grizzlyjournal

Montana clips U Calgary 76-69, wins Battle of the Border

The Montana Grizzlies got double-digits scoring from four players and beat the host University of Calgary Dinos 76-69 to go undefeated in the U Calgary-hosted Battle of the Border Monday.

Senior power forward Jordan Hasquet scored 19 points and had three steals to lead the Griz, while junior wing Jack McGillis and sophomore post Brian Qvale scored 13 apiece. McGillis had a game-high five steals while Qvale had two steals and two blocks in the win.

PHOTO: Hasquet (left) led Montana past the Dinos with 19 points, 8 rebounds and three steals.

The two teams battled on even terms through three quarters, but Montana surged to an eight-point, 63-55 lead on two steals and a Qvale block that resulted in a three-point conversion by McGillis.

Senior reserve post Kyle Sharp added 11 points.

Senior point guard Ceylon Elgin-Taylor had a game-high 7 assists for Montana, which outrebounded the Dinos 34-23. The Grizzlies forced 22 Dinos turnovers and had 15 steals but committed 26 turnovers in the game.

Read a game account here. Game stats can be found here.

New faces show early promise for Girzzly hoops

If you've read Missoulian sports editor Bob Meseroll's coverage of the Montana Grizzly men's basketball team’s progress in the University of Calgary's preseason Battle of the Border tournament, the play of several newcomers has been the story so far in this very young season.

Sophomore transfer Michael Taylor, in particular, appears ready to challenge for significant playing time at the shooting guard slot. Taylor brings an impressive basketball resume onto the court. He's the son of highly respected Washington State prep boys’' basketball coach, Tim Taylor, for whom he played while an all state multi-sport athlete at Brewster, Washington H. S.

You can read the Grizzly Journal profile on Taylor by clicking the MICHAEL TAYLOR PROFILE header on this page under JOURNAL PAGES. The profile was first published Jan. 8 in grizzlyjournal.

Three other Washington State prep standouts also saw action. Point guard Shawn Stockton (11 points and 10 assists, 3 steals), power forward Mathias Ward (28 points and 9 rebounds), and wing Nyandigisi Moikubu (9 points, 4 rebounds) were all-state prep players in 2008.

The final game of the Battle of the Border -- a rematch between Montana and the University of Calgary Dinos --  will be at noon, Monday.