Montana defeats N Colorado 88-79
Montana Outlasts Visiting N Colorado in Thrilling Conference Win
The Dahlberg Arena crowd witnessed an intense, back-and-forth affair on Saturday night as the Montana Grizzlies edged out the visiting Northern Colorado Bears by a 9-point margin, 88-79.
As the contest began, both teams struggled to find their footing. The Grizzlies' Money Williams sparked the home team's early offense with 10 points in the first half, but the Bears responded with Brock Wisne's 12 markers, keeping the game deadlocked at 34-34 at halftime.
The second stanza saw Montana regain its composure, as Williams continued to wreak havoc on the court. The senior guard chipped in 8 more points, pushing his total to 31 for the night. Meanwhile, N Colorado struggled from beyond the arc, making only one of five three-point attempts.
In a game that was never decisively out of reach for either side, Montana's defense proved crucial. Tyler Thompson led the charge with 11 rebounds and 11 points, while Quinn Denker orchestrated his team's offense with 7 assists and 14 points.
The final tally saw Williams finish with an impressive 31 points, paired with Thompson's well-rounded performance. N Colorado's Wisne scored a respectable 22 points but struggled to find consistency from the perimeter, going just 3-for-5 on three-pointers.
In terms of advanced statistics, Montana demonstrated a clear advantage in several key categories, including effective field goal percentage (eFG%) and free throw rate (FT Rate). The Grizzlies' ability to capitalize on their opportunities was evident in their 73.1% free throw conversion rate, while N Colorado struggled with just 29.6%.
This win not only cements Montana's position as a top contender within the conference but also underscores the team's resilience and adaptability in high-pressure situations.
For N Colorado, the tough loss marks a turning point in their season, highlighting areas that need improvement – particularly from three-point range. The Bears will look to rebound against a stiff schedule ahead.
In the end, Montana's superior balance of offense, defense, and shooting proved too much for N Colorado to overcome.