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MISSOULA, Mont. -- Bryce Fowler put on one of the best scoring shows in school history to lead Sacramento State to a rare road win in Missoula, as the Hornets knocked off Montana, 72-71, in the regular season finale on Saturday evening at Dahlberg Arena.

Fowler scored a whopping 39 points on 14-for-25 shooting from the field and 10-of-10 from the free throw line. He also had five assists and just one turnover in 39 minutes, and 23 of those points came in the second half. He accounted for 54% of Sacramento State's offensive production, and the 39 points are the third highest total in Hornet Div. I era (1991-pres.) single-game history. It also shattered his career high, which was 32 points set earlier this year at home against Montana State.

Not only did Fowler outscore every player in tonight's game by 19 points, he also notched his 1,500th career point. Needing 30 points to accomplish the feat, Fowler scored more than enough to hit the milestone. The fifth-year senior becomes the fourth player in program history (1948-pres.), and second in the Div. I era to hit the 1,500 mark. He joins Justin Strings (2014-18) as the only two Div. I era Hornets.

Sacramento State (10-17, 6-14) will enter next week's Big Sky Conference Tournament in Boise playing its best basketball of the season. The Hornets have won four of their last five games, and tonight's win was just the third ever in Missoula. The Hornets are now 3-24 all-time when playing the Grizzlies in Missoula.

The Hornets will be the No. 8 seed at the Big Sky Tournament and take on No. 9 Idaho on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. PST. That game, and every game of the four-day event, will air on ESPN+. The Hornets' game against Idaho is the first of the tournament. The winner of that game will play in the quarterfinal round against No. 1 seed Montana State on Thursday at 11 a.m. PST.

Montana (18-13, 11-9) will be the No. 5 seed, and receive a first round bye before playing No. 4 Weber State in Thursday's quarterfinal round.

Sacramento State and Idaho split the season series, with each team winning at home. The Hornets recently beat Idaho at home (Feb. 24) by 32 points (W, 83-51). The Vandals beat Sacramento State at home in overtime by a single point on Jan. 22.

No team led by more than seven points the entire way in tonight's game, and both teams buried the same amount of field goals (25), and shot nearly the same percentage (SAC 48%, UM 47%). The Hornets used a 12-2 run that lasted nearly four minutes to take what appeared to be a comfortable 67-60 lead with 51 seconds remaining. However, Montana wouldn't quit, and had possession of the ball down three points with 10 seconds left.

Lonnell Martin missed a 3-pointer with four seconds remaining, but the Grizzlies pulled the offensive rebound. After the ball was kicked back out to Martin, he was fouled while shooting a 3-ball with one second left. Martin made the first two free throws, but missed the potential tying free throw, and Sacramento State walked away with the stressful victory.

The Hornets outrebounded Montana, 31-29, and went 7-for-14 from the 3-point line. That included William FitzPatrick, who, once again, was on point from distance. He went 5-for-9 from deep, and has now buried five 3-pointers in five consecutive games. He has scored at least 15 points in six straight games.

Forward Cameron Wilbon posted his second double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, and Jonathan Komagum finished with three points and nine rebounds. Zach Chappell had three points and three rebounds, as all 72 points came from the Hornets' starters.

Montana had four players finish in double figures, led by Josh Bannan's 20 points and 15 rebounds.

The Hornets are playing in the 8-9 seed game at the Big Sky Tournament for the fourth consecutive season.