Weber State University Athletics
Wednesday, December 9
Ogden, Utah
7:30 p.m.
Weber State University
73
vs
70
Montana Tech
Weber State Slips by Montana Tech, 73-70, In A Nail Biter
12/10/2009 6:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
TECH-nically it was an exhibition game for the NAI A team from Butte, Montana. TECH-nically it was supposed to be a break in the schedule for Weber State men's basketball team to get everyone playing time and relax after finals week, and TECH-nically, the Wildcats did win, but they had to use every ounce of energy they had to pull out the 73-70 over the visiting Montana Tech Orediggers Wednesday night in front of 3,383 in the Dee Events Center.
“Montana Tech came to play and they played with a purpose, with passion, with high energy and deserved to win the game,” said WSU head coach Randy Rahe. “We were out coached and out hustled all night and were lucky to win. I tip my hat to Coach Larson and his staff. They were the better team tonight.”
The game was scheduled to give the Wildcats a game at the conclusion of Fall semester finals week, and came on the heels of an 80-65 road win last Saturday at Sacramento State to begin Big Sky Conference play.
The Wildcats rolled to a quick 9-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game and appeared relaxed and ready to enjoy the evening. But the Orediggers fought back going on a 35-14 scoring run over the next 12 minutes to take a 35-23 lead with 5:49 left in the first half on a three-pointer by Dean Colbray.
Weber State gathered itself and responded with a 14-1 scoring run over the next three minutes to take a 37-36 lead with 1:27 remaining on a three-pointer by Nick Hansen. Montana Tech's A.J. Paine then scored six unanswered points on a deep three-pointer and an old fashion three-point play, quickly giving the Orediggers a 42-37 lead. Damian Lillard's three-ball with 12 seconds left brought the Wildcats to within two at 42-40 at that's where it stood at halftime. It marked the eighth time in eight games this season that the Wildcats had trailed after the first 20 minutes.
The Orediggers, who hit 14-27 (.519) first half shots overall, and 7-13 (.538) from the three-point line, came firing on all cylinders to begin the second half and rolled to a 56-48 lead with 11:58 left. The Wildcats clawed their way back into the lead with 6:33 left on a lay up by Kyle Bullinger to complete a 12-3 scoring run.
Dean Colbray, a 6-1 guard who transferred to Montana Tech from Point Loma College, gave the Orediggers their last lead of the game at the 2:08 mark when he banked in a three-pointer from 25 feet making it 70-69. Damian Lillard put the Wildcats back on top with 1:44 to go, hitting two free throw.
Colbray had a chance to give Tech the lead back with 53 seconds left but he missed the front end of a one-and-one and Matt Washington grabbed one of his eight, second half rebounds. Bullinger misfired on a three-pointer from the left corner with 37 seconds left but Franklin Session grabbed the rebound and was fouled. He made one of two attempts giving the Wildcats a slim 72-70 lead.
The turning point came with 21 seconds left, and Tech with the ball for a potential go-ahead three point shot. Session stole the ball from Colbray near mid-court and was fouled. Session made the first free throw and missed the second but bolted from the free throw line to chase down his own miss. He was fouled again with eight seconds left but missed both free throws. Montana Tech called a 30 second time out looking for a game-tying three-pointer. The Wildcat defense kept perimeter pressure, forcing Brian Davison into a two-point attempt which caromed off the rim to end the game.
Matt Washington, a 6-7, 220 junior, gave WSU a big lift in the second half scoring seven points and grabbing eight rebounds. His nine points and 10 rebounds are each WSU single game career bests. Franklin Session scored a career high 17 points. The Orediggers paid close attention to Damian Lillard. Lillard came into the game with a Big Sky Conference leading 21.7 per game average but was held to a season low 13 points on just 3-7 shooting. He did, however, have six assists and made 6-7 shots from the line . Kyle Bullinger added 11 points.
Dean Colbray poured in a game high 25 points with 14 of them coming in the second half. Kellen Hasquet had 15 points but scored just three in the second half. A.J. Paine, a nifty point guard, had 12 points and Brian Davison chipped in with 10.
