I've watched college basketball for a good many years and have seldom seen a team win without at least battling its opponents in rebounds.
Yet here are the Griz, being outboarded 19-10 by the Bengals... leading by six, 32-26 in Pocatello at halftime of the first round of Big Sky Conference playoff action.
Matt Martin is tied for the rebounding lead with Bran Qvale with two.
As usual, the Bengals are sealing up the low blocks, which means that the Griz have to score from the perimeter. Nice to see Matt pace the Griz with a 3-for-5 mark and Ryan Staudacher with 3-of-6.
Still, it'll be a tough go if Montana can't do a better job on the boards in the second half.
Final: ISU 67, Montana 65.
A brief stats line: ISU outrebounds Montana by 10 (Mick Holien said the spread was actually 12). Montana shoots 42% from the field (37% in the second half), compared to the Bengals' 52% (77% on 14-of-18 shooting in the second half). And... what can you say when a team shoots 45% from the free throw line, missing four critical shots from the line down the stretch.
Montana coach Wayne Tinkle said that two critical stretches – one in each half when ISU made quick runs – spelled the difference.
The loss was one of Montana's sixth by a total of 11 points during the year.
NOTE: This is a brief wrap. For Grizzly Journal readers, my coverage of the Montana Grizzlies will continue through the post-season and through the year. Keep posted for continued coverage, including several interviews and, hopefully, an email exchange.
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