Weber State Beats Montana On Last Second Shot
Jan 12, 2023, 9:03 PM | Updated: Jan 13, 2023, 10:01 am
MISSOULA, Montana – The Weber State Wildcats travelled to Dahlberg Arena in Missoula to take on the Montana Grizzlies on Thursday.
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The Wildcats last game was a home loss to the Idaho State Bengals. Montana’s last game was a road win against Northern Colorado.
Weber State, 7-9, is attempting to inch closer to even with a win against the Grizzlies. Montana, 8-8, is trying to regain a positive record for the first time in 5 weeks. Thanks to a four game losing streak in late-November and early-December, the Wildcats have yet to boast a positive record this season.
First Half
The Wildcats jumped out of the gates quick, making all three of their first shot attempts and forcing the Grizzlies to start 0 for 6.
That’s how we like to start!
DJ 3️⃣!#WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/kErttYKt2j
— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) January 13, 2023
After four minutes of play, Weber State opened up a 9-0 early lead.
Montana quickly closed the gap, scoring 8 straight before the first timeout of the day.
After a rough start, the Griz are on an 8-0 run! Moody knocks down the triple and it’s GAME ON!#GrizHoops #BigSkyMBB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/lcqqmfgO5i
— Montana Griz Basketball (@MontanaGrizBB) January 13, 2023
Montana expanded on the run, scoring 16 to the Weber State’s two in six minutes of game time.
The crowd gets a 😙 from Aanen Moody, who hits his third triple of the game and makes it a 16-2 run for the Griz!#GrizHoops #BigSkyMBB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/4jNvrjq0th
— Montana Griz Basketball (@MontanaGrizBB) January 13, 2023
The Wildcat’s ended a five minute long scoring drought with a powerful two-handed dunk by Alex Tew.
Throw it down Alex Tew! #WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/7OmQnUrq91
— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) January 13, 2023
Both sides shot inefficiently in the first half, failing to shoot at least 42% from the field.
Dillon Jones broke a stalemate with a deep three as time expired in the first half.
.@drizzydj23 with the stepback to end the half!
Wildcats up 28-25 at halftime! #WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/fPK3KGx4Zd
— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) January 13, 2023
Weber State ended the half with a 3-point lead, 28-25.
Second Half
It’s a game of runs and Montana demonstrated that early in the second half. The Grizzlies took a 4-point lead after a 7-0 run.
A perfect way to start the second half! Back cut to Martin Jr. who finishes with style! #GrizHoops #BigSkyMBB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/QRlYw9rdF1
— Montana Griz Basketball (@MontanaGrizBB) January 13, 2023
Aanen Moody and Josh Bannan were the leading scorers for Montana. Bannan joined the Grizzlies 1000-point club in this game and hit some tough shots along the way.
The turnaround with the soft touch falls for Bannan and we retake the lead 36-34! He’s up to 8 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.#GrizHoops #BigSkyMBB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/QXLCcBYBoD
— Montana Griz Basketball (@MontanaGrizBB) January 13, 2023
Just after Montana took that 2-point lead, Junior Ballard came down the floor and put down a finger roll high off of the glass.
Dillon Jones had the hot-hand for Weber State. He shot 5/7 from three on the game.
DJ with his 4th 3️⃣!#WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/aPvbsJCFzE
— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) January 13, 2023
Jones’ three-pointer initiated a shootout in Missoula.
KJ 3 and it’s a 9-0 Wildcat run! #WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/6NSBpG9MyG
— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) January 13, 2023
The Grizzlies then answered with their own run comprised of three’s.
Another triple from @DischonThomas who has eight points this half and caps an 8-0 Griz run! We’re back on top inside Dahlberg. You won’t want to miss the end of this one!#GrizHoops #BigSkyMBB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/rw7wD6TnZZ
— Montana Griz Basketball (@MontanaGrizBB) January 13, 2023
With less than four minutes in regulation, Aanen Moody got an and-one to take the lead for Montana.
𝐀𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐍 𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐘! The three-point play from No. 11 has us on top 52-49 heading into the final media timeout!#GrizHoops #BigSkyMBB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/Hl1pqfy5D4
— Montana Griz Basketball (@MontanaGrizBB) January 13, 2023
In a game with over ten lead changes, the score was tied at 52 with 2 minutes left.
Josh Bannan broke the tie with a downhill layup plus the foul. Bannan missed the free throw and Junior Ballard made him pay for that mistake. Ballard drove inside on the other end and got an and-one play of his own.
.@Jrballard__ AND ONE!
‘Cats lead 55-54
0:51 to play! #WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/aDitFclp5W
— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) January 13, 2023
After getting to the free throw line with ten seconds left, Moody gave the Grizzlies a 2-point lead.
Dillon Jones got to the line for the Wildcats on the other end and missed the first. He made the second, which made it a 1-point advantage for Montana.
After using their last timeout, the Grizzlies turned the ball over on the inbound which led to a quick three for Steven Verplancken Jr. with less than 3 seconds on the clock.
UNBELIEVABLE!
WILDCATS WIN!
Dyson Koehler the steal, Steven Verplancken the 3️⃣ and the Wildcats win 59-57 at Montana! #WeAreWeber #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/PvlxX5P7W3
— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) January 13, 2023
The final score was 59-57.
Chandler Holt is a Digital Sports Producer for sports.ksl.com, specializing in all things basketball and football. Follow Chandler on Twitter at @ChandlerHoltKSL.
