RENO, Nevada — When he first arrived in the Biggest Little City in the World, Travis DeCuire saw a sign inscribed with a simple message: “Believe”.
Before the Montana head coach’s first game of the Big Sky Conference men’s tournament, he implored his players to believe in themselves and their destiny to reach another Big Dance. It’s hard to imagine DeCuire believed his Grizzlies could ever shoot like they did on Friday night.
Montana executed offensively like no other time this season, shooting 65.1 percent from the field, including 71.4 percent in the second half. The Griz missed just six shots after intermission to outlast a relentless Idaho squad and advance to the tournament championship game for the second straight season. The second-seeded Grizzlies hit 15 of 21 second half shots to survive and advance with an 81-72 victory over the third-seeded Vandals in the final game of Friday.