Anthony Johnson put Montana on his back Wednesday night, rallying the Grizzlies from a 20-point half-time deficit in 66-65 victory over top-seeded Weber State in the title game of the Big Sky men’s basketball championship.

Johnson, a senior guard, set the Big Sky single-game tournament scoring record with 42 points, including 34 in the second half. Johnson scored Montana’s final 21 points, including the game-winning shot with 11 seconds to play.

Johnson’s 42 points were a career-high, a Montana school record, and a Dee Events Center record. The previous tournament single-game record was 39 points by Cal State’s Northridge Mike O’Quinn in a 1998 quarterfinal game. The previous championship game record was 34 set by Idaho’s Ken Green against Weber State in 1983.

Montana shot 28 percent in the first half, and didn’t score its 10^th point of the game until 6:17 remained before halftime.

 “We sent the bus back to hotel at halftime and went and got our real team,’’ said Montana coach Wayne Tinkle. “We got some imposters there in the first half. We were down 20 and it was pretty emotional at halftime. There wasn’t much fight on either end. “

Johnson made 13-of-22 shots from the floor, and was 14-of-14 from the free-throw line. The 14 free-throws were also a single-game tournament record. Johnson was named the tournament MVP.

Sophomore Derek Selvig, who scored 12 points with seven rebounds, was also named to the All-Tournament team. Weber State’s Damian Lillard, Franklin Session, Portland State’s Julius Thomas and Northern Colorado’s Will Figures were also named to the All-Tournament team.

Montana (22-9) earns the Big Sky’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The pairings will be announced on Sunday at 4 p.m. Mountain on CBS. Weber State, the Big Sky regular-season champion, earns an automatic bid to the NIT for the second straight season. The NIT pairings will be announced on Sunday on ESPNU at 7 p.m. Mountain.

The Grizzlies have won seven Big Sky Championships, and will be making its eighth NCAA Tournament appearance.

Weber State (20-10) raced out to a 40-20 halftime lead, shooting 46.2 percent from the floor, and forcing 16 turnovers. In the second half, the Wildcats shot 28 percent from the floor, made just 1-of-7 3-pointers. Weber State made 22-of-33 free throws.

Lillard scored 16 points. Franklin Session added 10.

Montana’s Brian Qvale tied the championship-game record with six blocks. He also pulled down 14 rebounds.

 

All-Tournament Team

MVP – Anthony Johnson, Montana

Derek Selvig, Montana

Franklin Session, Weber State

Damian Lillard, Weber State

Julius Thomas, Portland State

Will Figures, Northern Colorado.