MISSOULA, Mont. – SDSU rallied from a double-digit deficit to tie the score in the second half, but Montana was able to fend off the Jackrabbits late and come away with a 71-67 victory on Wednesday inside Dahlberg Arena.
The Jackrabbits went into the matchup without the services of two seniors, Oscar Cluff, and Isaac Lindsey, due to injuries. The Grizzlies took advantage over the visiting side early in the contest.
SDSU had a momentary 5-3 lead before Montana jumped ahead thanks to a stretch of six consecutive points. The Grizzlies were up 14-10 when a 7-0 scoring run put Montana on top 21-10 with 9 minutes, 23 seconds left in the opening half.
The closest SDSU got the margin down to was seven in the first half. Montana went up by as many 13 points and took a 38-27 advantage into the halftime break. The deficit after 20 minutes was the largest SDSU had seen yet this season.
SDSU quickly whittled away at the score margin. An 8-0 scoring run in just over a minute of action, capped with a Damon Wilkinson field goal, had the Jackrabbits down 43-39. Four straight points by Joe Sayler saw SDSU tie the score at 53 as the clock ticked to 10 minutes remaining. Montana followed that by registering six straight points to again re-take the lead.
The Jackrabbits had an opportunity to go ahead in the final minute of action. Trailing 69-67 with 33 seconds left, SDSU forced a turnover out of a Montana inbounds attempt. Kalen Garry, who got the possession started with a steal, took a shot from the top of the 3-point arc with 18 seconds left. His attempt spun around the rim and fell off into the hands of the Grizzlies’ Joe Pridgen who was fouled.
Pridgen sunk his ensuing free throws to provide the final points of the night.
South Dakota State fell to 7-3 overall in the defeat, while Montana improved to 6-3.
NOTES
- Montana outshot SDSU 44.8-40.6% from the field as well as a 30.8-17.4% difference from deep. The Jackrabbits out-rebounded the Griz 41-33.
- Matthew Mors and Wilkinson were SDSU’s leading scorers with 14 points apiece. Mors tied his career high of nine rebounds.
- Wilkinson’s point total was a career best scoring 14 on 7-for-9 shooting. He also had career highs in rebounds (7) and minutes played (19). Sayler added 11 points for SDSU.
- William Whorton matched his career high in points (8) and rebounds (6). Stoney Hadnot accounted for eight points, while Jaden Jackson and Owen Larson each had three assists.
- Montana won the turnover battle by giving up 11 and forcing SDSU into 15, however 12 of those turnovers for the Jacks came in the first half. The Griz had four double-digit scorers led by Malik Moore’s 16 points.
- The Griz now hold a 1-7 all-time record over the Jackrabbits.
UP NEXT
South Dakota State plays its second game of the Big Sky-Summit League Challenge on Saturday. SDSU hosts Eastern Washington as part of the conference series. The Jacks and Eagles square off at 6 p.m. in First Bank & Trust Arena.