-point, 38-27 margin at halftime, the Grizzlies emerged from the locker room with enough fury to ignite a 17-4 run and a 48-46 lead on a slashing drive by Griz guard Michael Oguine.
The Griz would have two more brief leads seconds later on a trey from the wing by Griz wing Bobby Moorehead and a mid-key jumper by Sayeed Pridget.
At that point, Gauchos forward Leland King II took control of the game with six of his 20 points, most of them on fall-back jumpers from the mid-range right wing. Coupled with a game-leading 27 points from Gauchos guard Max Heidegger, who scored 13 points on 16 free throw attempts, the 10-point, 65-55 margin with 7:17 remaining was too much for Montana to erase… though they tried.
Montana hung tough, whittling the Gauchos lead several times and edging within five points several times and within four at 72-68 with 3:07 remaining.
In all other aspects of the game, Montana continued its strong floor play, out-boarding the Gauchos by two, paced by Oguine’s six and five apiece from junior post Jamar Akoh, point guard Ahmaad Rorie, and reserve freshman power forward, Karl Nicholas, who added 10 points on 5-for-7 shooting inside the key, though he missed all four of his free throws. Montana forced 21 Gauchos turnovers, including eight steals, but committed a somewhat above-norm 17 on their side of the floor.
Rorie was a taskmaster again, and made his full 40 minutes on the floor count with 20 points on 10-for-19 shots, 3-for-9 from beyond the arc. Rorie paced the Grizzlies with six assists and four steals.
Montana junior guard Michael Oguine goes to the rim against UC Santa Barbara/ by Glenn Junkert, for Skyline Sports
Both squads had four players with double digit scoring stats. Joining Rorie and Nicholas in double figures were Akoh with 12 and Oguine with 14 and four assists.
While the dramatic different points-converted mark at the free throw line first indicates an officiating red flag of sorts, the number of fouls – 28 for Montana and 24 for UC Santa Barbara – is deceptive. The Gauchos converted free throws at a stellar 80 percent, compared to Montana’s 61.9 percent mark from eight missed charity tosses. That shooting stat could also explain the game’s seven-point spread.
Cobb linked Montana’s late game fade to their first half 18-point deficit. “When you put yourself in such a deep hole,” said Cobb, “you have to spend so much time and energy and fight to get it back. It just caught up with us a little bit tonight.”
Montana coaches, Cobb said , are encouraged at their team’s steadily improving play and the solid contributions from young players.
“There’s a lot of positives to come from the Legends Classic,” said Cobb, who’s Griz posted a 2-2 mark in the four-game road swing. “Some guys played really well and I think we’re starting how to figure out how to play better on both ends of the court.”
The team now returns to Missoula for a Sunday night game against Carroll College from Helena before heading out against power five competition next week. The Grizzlies return to California for a Nov. 29 contest at Stanford.
Glenn Junkert is a freelance sportswriter living in Missoula. He worked at the Missoulian covering Griz athletics from 1980-1989.
