Two days after shooting 24.5% against Air Force in a 58-40 loss and a mere 20 hours after scoring only 26 POINTS against the Washington State Cougars, the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils battled the Montana Grizzlies on even terms, finally falling the the Grizzlies 69-62 in the fifth game of Washington State Cougar Hispanic College Fund Challenge Sunday at the Spokane Arena.
The Grizzlies shot 63.6% from the field and outrebounded the Delta Devils 31-20, but 18 turnovers from constant on-ball defense kept the Delta Devils in the game until the Grizzlies opened up a late 8-point margin on a baseline jumper from guard Matt Martin at the 5:22 mark, extending the Grizzly lead to 55-47.
Martin, and backcourt mates Ryan Staudacher and Ceylon Elgin-Taylor had perhaps their best full-game outings of the season in the win.
Point guard Cameron Rundles aggravated a chronic foot injury and was limited in second half play.
Check back later today for a full game story and photos of the game. Later I’ll post photos of the entire tournament.
The Grizzlies ended up with a 2-1 record in the tourney and will now prepare for a home contest Friday against the high-powered Cal State Fullerton Titans.