Recap: Montana vs. Southern Utah

Missoula, MT (Sports Network) - Mathis Ward scored a game-high 20 points to lead the Montana Grizzlies over the Southern Utah Thunderbirds, 73-67, in a Big Sky Conference tilt at Dahlberg Arena.

For the Grizzlies (11-4, 7-0 BSC), Kareem Jamar and Spencer Coleman each added 12 points, while Will Cherry chipped in with 10 points and five assists.

Damon Heuir paced the Thunderbirds (5-11, 3-4) with 19 points, while Jackson Stevenett finished with 16 points and Wade Collie scored 10 points.

Montana shot 50 percent from the field in the first half and made 14-of-18 at the free-throw line to take a 31-23 lead at intermission.

After trailing by double figures for most of the second half, Southern Utah cut their deficit to just five, 65-60, with just over a minute to play, but Montana shot 8-of-12 from the free-throw line in the final minute to seal the victory.

Montana finished 31-of-47 from the charity stripe, and while Southern Utah shot 100 percent from the line, it attempted only five free throws. The Grizzlies also won the turnover battle, 21-11.