By AUSTIN SMITH
The Montana Grizzlies notched a low-key victory Sunday evening, cruising effortlessly past the St. Martin’s Saints 73-57. It took thirteen seconds from tip-off for Mike Weisner to hit a perimeter bucket, placing the Griz in a lead that would remain uncontested.
Four Montana players scored in double digits, led by Player of the Game Jordan Gregory’s 16 points and two assists. Weisner, Kareem Jamar and Keron DeShields each tallied 13 points, and combined for seven rebounds and six assists.
St. Martin’s Tyler Copp had a game-high 18 points; fellow Saint Will Bond chipped in 10 of his own, and combined with Copp for four rebounds and two assists. St. Martin’s shot only 33 percent from outside the arc, and were outscored in the paint 22-14.
Montana took advantage of the Saints’ sloppy ball-handling, converting 17 total turnovers into 24 points. Freshman point guard Mario Dunn, Jr., led Montana with three steals, all of which came within the last three minutes.
St. Martin’s made a run towards the end of the second half, bringing the board within 10 points and forcing the Grizzlies into a full court press. But the Dunn- and DeShields-led pressure disrupted the Saints’ momentum, and Montana dribbled out the clock for their fifth win of the season.
The Griz will host Montana – Western on Friday, Dec. 20, before hitting the road to face the Idaho Vandals. They will start the New Year with two conference matchups: Northern Arizona on Jan. 2, and Sacramento State on Jan. 4.
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