Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
#2 Montana
Wildcats Fall to Grizzlies in Big Sky Semifinals
3/9/2011 3:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Greeley, CO -- Montana closed the game on an 18-0 run to knock off the Weber State Wildcats 57-40 Tuesday night in the first semifinal game of the Big Sky Men's Basketball Championships. It marked the second-straight season the Grizzlies have knocked the Wildcats out of the Big Sky Tournament.
Weber State led 22-11 at halftime after a strange first half that saw the Wildcats shoot 26 percent and Montana just 13 percent from the field.
But the Grizzlies bounced back in the second half and slowly cut into the Weber State lead. They took their first lead of the half at 33-32 with 9:52 to play.
Scott Bamforth knocked down a three-pointer with 7:40 to play to give the Wildcats the lead at 40-39. However, Weber State would not score the rest of the way. The Wildcats missed their final 15 shots as Montana closed out the game on an 18-0 run.
The Grizzlies outrebounded the Wildcats 50-31 and finished the night shooting 39 percent from the field, compared to just 21 percent for Weber State, a season-low.
Bamforth led Weber State with 10 points on 3-13 shooting. Trevor Morris added eight and Kyle Bullinger posted seven. Will Cherry and Brian Qvale each scored 16 for the Grizzlies.
Montana will advance to take on the winner of the Northern Arizona-Northern Colorado game Wednesday in the Big Sky Championship.
The season is not over yet for the Wildcats. Weber State (18-12) will play at Saint Mary's this Friday night in Moraga, California.