Weber State evened its 2009-10 record at 4-4. The Wildcats have now won three straight and will host instate rival Southern Utah University this coming Saturday, December 12 at 7:05 p.m. (MST) in the Dee Events Center.
“Montana Tech came to play and they played with a purpose, with passion, with high energy and deserved to win the game,” said WSU head coach Randy Rahe. “We were out coached and out hustled all night and were lucky to win. I tip my hat to Coach Larson and his staff. They were the better team tonight.”
The game was scheduled to give the Wildcats a game at the conclusion of Fall semester finals week, and came on the heels of an 80-65 road win last Saturday at Sacramento State to begin Big Sky Conference play.
The Wildcats rolled to a quick 9-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game and appeared relaxed and ready to enjoy the evening. But the Orediggers fought back going on a 35-14 scoring run over the next 12 minutes to take a 35-23 lead with 5:49 left in the first half on a three-pointer by Dean Colbray.
Weber State gathered itself and responded with a 14-1 scoring run over the next three minutes to take a 37-36 lead with 1:27 remaining on a three-pointer by Nick Hansen. Montana Tech's A.J. Paine then scored six unanswered points on a deep three-pointer and an old fashion three-point play, quickly giving the Orediggers a 42-37 lead. Damian Lillard's three-ball with 12 seconds left brought the Wildcats to within two at 42-40 at that's where it stood at halftime. It marked the eighth time in eight games this season that the Wildcats had trailed after the first 20 minutes.
The Orediggers, who hit 14-27 (.519) first half shots overall, and 7-13 (.538) from the three-point line, came firing on all cylinders to begin the second half and rolled to a 56-48 lead with 11:58 left. The Wildcats clawed their way back into the lead with 6:33 left on a lay up by Kyle Bullinger to complete a 12-3 scoring run.
Dean Colbray, a 6-1 guard who transferred to Montana Tech from Point Loma College, gave the Orediggers their last lead of the game at the 2:08 mark when he banked in a three-pointer from 25 feet making it 70-69. Damian Lillard put the Wildcats back on top with 1:44 to go, hitting two free throw.
Colbray had a chance to give Tech the lead back with 53 seconds left but he missed the front end of a one-and-one and Matt Washington grabbed one of his eight, second half rebounds. Bullinger misfired on a three-pointer from the left corner with 37 seconds left but Franklin Session grabbed the rebound and was fouled. He made one of two attempts giving the Wildcats a slim 72-70 lead.
The turning point came with 21 seconds left, and Tech with the ball for a potential go-ahead three point shot. Session stole the ball from Colbray near mid-court and was fouled. Session made the first free throw and missed the second but bolted from the free throw line to chase down his own miss. He was fouled again with eight seconds left but missed both free throws. Montana Tech called a 30 second time out looking for a game-tying three-pointer. The Wildcat defense kept perimeter pressure, forcing Brian Davison into a two-point attempt which caromed off the rim to end the game.
Matt Washington, a 6-7, 220 junior, gave WSU a big lift in the second half scoring seven points and grabbing eight rebounds. His nine points and 10 rebounds are each WSU single game career bests. Franklin Session scored a career high 17 points. The Orediggers paid close attention to Damian Lillard. Lillard came into the game with a Big Sky Conference leading 21.7 per game average but was held to a season low 13 points on just 3-7 shooting. He did, however, have six assists and made 6-7 shots from the line . Kyle Bullinger added 11 points.
Dean Colbray poured in a game high 25 points with 14 of them coming in the second half. Kellen Hasquet had 15 points but scored just three in the second half. A.J. Paine, a nifty point guard, had 12 points and Brian Davison chipped in with 10.
Weber State evened its 2009-10 record at 4-4. The Wildcats have now won three straight and will host instate rival Southern Utah University this coming Saturday, December 12 at 7:05 p.m. (MST) in the Dee Events Center.
Players Mentioned
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