Grizzlies Claim Big Sky Championship - Mar 8, 2012
Wayne Tinkle and the Montana Grizzlies will represent the Big Sky Conference in the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. The Grizzlies rode hot shooting in the second half to beat Weber State 85-66 at Dahlberg Arena in Missoula, Mont., on Wednesday night in the championsihp game of the 2012 Big Sky Conference Tournament. Sophomore Kareem Jamar scored 23 points with seven assists, while junior forward Mathias Ward netted 23 with eight rebounds to lead the Grizzlies to their school-record 14th straight victory. Jamar was named the tournament MVP. He was joined on the All-Tournament team by Grizzly guard Will Cherry, Ward, Weber State guard Damian Lillard, Eastern Washington guard Cliff Colimon and Portland State guard Charles Odum. Top-seeded Montana (25-6) beat No. 2 seed Weber State for the second time in eight days in Missoula. The Grizzlies have now won eight Big Sky Championships, tied with Weber State for the most in school history. This is UM's second title in three seasons, and the fourth in eight years. Weber State, 24-6, was led by Lillard, who scored 29 points with 10 rebounds, seven assists, one block and one steal. Lillard moved up to seventh on the Big Sky's all-time scoring list with 1,886 points. He has scored 736 points this season, the third most in Big Sky single-season history. Weber State will wait to see if it gets a bid to the NIT. The Wildcats could also play in another postseason tournament. Weber State came out on fire in the first half, shooting 58.3 percent from the field, and hitting 4-of-9 from 3-point range. Weber State took a 36-31 The Grizzlies played a near flawless second half, shooting 59.4 percent from the field, and hitting 8-of-12 from 3-point range. The five Grizzly starters accounted for all 85 points. Derek Selvig scored 16 pionts. Art Steward added 10. Cherry had 13 points, six assists and three steals.
Courtesy of Big Sky Conference
Big Sky Conf. Tournament Final: Montana - Weber State 85-66 Big Sky Conf. Tournament Semifinals: Montana - Eastern Washington 74-66 Weber State - Portland State 69-63
All-Big Sky Conf. 1st Team 2011-2012
#s#
Lillard
Colimon
Cherry
Jamar
Tapscott
#e#5
Player of the Year:Damian Lillard (6'2''-G-90) of Weber St. All-Tournament MVP:Kareem Jamar (6'5''-G/F-92) of Montana Defensive Player of the Year:Will Cherry (6'1''-G-91) of Montana Freshman of the Year:Dylan Garrity (6'2''-G-92) of Sacramento St. Newcomer of the Year:Collin Chiverton (6'6''-F-90) of E.Washington Coach of the Year:Wayne Tinkle of Montana