After scoring 21 points in the first half, the Griz regroup and score 43 in the second half where the team executed its offense better than any other half I've seen this year. Still, it was a blowout loss.
If there were any positives to take from this game, I'd focus on three:
• Jared Samuelson continued to show promise that he'll be a front court go-to guy this year. Samuelson led the team in scoring with 14 points on 6-for-7 shooting, pulling down 4 rebounds, second to Fabijan Krslovic, who scored two.
• I felt that Mario Dunn was the best Griz guard on the floor tonight. He played only 17 minutes, but played outstanding defense, scored 9 points on 3-for-5 shooting, while dishing 3 assists. Plus, he never got down on himself.
• Lastly, the Montana defense was decent, even though the score doesn't show it. That's because WSU shot 22-25 from the free throw line, compared to Montana's 10-16 (a 12-point difference in the final score). As against Montana's previous taller opponents, I think Montana should have had at least 6-to-8 more shots from the FT line. More importantly, Montana forced 14 Cougar turnovers while committing only three.
Significantly, the Griz took 66 shots from the field, compared to 48 by the Cougars. Obviously the Cougars shot a better percentage, but when (or if) Montana starts shooting closer to 50 percent from the field, the final results should be better.
Griz assistant Chris Cobb was just as perplexed about Montana's dismal first half, but said the team expended a ton of physical and emotional energy the previous night (against NC State), which evidently took a toll on the team.
It won't get much -- if any -- easier. Montana will play another team Monday with a size advantage in Oral Roberts.
Oh, one final add-on. This was a game where the team really missed the length of guard Michael Oguine. The hopeful sign... he sat on the end of the Griz bench and it looks like his hand is only lightly taped now. I'm hoping that means he'll be ready to play in a week or so.
