By AUSTIN SMITH
The University of Montana men’s basketball crew opened their 2012-13 season Thursday evening with a solid 86-68 win over the Lewis & Clark State Warriors.
The game was contested through the initial minutes of the first period, but sophomore guard Keron DeShields turned up the defensive heat and opened the door for earners Kareem Jamar and Mathias Ward to flesh out the stat book.
DeShields was an absolute powerhouse with his back to the rim, playing with a controlled ferocity that belies his age. DeShields has matured his already impressive play from last year’s freshman season, and if Thursday’s game is any indication, the Grizzly squad should be just fine without their star guard Will Cherry, who was injured in the offseason.
Led by senior forward Nick Fromm, the Warriors seemed like they were on to something late in the first period. The comeback was not to be however, as the Griz overcame disproportionate penalties and continued to pour in buckets from all angles. Montana maintained a constant 15-point buffer to the final whistle.
Junior guard Kareem Jamar was also a standout, earning Player of the Game honors with his team-high 26 points and six rebounds. Jamar was fearless in his pursuit of the ball, pairing a clutch steal with DeShields’ lockdown D early on in the first period to put a damper on the Warriors’ hopes.
The men are back on Wednesday, November 14th to host Minot State, but only after a road game against the Idaho Vandals on Saturday, November 17th.
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Austin Smith is a 21-year resident of the Missoula area, and an ardent fisherman, hunter, and snowboarder. When not working on the University of Montana campus, taking classes in the Journalism program, or contributing to the social media efforts of several local organizations, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his Akita and his family.