It was my first game this season, and what a treat I got watching St. Thomas and Montana battle back and forth in men’s hoops.
Last Saturday, the host Tommies prevailed 88-81 over the visiting Grizzlies to improve to 7-4 this season and remain undefeated in the annual Big Sky-Summit Challenge at 4-0.
Both teams started out shooting lights out — eight combined 3-pointers, and there was 40 combined points before the first media timeout.
UST’s Johnny Tauer added, “These are games that are great tests win or lose. We are going to learn and grow.”
Kendell Blue and Nolan Minessale both had 22 points to lead St. Thomas. Malik Moore let all scorers with 30 points for Montana. Blue (tied), Moore and Minessale all posted career scoring highs last Saturday.
Both head coaches have similar routes, coaching-wise: Tauer, now in his 14th season and DeCuire are two of 30 Division I head coaches at their respective alma mater and in their first HC stint.
DeCuire has spent the past 11 seasons with the Grizzlies and led Montana to three Big Sky Conference regular season championships (2015, 2018, 2019), two Big Sky Tournament titles (2018, 2019) and two NCAA tournament berths (2018, 2019). He is second all-time in program history with 207 wins.
“It’s the barometer for us in terms of how we feel about our team,” said Montana Coach Travis DeCuire afterwards, “and where we think we should stand going with conference play.” The Grizzlies dropped to 6-4.
St. Thomas “(is) a well-coached team,” said DeCuire.
“He is an unbelievable coach and person,” noted Tauer of the Montana coach. “His team reflects his toughness and the way he played there.”
St. Thomas remains at home for its next two games, beginning Friday December 13th vs. Western Michigan and December 15th against Crown College.