Nice summary writeup. city isn't going to enjoy the last paragraph though . . .
Money Williams is putting on another March show, and the Montana Grizzlies are one win away from another BSC Tournament championship. Williams scored 32 points as the No. 4-seeded Griz built a big cushion and then survived a late Portland State surge, knocking off the top-seeded Vikings 75-72 Tuesday night at Idaho Central Arena in the Big Sky semifinals. Montana controlled the first half, taking a 39-24 lead into the break, and later stretched the advantage to 51-32 with just over nine minutes to play. But Portland State didnât go away â the Vikings poured in 48 second-half points and clawed all the way back to make it a one-possession game in the final seconds. Portland State pulled within one point twice in the final 28 seconds, but Montana answered at the line. Williams and Tyler Isaak hit free throws down the stretch to close it out and send the Griz back to the conference championship game for the third straight year.
After the final horn, head coach Travis DeCuire summed up a tense finish with a familiar Montana brand of honesty: âOne thing about the Griz we like to keep it interesting. We have a hungry group though. The guys scrapped and made the plays they needed to make when they need to make them to win the ball game.â And if Williamsâ week in Boise feels like dĂ©jĂ vu, thatâs because it is. One night after dropping 40 points in Montanaâs quarterfinal win over Northern Colorado, Williams backed it up with 32 more â giving him 72 combined points in two games at the Big Sky Tournament in Boise. Asked postgame about his mindset heading into another big night, Williams didnât hesitate: âMoney did you wake up feeling like you were going to have another big day?â âPretty much. I woke up and was like we got to get this dub. To be honest we matchup well with Portland State. Have a lot of confidence in my guys. It goes back to having a new team. I want them to have the best experience. We have two seniors that are done after this and I just want to do it for them and that's why I play.â