MISSOULA, Mont. (Interstat) — In a game defined by grinding defense and offensive struggles, the Montana Grizzlies used a decisive second-half surge to pull away from the Idaho State Bengals for a 69-60 victory in a Big Sky Conference men’s basketball game Saturday night at Dahlberg Arena.

A crowd of 4,103 watched as the Grizzlies improved to 12-9 overall, while the Bengals fell to 10-11. The win was Montana’s second straight in conference play.

The contest was a defensive battle from the outset, with both teams struggling to find consistent offensive rhythm. The Grizzlies took a 35-30 lead into halftime, but the Bengals hung close, largely on the strength of Connor Hollenbeck’s scoring. The Idaho State guard from Rapid City, South Dakota, finished with a game-high 18 points in just 24 minutes of action.

The most important stretch of the game came early in the second half. After Montana’s Money Williams hit a 3-pointer off a Grant Kepley assist to extend the lead to 47-40 with 14:03 remaining, the Grizzlies’ defense locked down. Over the next five minutes, they held Idaho State without a field goal, forcing a series of turnovers and missed shots. During that critical span, Montana pushed its lead to 58-44, a 14-point advantage that proved insurmountable for the cold-shooting Bengals.

Williams, a guard from Oakland, California, was instrumental in the victory, leading Montana with 17 points, five assists and a steal. His backcourt partner, Kenyon Aguino of Albuquerque, New Mexico, added 13 points and three assists, while Kepley, from Bellingham, Washington, chipped in 12 points and five assists. The Grizzlies’ interior presence was bolstered by Te’Jon Sawyer of San Francisco, who contributed 11 points.

For Idaho State, Hollenbeck’s 18 points led the way. Lachlan Brewer, from Launceston, Australia, added 12 points, and Blake Daberkow of Lincoln, Nebraska, scored nine. The Bengals were hampered by poor shooting, converting just 21 of 58 field goal attempts for 36.2 percent. They were also plagued by 13 turnovers, which Montana converted into 12 points.

Montana shot a more efficient 47.4 percent from the floor, making 27 of 57 attempts. A key disparity came in points in the paint, where the Grizzlies dominated, 34-22. They also capitalized on transition opportunities, scoring nine fastbreak points to Idaho State’s zero. The Bengals did hold a significant advantage on the offensive glass, grabbing 10 rebounds to Montana’s four, but could not translate those second chances into enough points to close the gap.

Defensively, Montana recorded six steals and four blocks, disrupting Idaho State’s offensive flow throughout the night. The Bengals managed five steals and two blocks.

The game’s tempo was methodical, with both teams finishing with exactly 68 possessions. Montana’s offensive efficiency rating of 101.1 significantly outpaced Idaho State’s mark of 88.1, underscoring the Grizzlies’ more effective use of their opportunities.

With the win, Montana continues its push in the Big Sky standings. The Grizzlies travel next to face Portland State on Thursday. Idaho State, which has now lost two straight conference road games, looks to regroup before hosting Weber State next Saturday.