Second half Eagles’ undoing

MISSOULA – Guards Anthony Johnson and Will Cherry combined for 42 points to lead the Montana Grizzlies to a 79-66 victory over the Eastern Washington Eagles in a Big Sky Conference men’s basketball game Friday evening in Dahlberg Arena.

It was nip-and-tuck the first 30 minutes with the score tied 12 times and with eight lead changes.

The last tie was 53-53 with 12:05 remaining, when EWU (5-11, 1-2 Big Sky) senior forward Brandon Moore made a pair of free throws.

Montana (11-6, 2-3) took the lead for good on its next possession as Cherry hit a jumper with 11:56 left for a 55-53 margin.

The game stayed close for the next several minutes, but UM jumped to a 70-61 advantage with 4:27 left when senior guard Ryan Staudacher made back-to-back 3-pointers.

The Grizzlies took their first double-digit lead at 74-64 on a steal and layup by Cherry with 3:06 to play, and UM led by 10 or more points the rest of the way.

Cherry’s steal on that play was his seventh of the game.

Johnson, a senior, scored a game-high 25 points, while Cherry, a freshman, tied his career high with 17.

Staudacher was UM’s other double-digit scorer with 11 points. He made 3 of 4 3-pointers.

Junior center Brian Qvale led Montana with five rebounds and matched his career best with six blocked shots.

Cherry scored 16 of his points in the second half, when he made 7 of 10 shots from the field, while Staudacher nailed three 3-pointers and had nine points in the final 20 minutes.

Freshmen guards Glen Dean and Jeffrey Forbes led EWU with 15 and 12 points, respectively, while Moore had a game-high 11 rebounds.

EWU had a 36-25 rebounding advantage, but the Eagles had 22 turnovers, compared to the Grizzlies’ seven. EWU led 41-37 at intermission.

Eastern is at Montana State (9-4, 4-1) tonight. The Bobcats defeated visiting Portland State 77-71 Friday.

Montana 79, EWU 66

 E. Washington (5-11, 1-2)—Dunn 3-4 0-0 8, Moore 3-10 2-2 8, Dean 6-11 0-0 15, Forbes 5-9 0-0 12, Gibbs 1-5 0-0 2, Gibson 2-2 2-2 6, Griffin 2-7 4-4 8, Winford 2-4 3-3 7, Brunell 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-52 11-11 66.

Montana (11-6, 2-3)—McGillis 2-4 2-4 6, Qvale 1-4 2-2 4, Staudacher 4-6 0-0 11, Cherry 7-13 3-4 17, Johnson 6-14 10-12 25, Young 3-6 0-0 6, Taylor 0-1 0-0 0, Stockton 0-1 1-2 1, Selvig 2-4 0-2 5, Ward 2-2 0-0 4. Totals 27-55 18-26 79.

Halftime—E. Washington 41-37. 3-Point Goals—E. Washington 7-12 (Dean 3-4, Dunn 2-2, Forbes 2-4, Winford 0-1, Gibbs 0-1), Montana 7-15 (Johnson 3-4, Staudacher 3-4, Selvig 1-2, McGillis 0-1, Young 0-1, Cherry 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—E. Washington 36 (Moore 11), Montana 25 (Qvale 5). Assists—E. Washington 9 (Gibbs 3), Montana 6 (Johnson, Staudacher 2). Total Fouls—E. Washington 18, Montana 14. A—NA.