Big Sky Conference Championship Recap
When a desperation half-court shot hits the floor before the buzzer even sounds, chances are the ball was heaved up a bit too soon. With an NCAA Tournament bid at stake, however, one can come to terms with why Jamaal Jenkins didn’t take an extra dribble or two towards the basket before taking his game-winning attempt. The Weber State (14-16) point guard’s shot, taken with over two seconds left on the clock, missed wide right and gave Montana (18-12) a 63-61 win and Big Sky Tournament championship. The NCAA Tournament appearance will be the Grizzlies’ first since 2002.
With Weber leading 39-38 with 11 minutes remaining, Montana went on a 16-5 run over the next six minutes, capped by a Virgil Matthews dunk, to lead 54-44. Down nine points with under three minutes left, Weber’s Troy Goodell scored six-consecutive points in a 20-second span to cut Montana’s lead to 58-55. After two Montana free throws, Wildcat Coric Riggs hit a 3-pointer with four seconds left to cut the Montana lead to one point. On the ensuing inbound, the Wildcats intentionally fouled Kamarr Davis, who converted one of two free throws. With 2.8 seconds left, Weber inbounded to Jenkins, who instantly shot the ball from half court.
The game featured a battle between two of the conference’s top big men: Weber’s Lance Allred and Montana’s Kamarr Davis. Allred finished with 21 points and Davis had 19, but Allred scored only three over the final eight minutes. Davis had seven points in that stretch. Jenkins finished with ten points and five assists for Weber State.
