Griz @ Sac

[GRZFTBL]

Great win. I'm glad they found a way "not to lose". Keep it rollin' boys.

 

[Grizbacker1]

It is easy to criticize the team, we are all guilty of it. But, here is what was in the Sac paper this morning.

Barrage of Montana threes spells doom for Hornets
By John Schumacher - [email protected]
Sunday, January 13, 2008

Sometimes playing pick your poison leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

Sacramento State basketball coach Jerome Jenkins hoped an active zone defense would keep the ball away from Montana's two big men, 6-foot-9 Jordan Hasquet and 6-8 Andrew Strait, Saturday night in the Hornets Nest.

Although that strategy had some success, it left the Hornets vulnerable on the perimeter. The Grizzlies took advantage, connecting on 9 of 20 three-point shots en route to a 76-69 Big Sky Conference win.

Montana guards Cameron Rundles and Ryan Staudacher each contributed a trio of three-pointers, guard Matt Martin had two long-distance baskets, and Hasquet tossed in a three-pointer to help the Grizzlies improve to 1-2 in the Big Sky and 7-9 overall.

"That's an NCAA-caliber team," said Sacramento State junior guard Loren Leath, whose 19 points, six rebounds and four steals weren't enough to prevent the Hornets from falling to 1-4 and 3-12.

"They can score from the outside, and, remember, they've got Hasquet and Strait down low. Those guys are good."

Hasquet finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Strait had 13 points and 12 rebounds. Montana shot 53.3 percent and outrebounded Sac State 39-27 to overcome 18 turnovers and win for just the second time in nine games.

"They really did a good job keeping the ball out of the post," Montana coach Wayne Tinkle said. "They got their hands on a lot of balls and created a lot of turnovers. This was a big win."

Montana led 34-32 at halftime and never trailed in the second half, building a 62-50 lead with 4:16 left. Leath scored the next seven points – on a three-pointer, a layup off his own steal and two free throws – to help the Hornets pull within 62-57 before the Grizzlies delivered two backbreaking plays.

Justin Williams went up for a dunk that would have cut the lead to three, but Hasquet blocked the shot, Strait grabbed the rebound and, after a timeout, Martin buried a three-pointer to give Montana a 65-57 cushion with 2:48 left.

Grizzlies guard Ceylon Elgin-Taylor, who entered the game shooting 40 percent from the free-throw line, made 8 of 11 free-throw attempts in the final 1:41 to keep Montana in control.

"We played good, we played hard, we played aggressive," said Williams, who made 8 of 9 shots to finish with 16 points. "We've got to keep playing together, keep battling together."

An announced crowd of 629 watched the Hornets' sixth loss in seven games.

"We lost to a very good basketball team," Jenkins said. "They're a veteran team. They've got guys who have been to the (NCAA) Tournament. …

"We're growing. …We have to learn how to win games like this."

 

['68griz]

It's always good to hear/read someone else's (i.e., not a Griz fan) perspective.

 

[Gametime]

Great they got the win but it shows how far we have slipped when we are all excited about a win against the last place team in the conference with a record of 3-12

 

[Grizbacker1]

Great they got the win but it shows how far we have slipped when we are all excited about a win against the last place team in the conference with a record of 3-12

generally a season is judged at the end of it, not 3 games in. Did you go to or see the game?

 

[Gametime]

Backer, no I didn't go to the game I live in Missoula. Which means I go to more games than you. Don't play the super fan when you obviously live in northern CA. I didn't say they didn't play good or anything else.

 

[Grizbacker1]

Backer, no I didn't go to the game I live in Missoula. Which means I go to more games than you. Don't play the super fan when you obviously live in northern CA. I didn't say they didn't play good or anything else.

Boy, you sure read alot of what ISN"T there when someone asks you a question. Who said anything about superfan, it was a simple question. When the Griz are not close enough to go, some people watch online. Somebody must be having a bad day, or are you one of those people that don't need to go to know everything? :wink:

 

[PlayerRep]

Backer, some people just look for something to complain about, whether they have any facts or knowledge, or go to games. People who live in Missoula obviously don't go to Sac. St. games or follow SS, so they don't know the quality of the team and apparently don't care about strength of schedule. A road win in the Big Sky is good no matter who it's against, and it's great when it's the first conference win of the season. Sac St. beat the Cats a couple days ago, and the Cats beat UM last week. That shows some parity to me--as well as that any team can be another team on any given night. Hopefully UM can get some momentum and confidence out of this win.

 

[Grizbacker1]

Backer, some people just look for something to complain about, whether they have any facts or knowledge, or go to games. People who live in Missoula obviously don't go to Sac. St. games or follow SS, so they don't know the quality of the team and apparently don't care about strength of schedule. A road win in the Big Sky is good no matter who it's against, and it's great when it's the first conference win of the season. Sac St. beat the Cats a couple days ago, and the Cats beat UM last week. That shows some parity to me--as well as that any team can be another team on any given night. Hopefully UM can get some momentum and confidence out of this win.

Sac State has a top 20 rating in strenght of schedule, and are missing 3-4 players. I don't think they are going to contend for the BSC title, but they may beat anyone who isn't prepared for them.

