Samuelson Spurs Grizzlies To Overtime Win Over Gaels

Big Sky/WCC

Shawn Samuelson had 24 points and 10 rebounds Saturday night to lead Montana to a 70-63 overtime men’s basketball victory over St. Mary’s at Missoula.

Montana (10-3) forced overtime when guard Kirk Walker hit his only basket from the field - a 3-pointer with 3 seconds left in regulation - to tie the score 56-56.

The Gaels (5-5) had taken a 56-53 lead with 12 seconds remaining on two Kamran Sufi free throws.

In overtime, the Grizzlies scored 12 of their 14 points from the foul line. St. Mary’s fell to 5-5.

Sufi cut Montana’s lead to 67-63 with 19 seconds left, but the Grizzlies secured the outcome on two free throws by Chris Spoja and one by Walker in the final 16 seconds.

The Gaels were led by David Sivulich with 19 points and Jumoke Horton with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Boise State 61, Pepperdine 58

At Malibu, Calif., Joe Wyatt scored 15 points and the Broncos (4-8) converted six straight free throws in the final 19 seconds to hold off the Waves (7-5).

Boise State won on the road for the first time this season after five losses.

Gerry Washington added a career-high 13 points off the bench for Boise State, which beat Pepperdine last season in Boise.

Bryan Hill led the Waves with 22 points. Gerald Brown added 20.

Weber State 108, Anchorage 101

At Ogden, Utah, Jimmy DeGraffenried scored 29 points, hitting a school-record 15 of 15 from the foul line, to lead the Wildcats (8-5) past the Seawolves (10-5).

Weber State also received double-digit scoring from Jestyn Tebbs and Ryan Cuff, who had 27 and 23 points respectively. Cuff made five 3-pointers.

Loyola Marymount 67, N. Arizona 61

At Flagstaff, Ariz., Jim Williamson scored 18 points as the Lions (9-3) beat the Lumberjacks (3-7).

With 16 seconds remaining, Northern Arizona closed to within 65-61 on a basket by Tootie Green and two free throws by Charles Thomas.

However, Williamson answered with two free throws to wrap up the victory.

WCC

San Diego 75, San Francisco 66

David Fizdale scored 19 points, including 17 in the second half, to lead the host Toreros (6-5) to victory over the Dons (7-6) in the West Coast Conference opener for both teams.

USF moved within 62-56 with 3:20 remaining.

However, Fizdale scored off the press, was fouled and hit the free throw to stretch San Diego’s lead to 65-56.

Helped by Fizdale, San Diego shot 63 percent from the field in the second half and, for the game, hit 22 of 30 free throws. Gerald Walker paced USF with 23 points.

Butler 87, Portland 80

At Indianapolis, Matthew Graves scored 22 points, including seven in the game’s last minute, to lead the Bulldogs (8-3) to victory over the Pilots (9-3).

Butler led 79-78 when Graves started an 8-2 run with a 3-pointer with 56 seconds to play. He then made four free throws in the game’s final 25 seconds.