Box Score (htm)Box Score (pdf)A 20-point halftime deficit on the road at the conference's top-seeded team? If you're the Grizzlies, that’s no reason to panic. And if you’re senior guard Anthony Johnson, that’s no problem.
Anthony Johnson hit a jumper with 11 seconds left to give Montana only its second lead of the night and cap the comeback to win 66-65 over the Weber State Wildcats and claim the Big Sky Conference Championship and a spot in the NCAA tournament.
Johnson had a Big Sky tournament record 42 points, including 34 second-half points. Johnson scored the last 21 points of the game for Montana.
The Griz also got help from Will Cherry, who forced a turnover with two seconds left in the game to seal the victory.
Derek Selvig was the only other Griz in double figures with 12 points, he also had seven rebounds.
The Griz struggled in the first half scoring only 20 points on 28 percent shooting and giving the ball away 14 times.
Coach Wayne Tinkle wasn't pleased with the first half performance.
"We had some imposters in there in the first half," Tinkle said. "We sent the bus back to hotel at halftime and went and got our real team."
During the intermission, the Grizzly coaches called on Johnson to step up.
"We told him to lead," said Tinkle. "Not just statistically, but as an emotional leader."
Montana didn’t hold a lead in the game until Johnson’s layup with 1:03 remaining to put the Griz up 64-63. A Selvig foul put Big Sky Conference MVP Damian Lillard on the line with 0:48 left, where he drained two free throws in what turned out to be the Wildcats’ final lead of the night.
Lillard scored 16 points to lead Weber state, Franklin Session also scored 10 points for the Wildcats.
Tough defense was the story all night for the Grizzlies, including six blocks by Brian Qvale. The Grizzlies held the Wildcats to under 38 percent shooting and 28 percent in the second half including one-for-seven from three-point range.
Qvale also pulled down 14 rebounds to pace the Grizzlies and help them out-rebound Weber State 33-28.
Johnson's historic game gave him a school record for points in game, the previous record was 40 points by Bob Cope in 1948 against Gonzaga and Michael Ray Richardson in 1976 against MSU. It is also the Dee Event Center arena record.
After the game Johnson still wasn't sure how to process his performance.
"Right now, I’m kind of confused. Kind of surreal," he said. “I feeling like I’m dreaming to be honest. I’ll end up watching it on TV when I get home."
The Grizzlies now have to wait until the selection show on CBS on Sunday at 4 p.m. (MST) to see where they will be playing in their first round game of the NCAA tournament. There are eight sites across the country for the first and second games.