Big Sky Conference Tournament - Northern Arizona @ Montana

First Meeting
December 4th
Northern Arizona 31 23 54
Montana 34 37 71

Second Meeting
January 30th
Montana 29 55 84
Northern Arizona 30 34 64


Key Players
Montana
Anthony Johnson 8/11 6/6 22 2 2 3
Anthony Johnson 9/14 9/9 28 4 2 5
Will Cherry 5/10 0/1 10 2 5 2
Will Cherry 7/10 5/6 19 7 1
Brian Qvale 2/3 0/1 4 6 1
Brian Qvale 3/4 1/2 7 3 3

Northern Arizona
Cameron Jones 6/14 0/2 12 4 4 6
Cameron Jones 9/18 2/2 22 3 4
Shane Johannsen 6/9 4/8 16 4 1
DeAngelo Jones 6/10 1/1 14 1 2
Josh Lepley 4/9 5/7 13 2 1

Key Stats
Montana outscored Northern Arizona by 35 points in their two meetings this season.
Northern Arizona shot 37.5 percent from the free throw line at Montana in early December.
Montana scored 19 points off Northern Arizona turnovers in the second half of their game at Northern Arizona and were a plus-10 in their meeting at Montana.
Montana's Anthony Johnson and Will Cherry combined to score 40 points on 13 of 15 shooting from the floor in the second half at Northern Arizona.
During the meeting at Montana, Montana finished plus-12 points in the paint and a plus-20 bench points.

HoopsIQ Prediction

Montana won both regular season meetings against Northern Arizona and did so in different manners. Brian Qvale was in foul trouble throughout the first meeting, but Montana received scoring help from their bench to take control in the second half in route to a 17 point victory. Northern Arizona shot poorly from the foul line and Northern Arizona finished with 18 turnovers in the game.

Montana won the second meeting with an extremely efficient second half from their starting backcourt. Anthony Johnson and Will Cherry combined to shoot 86.7 percent from the floor and as a team the Grizzlies shot 76 percent.

Both of the regular season meetings between these two teams were close at half time. Montana held a three point advantage at home and trailed by one at Northern Arizona. For Northern Arizona to pull the upset Cameron Jones will need another big game. Also, the Lumberjacks will need to take better control of the ball and have a good shooting night from the foul line. If the game is close again at the half, the first five minutes of the second half will be important for Northern Arizona.

Montana knocked off Northern Arizona by an average of 18.5 points per game and received limited offensive production from their primary interior option, Brian Qvale. Expect Qvale to end up with 8 to 10 shot attempts in an attempt to take some of the scoring load off the shoulders of Johnson and Cherry. If Montana comes out and plays to their averages Northern Arizona will need a big performance to advance. Montana ended the regular season on a sour note losing at home to instate rival Montana State, expect the Grizzlies to come out with better energy and focus tonight.

Montana 74 Northern Arizona 62