MISSOULA, Mont. -- In a game that featured 15 lead changes and 11 ties, Montana closed the final 3:09 on an 11-6 run to beat Sacramento State, 74-72, on Saturday evening at Dalhberg Arena.
Neither team led by more than four points the entire second half, and Montana was able to make the big shots late. Sacramento State, playing its fourth straight game decided by five points or less, was limited to six points in the final 7:10 of the contest. Perhaps the biggest shot of the game came from Montana's Aanen Moody who knocked down an off balance 13-foot jump shot with 30 seconds left to give the Grizzlies a 69-68 lead.
Sacramento State turned the ball over on its next possession, and Josh Vazquez buried a pair of free throws to give the Grizzlies a 71-68 advantage with 12 seconds to play. Montana elected to foul before the Hornets could attempt a 3-pointer, and Sacramento State split its free throws with six seconds remaining. Montana's Moody, fouled immediately on the inbounds, hit two free throws at the five-second mark to give the Griz a 73-69 lead and put the game away.
Zach Chappell hit a 3-pointer with two seconds left, and Montana hit an ensuing free throw to provide the final tally.
Twelve of the Hornets' 17 Big Sky Conference contests have been decided by eight points or fewer. Sacramento State is now 13-17 overall and 6-11 in league play. The Hornets were a few bounces away from sweeping the Montana schools on the road for the first time in school history, which included a heartbreaking 60-56 loss at second-place Montana State on Thursday.
Still, despite tonight's loss, the Hornets control their own destiny for a first round bye in the Big Sky Tournament next week (March 4-8 in Boise). Should Sacramento State win at Portland State in Monday's regular season finale, the Hornets would lock up the No. 6 seed and a first round bye at the postseason event. A first round bye would mean Sacramento State plays No. 3 seed Weber State in the quarterfinals on Monday, March 6, at 7 p.m. A loss to Portland State, and the Hornets would fall out of the top six and play on Saturday, March 4, against either Northern Colorado, Northern Arizona or Idaho.
The biggest lead for either team was seven points as the two teams were tied at halftime, 40-40, before Montana outscored the Hornets, 34-32, in the second half. The Hornets shot 56% (25-45) from the field, and 47% (9-19) from the 3-point line. However, Sacramento State turned the ball over 15 times (9 in the second half), and the Grizzlies outscored the Hornets, 23-6, in points off miscues.
The Hornets held a big advantage on the glass (30-23), but could not overcome the turnover disparity (15-7). The Grizzlies (49%, 26-53) attempted eight more shots from the field.
Zach Chappell led the Hornets with 22 points (7-12 FG, 3-5 3FG, 5-6 FT), four rebounds and four assists. He is one of four Sacramento State players in double figures.
Akol Mawein had 15 points (6-6 FG, 3-4 FT) - two shy of his career high - to go along with four rebounds.
Callum McRae added 13 points and a game-high eight rebounds, and
Gianni Hunt had 11 points (3-4 3FG) and three boards.
No other Sacramento State player scored more than three points.
The Hornets' biggest game of the season - Monday at Portland State - will tip at 7 p.m. The game can be seen on ESPN+.
