Montana Grizzlies Set to Face Weber State Wildcats in Key Big Sky Matchup

The Montana Grizzlies men's basketball team is gearing up for a pivotal Big Sky Conference showdown against the Weber State Wildcats on Thursday night at Dahlberg Arena.

 

After a demanding four-game road trip, the Grizzlies are eager to return to their home court, where they last played on January 3, securing a victory over Northern Colorado.

 

During their time away, Montana posted a 2-2 record, bringing their overall season tally to 10-9 and a conference record of 4-2, placing them in a tie for third in the Big Sky standings.

 

The upcoming game against Weber State, who share identical records, is set to be a significant contest in the conference race.

 

In their most recent outing, the Grizzlies delivered an impressive offensive performance, defeating Northern Arizona 98-72.

 

Montana showcased remarkable shooting accuracy, hitting 67.9% from the field—their best against a Division I opponent this century.

 

Standout performances included Te'Jon Sawyer scoring a career-high 27 points and Money Williams adding 25 points.

 

This marked the first time in a decade that two Grizzlies scored over 25 points in the same game.

 

Williams is on the cusp of a personal milestone, needing just four points to reach 1,000 career points.

 

Achieving this would make him the 38th player in program history to join the 1,000-point club and the sixth fastest to do so.

 

He currently leads the Big Sky Conference in scoring, averaging 19.7 points per game overall and 22.8 points in conference play.

 

Weber State enters the game following a home loss to Idaho.

 

The Wildcats are known for their high-scoring offense, averaging 83.3 points per game, ranking second in the conference.

 

They excel in transition play, leading the Big Sky with 16.42 fast-break points per game.

 

Defensively, they are formidable against three-point shooting, allowing opponents to shoot just 27.3% from beyond the arc, the fifth-best mark nationally.

 

Key players for Weber State include Tijan Saine Jr., who averages 14.8 points per game and has increased his output to 20.5 points during conference play, and Malek Gomma, who contributes 7.3 rebounds per game.

 

The historical series between Montana and Weber State is closely contested, with the Wildcats holding a slight edge at 76-68.

 

However, the Grizzlies have been dominant at home, leading 43-25 in Missoula.

 

Montana is currently on a three-game winning streak against Weber State and has won four of the last five meetings.

 

Head coach Travis DeCuire boasts a 15-10 record against the Wildcats, including a 9-3 mark at home.

 

Thursday's game is set to tip off at 7:00 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+, with the "Voice of the Griz" Riley Corcoran providing commentary.

 

Fans can also follow live stats and purchase tickets through the official Montana Grizzlies athletics website.

 

As the Grizzlies return to the friendly confines of Dahlberg Arena, they aim to leverage their home-court advantage and continue their strong conference play against a formidable Weber State team.

 

With both teams vying for position in the Big Sky standings, this matchup promises to be a thrilling contest for players and fans alike.