In most respects, Montana's 57-43 win over MSU-Northern Wednesday was a chance for Grizzly junior center Brian Qvale to get his game legs back.
Qvale, who missed Montana's recent road trip because of a family matter -- a win at Loyola Marymount and a last-second loss at Colorado State -- was up to the task.
The dominating Griz power post led both teams with 23 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots and patrolled the key at both ends of the floor with authority.
Otherwise, the Griz looked strangely disjointed, blowing a 20-point lead after Montana coach Wayne Tinkle inserted several substitutes early in the second half. MSU-Northern scored 10 straight, and at one point trimmed the Montana lead to eight before Griz point guard Anthony Johnson hit two of his three field goals back to back and allowed the Griz to take control of the game until its conclusion.
PHOTO: Brian Qvale scores two of his game-high 23 points Wednesda. Qvale was 9-of-11 from the field and blocked four shots on the defensive end of the floor.
It seemed that Tinkle was asking his charges to run several specific plays, in a type of practice mode. Certainly, whenever Qvale got the ball, he scored or was fouled. Montana shot 57 percent from the field in the second half and finished with a 53.5 mark on the game.
Montana plays its final three nonconference games of the season in a span of five days beginning Saturday, when they host a tough UC Riverside squad (7-3) before hosting the even tougher Fresno State Bulldogs (5-5) on the 21st, and the College of Great Falls on the 23rd.
The Grizzlies, who have played well but seem still searching for an elusive team chemistry... and searching still more for an outside shooting game, will take a long Christmas break before resuming Big Sky Conference play Dec. 31 at Idaho State.
Senior forward Jack McGillis scored 10 points for Montana, while six other players scored. Montana made an icy 2-of-9 from beyond the three point arc, a stark contrast to the overall 50% plus mark otherwise.
