mtgrizrule
Well-known member
In the space of a week, the Montana men's basketball team morphed from pretenders into contenders.
The Griz opened Big Sky Conference play with a win at Portland State last Thursday that was both a big boost to the team's psyche and an important breakthrough in terms of the league standings. It was the Grizzlies' first true road win of the season and it came against the team that posted the best nonconference mark. The Griz nearly made it a road sweep on Saturday, playing Eastern Washington on even terms for most of the second half before dropping a three-point decision.
“I think we can build from that because now we know we can win on the road,” Montana senior Stuart Mayes said of the win at Portland State.
Mayes and freshman Cameron Rundles probably illustrate the Grizzlies' metamorphosis better than any two players on the team. Mayes did not play for the first eight games of the season, sitting out a suspension handed out by coach Wayne Tinkle and then trying to play his way back onto the floor during practices.
Rundles, meanwhile, played himself into a starting role for the final five games of the preconference schedule, then nearly disappeared for the final three when he had more turnovers (12) than points (10).
Mayes, who had seven points and five rebounds for the season before Thursday night, had 10 points and five boards in the win over the Vikings. Rundles exploded for a career-high 20 points, four rebounds, two assists and no turnovers.
Mayes admits his attitude wasn't what it should have been to start his final season in Missoula.
“I was more so-so, kind of negative,” Mayes said. “But now I'm more positive. I just want to go out there and have fun. I think that's one thing I forgot in the first half of the season was to have fun. The last two practices we had were great and it showed out there on the court.”
Mayes, who played 18 minutes in Portland because of Jordan Hasquet's foul trouble, nailed a 3-pointer just before the first-half buzzer sounded to cut a six-point Vikings' lead in half.
“That was a big momentum switch at halftime,” Tinkle said. “With our foul trouble, it was huge for him to respond. To drill that three to cut it from a six-point game to three was a real boost for our guys.”
When point guard Bryan Ellis fouled out with 2:52 to play, Tinkle brought Mayes off the bench and moved Rundles to the point. With the Griz clinging to a two-point lead late in the game, Mayes tipped in a Rundles miss with 13 seconds left to all but secure the win.
“We had to put somebody in with just a couple minutes to go and had several choices,” Tinkle said. “We had a gut feeling and threw Stu in there and he makes a big play for us.”
“I feel pretty good right now,” Mayes said. “I feel I can get better. I just want to do whatever I can to help this team win. All we want to do is win, the whole team. I knew I would get another opportunity Š and I wanted to make the most of it.”
Rundles busted out of his three-game slump by shooting 7-for-14 from the field against the Vikings, including a big 16-foot jumper after PSU had cut the gap to three late in the game.
“We thought he made a little disappearing act on us there for a few games,” Tinkle said. “Each coach has taken a little bit of time over the last couple of days getting into his head, trying to bring him back. You talk about the freshman funk, or whatever. We didn't doubt him. We kept him in the starting lineup and kind of got his confidence going a little bit. We told him we needed him, we depended on him and, lo and behold, he comes out and has a huge game for us. It's awesome.”
The coaching staff has had to keep the sometimes brash freshman under control.
“Being a freshman, he will get emotional at times,” Tinkle said. “We'll take him out, correct him, then he goes back out there and doesn't miss a beat. He's great that way.”
The Griz opened Big Sky Conference play with a win at Portland State last Thursday that was both a big boost to the team's psyche and an important breakthrough in terms of the league standings. It was the Grizzlies' first true road win of the season and it came against the team that posted the best nonconference mark. The Griz nearly made it a road sweep on Saturday, playing Eastern Washington on even terms for most of the second half before dropping a three-point decision.
“I think we can build from that because now we know we can win on the road,” Montana senior Stuart Mayes said of the win at Portland State.
Mayes and freshman Cameron Rundles probably illustrate the Grizzlies' metamorphosis better than any two players on the team. Mayes did not play for the first eight games of the season, sitting out a suspension handed out by coach Wayne Tinkle and then trying to play his way back onto the floor during practices.
Rundles, meanwhile, played himself into a starting role for the final five games of the preconference schedule, then nearly disappeared for the final three when he had more turnovers (12) than points (10).
Mayes, who had seven points and five rebounds for the season before Thursday night, had 10 points and five boards in the win over the Vikings. Rundles exploded for a career-high 20 points, four rebounds, two assists and no turnovers.
Mayes admits his attitude wasn't what it should have been to start his final season in Missoula.
“I was more so-so, kind of negative,” Mayes said. “But now I'm more positive. I just want to go out there and have fun. I think that's one thing I forgot in the first half of the season was to have fun. The last two practices we had were great and it showed out there on the court.”
Mayes, who played 18 minutes in Portland because of Jordan Hasquet's foul trouble, nailed a 3-pointer just before the first-half buzzer sounded to cut a six-point Vikings' lead in half.
“That was a big momentum switch at halftime,” Tinkle said. “With our foul trouble, it was huge for him to respond. To drill that three to cut it from a six-point game to three was a real boost for our guys.”
When point guard Bryan Ellis fouled out with 2:52 to play, Tinkle brought Mayes off the bench and moved Rundles to the point. With the Griz clinging to a two-point lead late in the game, Mayes tipped in a Rundles miss with 13 seconds left to all but secure the win.
“We had to put somebody in with just a couple minutes to go and had several choices,” Tinkle said. “We had a gut feeling and threw Stu in there and he makes a big play for us.”
“I feel pretty good right now,” Mayes said. “I feel I can get better. I just want to do whatever I can to help this team win. All we want to do is win, the whole team. I knew I would get another opportunity Š and I wanted to make the most of it.”
Rundles busted out of his three-game slump by shooting 7-for-14 from the field against the Vikings, including a big 16-foot jumper after PSU had cut the gap to three late in the game.
“We thought he made a little disappearing act on us there for a few games,” Tinkle said. “Each coach has taken a little bit of time over the last couple of days getting into his head, trying to bring him back. You talk about the freshman funk, or whatever. We didn't doubt him. We kept him in the starting lineup and kind of got his confidence going a little bit. We told him we needed him, we depended on him and, lo and behold, he comes out and has a huge game for us. It's awesome.”
The coaching staff has had to keep the sometimes brash freshman under control.
“Being a freshman, he will get emotional at times,” Tinkle said. “We'll take him out, correct him, then he goes back out there and doesn't miss a beat. He's great that way.”
