Boxscore - HTM | PDF

Portland, OR - Montana guard Michael Oguine's career-high 39 points were the biggest spark in an electric atmosphere Saturday afternoon as the Grizzlies defeated Portland State, 92-89, at Lewis and Clark College.
 
Oguine helped keep the Griz in first place in the Big Sky Conference as they won their sixth straight game. He made 12-17 shots from the field, 3-5 three-point field goals and 12-16 free throws.
 
Montana improved to 13-5 overall, 6-0 in the Big Sky. PSU dropped to 12-6, 2-3 in the Big Sky and saw their seven-game home winning streak come to an end.
 
Viking senior guard Bryce Canda posted his sixth double-double of the season, scoring 17 points with 12 rebounds. Senior guard Deontae North scored 18 points and had seven rebounds. Freshman guard Holland "Boo Boo" Woods added 16 points and five assists.
 
In a first half with the physicality and intensity worthy of a WWE main event, neither team led by more than four points. That is until the Vikings ran off the final six points of the half to lead 48-42. There were a total of nine ties and 15 lead changes in the half.
 
Twenty-seven fouls were called in the first 20 minutes and 36 free throws attempted between the two teams, 23 by Montana. The few big men the Vikings had available to play were saddled with fouls on the bench for most of the half.
 
The Vikings (16-43, .372) were outshot by Montana (12-21, .571), but PSU outhustled the Grizzlies. The Vikings grabbed 13 offensive rebounds for a dozen second-chance points, and forced 12 turnovers with their trapping defense which they converted to 13 points.
 
The tide turned in the second half. Oguine sparked runs of 11-0 and 13-2 for the Griz, scoring 11 points in those two flurries. That gave Montana the largest lead of the game at 79-66 with 5:34 to play.
 
But the Vikings weren't done. They rallied back within a point at 84-83 with 1:12 left. Junior guard Derek Brown scored seven in PSU's 17-5 rally.
 
However, Montana made its free throws down the stretch, hitting 8-10 attempts in the last minute, and held on to win.
 
"It was a slugfest," said Viking Coach Barret Peery. "I think everybody got their money's worth. But in a big slugfest like that, we need all of our (players) to be a complete team. I give my guys credit, they fought hard all weekend long with random lineups, illness, fouls…"
 
Portland State was still without forwards Brandon Hollins and Jamie Orme due to illness. Traylin Farris returned and played 14 minutes before fouling out.
 
In all, the Vikings had 32 fouls and three players foul out. Montana was called for 25 fouls.
 
For their part, Montana shot it well, hitting 27-49 from the field for a .551 mark, and making 33-47 free throws (.702).
 
Portland State was 33-77 (.429) and only 5-24 from distance (.208). The Vikings hit 18-22 at the line (.818).
 
GAME NOTES: Derek Brown scored a season-high 12 points in 15 minutes off the bench… senior center Ryan Edwards had 11 points, but fouled out in just eight minutes… the Vikings have now lost 38 player games to injury and illness this season… the Vikings go on the road next week to play at Idaho State and Weber State.