 

[Bozgriz]

The announced crowd of 629...

If they are as good as you guys say, why only 629???

They fill up the gym at Dutton with more than that... :shocked:

In any case, a big win for the Griz, on the road...Well done and about time! :clap:

 

[Grizbacker1]

The announced crowd of 629...

If they are as good as you guys say, why only 629???

They fill up the gym at Dutton with more than that... :shocked:

In any case, a big win for the Griz, on the road...Well done and about time! :clap:

I doubt there was 629 there, and the Griz contingent made more noise. I would guess maybe 75-100 Griz fans. I dont know if you have been to Sac, but 1200 is pretty much packed with temp bleachers added.

 

[Bozgriz]

The announced crowd of 629...

If they are as good as you guys say, why only 629???

They fill up the gym at Dutton with more than that... :shocked:

In any case, a big win for the Griz, on the road...Well done and about time! :clap:

I doubt there was 629 there, and the Griz contingent made more noise. I would guess maybe 75-100 Griz fans. I dont know if you have been to Sac, but 1200 is pretty much packed with temp bleachers added.

Hardly d1 caliber...

 

[Grizbacker1]

The announced crowd of 629...

If they are as good as you guys say, why only 629???

They fill up the gym at Dutton with more than that... :shocked:

In any case, a big win for the Griz, on the road...Well done and about time! :clap:

I doubt there was 629 there, and the Griz contingent made more noise. I would guess maybe 75-100 Griz fans. I dont know if you have been to Sac, but 1200 is pretty much packed with temp bleachers added.

Hardly d1 caliber...

The 1200 seat Hornet's Nest. The fans must have been photoshopped.

 

[Big One 25]

The announced crowd of 629...

If they are as good as you guys say, why only 629???

They fill up the gym at Dutton with more than that... :shocked:

In any case, a big win for the Griz, on the road...Well done and about time! :clap:

Is that on quarter beer night?

 

[mtgrizrule]

This is a nice article on Hasquet. I was not aware he was named team captain. Martin gives him good props. Speaking Martin, he is stepping up big time this year as well. Averaging double figures, getting a few steals, assists, and rebounds. He and Hasquet are consistently playing hard and showing leadership. I appreciate these 2 very much for their efforts. If not for them, this team would really be hurting for leadership and effort this year. Please do not place any blame on these guys for inconsistent team play this year. Thanks guys :thumb: :thumb:

Hasquet set tone in Griz win
By BOB MESEROLL Missoulian sports editor



You know it's your night when even your missed free throws turn into something positive.

Such was the case for Montana Grizzly Jordan Hasquet on Saturday night in Sacramento State's Hornets Nest, where the Griz snapped out of a funk to win 76-69, just their second victory since Nov. 25.

Hasquet grabbed the carom off a miss by teammate Matt Martin - one of his 11 rebounds for the game - and worked his way inside for a bucket. He was fouled by Wandji Aboubaker on the play, but missed the freebie. But there was Hasquet again to snare the miss only to be fouled by Vinnie McGhee. This time Hasquet made both free throws to complete a four-point play and give the Griz a 60-49 lead with 5:33 to play.


“You never want to miss free throws, but I was able to grab a board there and put two more on the board,” Hasquet said. “I guess it worked out good.”

The play epitomized Hasquet's relentless play, and that effort spread from teammate to teammate.

“Him being our captain and probably our best offensive player, we see him going and we want to feed him the ball,” guard Ceylon Elgin-Taylor said. “And he's not a selfish player so when he gets it, he kicks it out to us, and we were knocking down shots. It just feeds from one guy to the next guy to the next guy, and we just get rolling.”

Martin noticed the infectious nature of Hasquet's play as well.

“He's our most versatile player,” Martin said. “When he gets going on the inside then he's hitting shots on the outside, it's definitely a motivation. When he's jumping around and getting boards like that, playing like an angry dog out there, he's tough and he gets us going.”

Hasquet came up with another play that blunted a Sac State rally. The Hornets had crept within five, 62-57 with 3:29 to play, then forced another of Montana's 18 turnovers. Justin Williams attacked the basket along the baseline and appeared poised for another dunk - he had two already - when Hasquet rose up and swatted the ball away. The Griz got the rebound and Martin buried a trey at the other end. Instead of a 62-59 Griz lead, it was 65-57 and the Hornets never got closer than six the rest of the way.

“They were kind of closing in on us,” Hasquet said. “I know (Williams) is an athletic guy so I just tried to load up as much as I could and get up as high as I could and get a piece of it. I don't know if he expected me to get up there. I knew it was a pretty big play. They were definitely fighting back and that kind of turned the momentum a little.”

“That was big time,” Montana coach Wayne Tinkle said. “(Williams) gets that and the place erupts and it's a one-possession game.”

Instead, Elgin-Taylor made 8-of-11 free throws down the stretch to secure the Grizzlies' first Big Sky win.

“It's only one game,” Tinkle cautioned. “But it was an awesome gut check for our guys.”

 

[SuperHornet]

Think of it this way, guys. You beat a team that beat the Kitties. That should be a reward in itself. Not the ultimate reward, mind you. But a reward nonetheless.