Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Montana
Weber State Captures Its 18th Big Sky Title With A 69-58 Win At Montana
2/19/2009 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
For the 18th time in the 46-year history of the Big Sky Conference, the Weber State Wildcats are champions. Putting together a near flawless effort on both ends of the court, the Wildcats snapped a seven-game win streak by the Montana Grizzlies with a 69-58 win Thursday night in Missoula, Montana before a season high crowd of 5,558 at Dahlberg Arena.
Freshman guard DAMIAN LILLARD led the Wildcats with 16, hitting 6-9 from the field including 3-4 from the three-point line. STEVE PANOS added 13 points and DAVIIN DAVIS came off the bench for 12 points and seven rebounds. The Wildcats shot 47 percent from the field (27-57) against the Big Sky's number one Field Goal Percentage Defense team. Montana had been allowing just 39 percent shooting in Big Sky Conference play.
Montana was led by Anthony Johnson, the Big Sky's leading scorer, who had 17 points, four below his average in league play. He was the Grizzlies only double figure scorer. WSU held Montana to just 20-53 (.377) shooting. Brian Qvale had nine points and eight rebounds .
"I am really proud of the way we came out and played with a purpose and with passion at both ends," said WSU head coach Randy Rahe. "We've been stressing all week the need to play physical on both ends and to rebound. I thought we took care of the basketball as well as we've had in any game this season. It was a total team effort."
The win pushed Weber State to an 18-8 overall record and gives the ?Cats a 12-1 mark in Big Sky play. Montana could still tie for the conference title if the Wildcats were to lose all three remaining games to Northern Arizona, Sacramento State (at home) and Montana State (road). The Grizzlies would also have to win their last two games at home vs. Idaho State and on the road vs. Northern Colorado. A win by WSU in its last three, or a loss by Montana in its final two, would give the Wildcats the out right title.
The Wildcats now get a week of rest to prepare for their final three games of the season. The ?Cats face Northern Arizona (Thursday, Feb. 26) and Sacramento State (Saturday, Feb. 28) at home next week, then end the regular season with a Tuesday, March 3 game at Montana State. Both home games tip off at 7:05 p.m. (MST).
Notes ... The 12 wins in Big Sky play are the most under Coach Randy Rahe who is now 33-12 (.733) in Big Sky Conference regular season games, and 54-34 (.612) overall finishing up this 3rd season at Weber State. ... Two more wins would give the Wildcats 20 for the season. It would be Randy Rahe's 2nd 20 win season in three seasons and would be the 23rd time in 47 years the Wildcats had made that plateau.
