BOISE, Idaho — In a commanding performance during the Big Sky Conference Tournament quarterfinals, Montana overcame Northern Arizona with a 74-65 victory on Sunday evening. Brandon Whitney was the driving force for the Grizzlies, netting 20 of his 24 points in the second half.
With this win, the second-seeded Grizzlies (23-9) earned their place in the semifinals scheduled for Tuesday. Their next opponent will emerge from the Monday quarterfinal clash between No. 3 seed Portland State and No. 6 seed Idaho.
Whitney exhibited remarkable efficiency, sinking 8 of 9 field goals and 7 of 8 free throws. His teammate, Money Williams, significantly contributed with 16 points and three steals, while Te’Jon Sawyer added nine points.
For the seventh-seeded Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (18-15), Trenton McLaughlin was the standout, amassing 34 points. Diego Campisano contributed with nine points and two steals.
In the first half, Joe Pridgen scored seven points, and Montana faced a slight deficit at halftime, trailing 31-30. However, Whitney’s impressive performance after the break was pivotal in turning the tide in favor of Montana.
