By DAVE GUFFEY | Photos by WILLIAM MUNOZ
Junior forward Martin Breunig registered game-highs of 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead the University of Montana Grizzlies to a 75-52 win over the visiting Carroll College Saints Wednesday evening in Dahlberg Arena.
It was the home debut for first-year UM head coach Travis DeCuire and his team, which evened its record to 2-2. The Saints’ record remains at 9-2, as this was an exhibition game for them.
The visitors from Helena hung with the Grizzlies in the first 15 minutes, but Montana outscored the Saints 8-0 to close out the opening half, and took a double–digit lead (34-23) on a 3-pointer by sophomore guard Brandon Gfeller, followed by a lay-up by senior center Chris Kemp, and took a 36-23 advantage at intermission.
Griz vs Saints. Photo by ©William Munoz.
The Saints cut the Grizzlies’ lead to single-digits just once in the second half, and that was when senior guard Zayn Kirkendoll scored on a reverse lay-up with 16:43 left to play. But on UM’s next possession, sophomore G/F Jermaine Edmonds Jr. nailed a jump shot to up the Griz lead to 40-29, and the Griz maintained a double-figure advantage the rest of the way.
Breunig was 9-of-13 from the floor, and racked up his first career double-double in just 28 minutes of action. He had 12 points and 6 boards in the first half, and his 18 points and 10 rebounds were both career bests.
Gfeller, who had 15 crucial points in Montana’s recent 66-62 road win at Seattle University, matched his career-high with 15 points, and made 5-of-9 treys. Also in double figures for the Griz was senior forward Mike Weisner with 12 points.
Montana had 10 of its 11 players who played score two points or more. Edmonds matched his career-high with 8 points.
The Saints were led by forward Oliver Carr, a freshman from Bozeman, who had team-highs of 13 points and 5 rebounds.
The Grizzlies were 28-of-61 (45.9%) from the floor, while the Saints made 19-of-53 shots for 35.8%). UM out-rebounded CC 41-29.
The Griz are on the road at the University of San Francisco on Sunday, Nov. 30, then they play at Cal-Berkeley on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Carroll is off for quite awhile, playing at Thompson Rivers Dec. 18.
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