BY GLENN JUNKERT
The Montana Grizzlies spent the first eight minutes or so of their 71-52 thrashing of the Idaho State Bengals trying to solve yet another tightly erected zone defense.
When they did -- with the offensive help of reserve freshman guard Kareem Jamar and backup sophomore center Mathias Ward -- the Grizzlies flipped an early five-point deficit into a 10-point, 29-19 halftime lead and the runaway win from there.
Ward made 5-of-7 field goals -- three during a first-half stretch where the Grizzlies edged to a 24-17 lead -- and then Jamar sank an arcing trey as the first half expired, to give the Griz their 10-point halftime lead.
But the game -- and all sorts of game honors -- tilted toward Montana Senior Brian Qvale throughout. Qvale -- under brutal defensive pressure by Bengal defenders -- made 7-of-10 field goals and 7-of-11 free throws for 21 points in leading the Griz to their convincing final home conference game of the season.
Qvale -- who along with his parents was feted in a brief pre-game ceremony to note his final regularly scheduled home game as a Griz -- took everything that both Bengal defenders, and his teammates could give him.
PHOTOS: (Top) Montana center Brian Qvale is fouled by Abner Moreira in first half action. (Middle) Freshman wing Kareem Jamar posts up for two of his 11 points in first half action. (Bottom ) Mathias Ward drives on Bengal Mike Lacey for two of his 13 points in second half action.
He dished the punishment right back at his Bengal defenders... and usually scored when his teammates fed him the ball in the low blocks... particularly during an early second half Montana surge that saw the Griz outscore the Bengals 17-2 and take a commanding 46-21 lead with 12 minutes to play.
Montana extended its lead to a 24-point margin with 8:47 remaining in the game and coasted to the final 19-point win.
As aggresive as the Bengals defense was, it was Montana’s defense that once again won out. For the third straight game the Griz held their opponents well below their nationally ranked scoring defensive average (59.6), allowing 52 to the Bengals, after holding Northern Colorado to 42 and Sacramento State to 44.
The Bengals launched 17 more shots than the Griz, but made only 19-of-their 58 attempts, for a freezing 32.8 percent, compared to Montana’s 56.1 percent and 5-of-11 shots from three point range.
Ward finished with 13 points on several smooth jumpers from the high post, while Jamar scored 11, several on slashing drives down the right edge of the free throw lane. The freshman wing tied Qvale for game rebounding honors with nine.
Shooting guard Shawn Stockton nailed two treys over the Bengal defense and finished with eight points, while power forward Derek Selvig scored seven while dshing two assists.
Sophomore point guard Will Cherry, visibly slowed by his still tender ankle, made only five points, but dished out 8 of Montana’s 14 assists and had six rebounds.
Junior guard Jordan Wood had one of his best games as a Griz, scoring six points on darting drives into the key and dishing two assists.
The Bengals were led by 13 points apiece from guards Broderick Gilchrest and Kenny McGowen, while center Deividas Busma scored 10.
The Bengals outrebounded Montana by one, and forced an uncharacteristic 16 Griz turnovers.
Montana now preps for a nationally televised Bracket Buster matchup at Long Beach State Saturday before focusing their attention on their final two Big Sky games at Portland State next Thursday and at Eastern Washington next Saturday.
The Bengals host Cal Fullerton in another Bracket Buster match Friday.
But the Bengals now need to win at least two of their final three conference games (they host Weber State and Northern Colorado and travel to Montana State) or face elimination from the Big Sky post season tourney.
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