Montana's Tyler Thompson stole the show at Dahlberg Arena, leading his team to a convincing 81-65 win over Weber State. Thompson's 21 points and 5 rebounds set the tone for the Grizzlies, who outscored the Wildcats 45-22 in the second half. The victory marked a strong performance by Montana, who was predicted to win by 3.5 points by CHD Scout, but ultimately exceeded expectations with a 16-point margin.
The first half was a closely contested affair, with Weber State trailing by just 3 points at halftime, 36-43. However, Montana came out strong in the second half, with Thompson and his teammates Te'Jon Sawyer and Brooklyn Hicks combining for 27 points. Sawyer and Hicks each contributed 13 points, providing a balanced attack that the Wildcats struggled to contain. The Grizzlies' second-half surge was too much for Weber State to handle, as they were held to just 22 points in the final 20 minutes.
Weber State's Tijan Saine Jr. was the lone bright spot for the Wildcats, scoring 15 points in the losing effort. Malek Gomma and Trevor Hennig added 11 and 9 points, respectively, but it wasn't enough to overcome Montana's strong team performance. The Wildcats' inability to contain Thompson and the Grizzlies' supporting cast ultimately led to their downfall.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
The win is a significant one for Montana, as it marks a Quadrant 4 victory for the Grizzlies. While it may not be a marquee win, it's an important one for a team looking to build momentum and improve its tournament resume. For Weber State, the loss is a Quadrant 3 defeat, which won't hurt their resume too much, but it's still a missed opportunity to pick up a road win against a comparable opponent.
Montana's performance will likely go a long way in bolstering their tournament chances. With a current net ranking of 175, the Grizzlies still have work to do to secure a spot in the big dance. However, with wins like this, they're taking steps in the right direction. The Grizzlies want to build on this momentum as they continue their season, and with Thompson leading the charge, they'll be a team to watch in the coming weeks.
The victory also validates CHD Scout's pre-game prediction, which had Montana winning by 3.5 points. While the actual margin was much larger, the prediction was correct in terms of the winner, and it's a reflection of the Grizzlies' strength that they were able to exceed expectations. As the season wears on, Montana want to continue to prove themselves as a formidable opponent, and with performances like this, they'll be a tough team to beat.