About 13 months ago, Montana was in San Jose just a few days removed from a dramatic, season-opening win over Boise State. It was thought that the Griz were in for their second consecutive win over a Mountain West team with San Jose State again languishing at the bottom of its conference.
But the script did not play out as predicted. Montana was sluggish and uninspired and San Jose State sent the Griz packing with loss. A few days later, Montana head coach Travis DeCuire reminded his team they weren’t as good as they thought they were.
More than a year later, with the Griz trying to prove they’re better than their record indicates, they enacted a little revenge on San Jose State with an 81-62 win for their first win streak of the young season. UM’s second straight win boosts the Griz to 3-6.
Montana third-year head coach Travis DeCuire/ pictured here on December 3 against Milwaukee, led his Griz to a second straigth in Missoula on Wednesday/ by Jason Bacaj
“We talked about that a lot this week about how they took it to us and kind of punked us and made us seem soft,” said UM junior center Fabijan Krslovic, who affected the game in just about every way he statistically could. “There was a bit of an extra sense of urgency and a little extra chip on the shoulder to come out and set the tone and be aggressive.”
That’s exactly what the Griz did Wednesday night at Dahlberg Arena with a swarming defense that helped build an early double-digit lead. When that advantage was in peril, it was the Grizzlies’ energy players who put a stop to the momentum the Spartans built.
With their lead cut from 20 to six, sophomore point guard Ahmaad Rorie drove to the hoop for an and-1 and a nine-point lead. It was followed by a few free throws from Krslovic and Michael Oguine and three straight 3-pointers from Jack Lopez before the biggest play of the night put the stamp on Montana’s second home win since returning from a 19-day road trip.
Krslovic forced a steal near the three-point line then threaded a pass to Wright, who dribbled into the lane then tossed a one-handed lob up to Oguine who seemingly came from nowhere for a two-handed slam that sent the 3,024 faithful back out into the frigid Missoula air with a win to celebrate.
“I saw Mike and Ahmaad both running through, but Mike, when he gets up, he gets up,” Krslovic said. “I think it may have cooled them off a little bit because it was such a big play.”
While Oguine provided the electricity with two big dunks and his typical harassing defense, Krslovic was quietly everywhere he needed to be on both sides of the court. Four nights after posting a career-high 13 rebounds, Krslovic earned his first double-double at Montana and nearly managed a highly unconventional triple-double for a man who spends most of his time in the post.
Krslovic, who finished with 11 points, 13 rebounds and eight steals, had done everything he could possibly do on the court when he cashed a 15-foot baseline jumper with 2:31 left on the first-half clock and the Griz sporting a 42-24 advantage. He grabbed offensive rebounds, blocked shots, cleaned the defensive glass, scored, and created turnovers.
He was even in the perfect spot during one of Oguine’s highlight reel dunks, though his contribution went largely unnoticed. Positioned on the right block, Krslovic set a sturdy backdoor screen that allowed Oguine to soar above the rim and slam home a lob from Rorie for a 64-56 lead with 8:03 to play.
“I’ll never discredit what Fab is doing right now, he is playing incredible basketball,” DeCuire said. “He’s playing MVP basketball.”
“When Mike gets that lob all of a sudden we’re a better defensive team and we’re pushing the ball in transition,” DeCuire later added. “I think our fans want to see some things and be entertained.”
Montana got out to an early lead thanks to a defense that created 19 turnovers and an offense that converted them into 30 points. The Griz relentlessly attacked the rim as senior Walter Wright sliced inside for 14 and Rorie, Oguine and freshman Sayeed Pridgett providing a punch in the paint.
But San Jose State adjusted with a 2-3 zone to start the second half and Montana’s offense froze up. The Spartans, brought to life by Brandon Clarke’s monstrous two-handed dunk with 10:09 to go, cut the lead to as little as six.
That’s when Lopez found his stroke. Wright set up the first two, before the senior from Australia got lost in the corner for another three on dish from Rorie that pushed Montana’s advantage back up to 17.
“I feel confident when I shoot,” said Lopez, who hit four threes and finished with a season-high 15. “I get up a lot of reps in practice and before practice so when I shoot in a game I just feel like it should go in.”
Notes: Clark paced San Jose State with 11 points. … The 30 points the Spartans scored were the fewest Montana has allowed in first half this season since Oral Roberts managed just 24. … Oguine finished with a season-high 16 points. Wright scored 19 and dished out seven assists and Rorie added 13. … Montana finished 20 for 23 at the free throw line.
