Game Recap

Montana uses explosive 2nd half to race past Idaho for 10th straight home win

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THE MATCHUP

Montana hosted its first home men’s basketball game since January 1 with an Idaho team on its first two-game winning streak against Division I opponents since March of 2018 in town. The Griz entered Thursday’s contest having won five of its last six and with a perfect 9-0 record at home.

THE RESULT

Montana did whatever it wanted offensively, shooting 54 percent from the floor, including 53 percent in the second half despite going 1-of-8 from beyond the arc. The Griz executed with ease against an Idaho defense that entered the game giving up almost 82 points per contest. Montana scored 46 points in the second half.

Four Griz scored in double figures as Montana cruised to a 81-62 victory in front of 3,014 at Dahlberg Arena. The win moves UM to 7-2 in league play, 14-6 overall. Montana is now 10-0 at home. Idaho falls to 2-8 in league play, 5-15 overall.

THE STANDOUTS

Montana sophomore guard Robby Beasley III gets to the hoop against Idaho. Beasley scored 13 points/ by Pixie Herbert

UM sophomore power forward Josh Bannan scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Junior point guard Cam Parker came off the bench to score 15 points and dish out four assists. Robby Beasley III scored 13 points, Brandon Whitney scored 12 and Lonnell Martin chipped in nine to lift the Griz to their sixth win in seven outings.

Montana head coach Travis DeCuire passed Mike Montgomery for third in school history for head coaching wins with his 156th victory at his alma mater. DeCuire trails just Wayne Tinkle (158 wins between 2006 and 2014) and Jiggs Dahlberg (222 wins between 1937 and 1955).

Trevante Anderson scored 14 of his game high 22 points in the first half as Idaho trailed 35-29 at the break only to lose for the eighth time in 2022.

Bannan grabbed nine rebounds and Martin chipped in eight as UM edged Idaho on the glass, 33-32. Whitney also was the primary defender on Idaho senior Mikey Dixon, who entered the game as one of the Big Sky’s leading scorers averaging more than 18 points per game.

QUOTABLE

WHAT’S NEXT

Montana hosts Eastern Washington on Saturday night in Missoula. The Grizzlies beat the Eagles 91-78 in Cheney, Washington earlier this season.

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About Colter Nuanez

Colter Nuanez is the co-founder and senior writer for Skyline Sports. After spending six years in the newspaper industry with stops at the Missoulian, the Ellensburg Daily Record and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the former Washington Newspaper Association Sportswriter of the Year and University of Montana Journalism School graduate ('09) has cultivated a deep passion for sports journalism during his 13-year career covering the Big Sky Conference. In August of 2014, Colter and brother Brooks merged their passions of writing and art to found Skyline Sports.

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