Griz snap three-game losing streak thanks to big night from Thomas

THE MATCHUP

Montana had played teams close throughout the first several weeks of the Big Sky season – at least until Thursday’s 67-48 blowout loss to Sacramento State. That loss, their third in a row, left the Griz in what’s become a familiar position this season – needing a win in the Saturday game to pick up a weekend split – but with perhaps a bit more urgency. Scoring six points in the final 16:30 of a game, as they did on Thursday, will do that. The Griz were also missing sharpshooting guard Aanen Moody and post Mack Anderson on Saturday night as they took on Portland State in Portland, After losing to Montana State on Thursday, the Vikings entered having lost three of four. Former Montana guard Cam Parker came in as PSU’s leading scorer with over 15 points per game.

THE RESULT

Not only did the Griz bounce back from Thursday’s loss, they finally won a close game, as Portland State made multiple pushes down the stretch but Montana closed out a 73-67 win. The Griz led by 11 at halftime and by as many as 15 early in the second half as Josh Vazquez and Dischon Thomas made 3-pointers out of the break, but the Vikings hung around and cut the lead to two points twice in the final two minutes. After the first, on Bobby Harvey’s layup with 1:50 left, Josh Bannan answered with a dunk off a slick big-to-big feed from Thomas. The Vikings also got within two on a layup with 14 seconds left, but Vazquez made two free throws on the ensuing possession and then two more after a PSU turnover to seal it. Montana shot 52% from the field and 40% from 3, allowing the Griz to overcome Portland State’s advantages in turnovers (13 to 6) and offensive rebounds (11 to 6).

THE STANDOUTS

Thomas started hot, making back-to-back 3-pointers midway through the first half to open up Montana’s first two-possession lead, and stayed that way, finishing with a career-high 25 points. The transfer from Colorado State, where he set his previous career-high with 21 last season, made 5 of 9 3-pointers and also dished out a co-team-high six assists. On the defensive end, he recorded a career-high three blocks. He played all 20 minutes in the first half and 39 for the game.

Josh Bannan also had six assists, putting him on triple-double watch when paired with his 17 points and 11 rebounds. Bannan’s 17 came on just eight field-goal attempts.

Josh Vazquez, who took most of Moody’s minutes, also finished with 17 for Montana, including four clutch free throws in the final 15 seconds.

Going against his old team, Parker didn’t disappoint for Portland State, leading the Vikings with 21 points and also handing out 10 assists. No other Portland State player had more than 12 points.

BOX SCORE

QUOTABLE

“Huge. You make your own luck, I really believe that, and we hadn’t just been playing together, we hadn’t been trusting one another. … We spent about 36 hours, almost, looking each other in the face and telling the truth, doing what families do. Argue a little bit, fight a little bit, cry a little bit, and then come together and hug it out, and try and execute.” Montana head coach Travis DeCuire

“I think Bannan set the tone with the way he spread the ball around early. Dischon set the tone the way he defended. And those are the two big things for us to be a unit. Those two guys need to be more consistent in those two areas, and I think that’s why everything fell into place.” – DeCuire

UP NEXT

Montana (10-12, 4-6) returns home to try and keep the tenuous good vibes going, hosting Northern Colorado on Thursday. Portland State (9-13, 3-6) hosts Idaho.

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