BOISE, Idaho — In a decisive Big Sky Conference Tournament semifinal match-up on Tuesday night, Montana emerged victorious over Idaho with a commanding performance, securing a 78-55 win. Key to the victory was reserve player Austin Patterson, who contributed significantly with 20 points, including five successful three-pointers out of ten attempts.
Montana, which holds the second seed, is now set to face off against top-seeded Northern Colorado on Wednesday. This game will determine who secures the automatic entry into the NCAA Tournament.
The Grizzlies also saw strong performances from Money Williams and Kai Johnson, who each brought in 13 points, bolstering Montana’s standing to a 24-9 record for the season.
Idaho, entering the tournament as the sixth seed, was represented by Jack Payne with 18 points and Kolton Mitchell with 12 points. Despite their efforts, Idaho finished their season with a 14-19 record.
Montana took control of the game early on with Patterson’s three-pointer breaking a tie at 7 points, leading to a persistent dominance throughout the match. Williams further fueled the lead with a layup and three-pointer in quick succession, pushing Montana’s advantage to 27-11 halfway through the first half.
By halftime, the Grizzlies maintained a significant lead at 39-28 and kept a firm grip on their double-digit advantage for the remainder of the game.
