Recap: Montana State vs. Montana

Bozeman, MT (Sports Network) - Keron Deshields led four Grizzles in double- figures with 17 points as Montana hung on for a 71-68 victory over the Montana State Bobcats in a Big Sky Conference bout at Worthington Arena.

Spencer Coleman and Kareem Jamar scored 14 points each for Montana (20-6, 16-1 Big Sky), which needed to win to maintain first place standing in the Big Sky race. Jordan Gregory chipped in 11 points in the win.

Flavien Davis poured in 30 points on 11-of-13 efficiency from the field for Montana State (10-16, 7-10), which lost for the sixth time in seven games.

Montana jumped out to an 18-8 lead less than eight minutes after tip-off. The Grizzles shot 46.4 percent from the field including 5-of-11 from 3-point range in the first half en route to a 37-27 lead at the intermission. Montana State hit on 44 percent of its shots from the floor before the break, but trailed after a 1-of-9 showing from beyond the arc.

The Grizzlies continued to scorch the nets in the second half as they knocked down 52.2 percent of their field goal attempts including 6-of-11 from 3-point distance. The Bobcats trailed by nine with 2:21 left to play before putting together a late rally. Montana State held the visitors scoreless until the buzzer as it chipped away at the deficit. Antonio Biglow made a jumper with 53 seconds left to make it a three-point game at 71-68, but he turned it over in the closing seconds on the Bobcats' final possession.

Montana notched its 20th win with the victory to mark the fourth consecutive season it has reached that mark, which ties a school record.