Jamar's triple-double powers Griz over Hawai'i

Last season, the Montana Grizzlies basketball team had a chance to show the nation it was worthy of a bid to the NCAA tournament, but fell short against Long Beach State in one of ESPN's annual Bracketbuster games.

This year, still with that disappointing taste in their mouths, Will Cherry and Kareem Jamar were not about to let it happen again.

"We had a Bracketbuster last year and we didn't perform to the best of our ability," Jamar said. "We wanted to change that tonight."

The duo combined for 45 points and 16 assists, and cruised over the Hawai'i Warriors 94-79 on Saturday night at Dahlberg Arena in Missoula, Mont.

Late in the second half, Cherry picked Hawai'i guard Miles Bobby's pocket and passed up court to Jamar, who had a nifty no-look dish to Mathias Ward for an easy layup.

The Montana Grizzlies went by 17 over the Warriors with two minutes to play.

It was a microcosm of the game for the Montana Grizzlies, as they played fundamental, almost rudimentary, basketball, showcasing to the nation, perhaps this is the year they're ready for March Madness.

Hawai'i streaked into Saturday night's matchup having won four of five, but met an even hotter Montana squad. The Rainbow Warriors, coming off a comfortable 82-58 non-conference win over New Orleans on Tuesday night, couldn't slow down the powerful tandem of Cherry and Jamar.

"Our success comes from team chemistry, everybody knowing each other's game," said Cherry, a 6-foot-1 junior guard. "We've had a nice little streak going here over the last few months. We weren't about to let this one slip away from us."

Nice little streak? Montana (20-6, 12-1 Big Sky Conference) furthered its win streak to nine and 15 of 16 overall. With the victory, the Grizzlies, who currently co-lead the Big Sky Conference, notched their third straight 20-win season.

Jamar posted the first triple-double for the Montana Grizzlies in more than 30 years. The sophomore forward from Los Angeles had 21 points on 5 of 8 shooting from the field and 9 of 13 from the line, 11 boards and 11 assists. Cherry led both teams with 24 points and five steals.

"My teammates," Jamar said, "when they're making shots, anything is possible."

The Grizzlies led the Warriors 23 to 13 in assists, while Hawai'i held a slight advantage on the boards, 33-31.

"The 23 assists as a team, that's a credit to the guys who get in the gym when the lights are off and nobody is watching," Jamar said. "That's a key to success."

This game was never very close.

"They were red-hot. Guys that normally knock down shots were knocking them down, which really stretched us out," Hawai'i head coach Gib Arnold said. "We were having a hard time containing them and when you hit that many 3s and you get hot, you're playing catch-up all night."

"Give Montana credit."

The Grizzlies shot 48 percent from behind the arc, hitting 11 of 23. The Grizzlies were 10 percentage points better from the field, firing at a 58 percent clip.

The Warriors, who are joining the Big West following this season, shot 49 percent from the field and 43 percent from 3-point land. They struggled from the line, connecting on 19 of 34.

Hawai'i junior Vander Joaquim, a 6-foot-10 center, was nearly absent from the box score in the first half, as Montana often doubled him. Joaquim did, however, swat Montana forward Art Steward's shot deep into the bleachers with nine minutes to play, stunning the otherwise raucous crowd.

Hawai'i's big man got it together in the second half, adding 17 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, but it wasn't enough against a determined Montana team.

"Our guys were not going to be denied," Montana sixth-year head coach Wayne Tinkle said. "They a mature group; they're a focused group and it's no surprise they handled business."

Hawai'i's trifecta of Joaquim, Zane Johnson and Joston Thomas, who average nearly 60 percent of the team's offensive output, struggled all night. Thomas, playing with four fouls midway through the second half, picked up a flagrant after thrusting his arms into Griz center Derek Selvig. Thomas, who had 11 points and five rebounds, was ejected.

"We always talk about poise and character, it's a real strength of ours," Tinkle said. "It's a difference-maker."

The Grizzlies poured on their best first half offensive effort of the season, leading 47-34 going into the locker room. Montana connected on 8 of 15 shots from deep and 17 of 30 from the field. The Grizzlies also shared the ball, dishing 12 assists to the Warriors' six in the first frame.