Long title, kind of confusing. What isn’t confusing is this: Montana said “not so fast” to all those who have been riding the Weber State bandwagon since the start of the 2011-12 season.
On Saturday in front of 3,500-plus in Missoula, the Grizzlies took down the Long Beach State 49ers by a basket, 73-71. LBSU was ranked No. 8 in the weekly mid-major top 25 poll as of Nov. 21.
Rather, it was two free throws by senior forward Derek Selvig that eventually did in Dan Monson’s team with eight seconds left.
In a back-and-forth affair that saw eight tie and, subsequently, eight lead changes, Montana took its final lead on a jumper by Will Cherry with 38 seconds to play. Cherry added two freebies to put Montana up three, then Selvig’s charity-stripe tosses increased the advantage to 73-68. LBSU’s Larry Anderson nailed a 3-pointer with three ticks on the game clock, but it was too little, too late.
Important to note was how fortunate, or lucky depending on whom you ask, Montana was throughout the contest. UM was down 11 at one point in the first half and scuttled away leads of up to seven points (64-57) as the game wound down. In addition, the Griz won as LBSU, in the final 38 seconds, went 1-of-2 from the field and 0-of-2 from the free throw line. The free throw misses wasted an offensive rebound and a chance to take a 70-69 lead.
In other Big Sky action Saturday:
Montana State fell to former Big Sky member Idaho after shooting dismally in the first half.
Four in double figures wasn’t enough as Idaho State fell to Utah State.
Portland State outlasted Louisiana Tech in Wyoming.
Sacramento State gave away a 17-point lead in a loss to McNeese State.
Northern Arizona fell in California.
On Sunday, Portland State ended the Wyoming Jim Thorpe Classic with a 2-1 record and Jim Hayford is now 3-2 as a Division I coach.
