University of San Francisco Athletics

Box Score

MISSOULA, Mt. –  Kruize Pinkins scored a team-high 22 points on 10-of-11 shooting from the floor to lead four Don players in double figures as USF posted a come-from-behind 75-74 victory over Montana at Dahlberg Arena.
 
The win improves USF's record to 3-2 overall while the Grizzlies falls to 1-2.
 
Cole Dickerson (17), Mark Tollefsen (14) and Avry Holmes (13) joined Pinkins in double figures to help USF snap a two-game losing streak.
 
One game after making a school-record 17 three-pointers on 46 attempts in a 93-90 home loss to Idaho State on Monday, USF made 5-of-10 three's tonight, but scored 46 points in the paint, with Pinkins doing most of the damage down low.
 
USF's low post game helped the Dons to shoot 54.5 percent from the field, including 64.3 percent in the second half.
 
Poor free throw shooting down the stretch almost cost USF the game. Leading 74-69 with 33.3 seconds left, the Dons managed to make just 1-of-7 free throws down the stretch but survived when Kareem Jamar missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.
 
USF led 30-27 at the half, but Montana made six of their first eight three-pointers in the second half and led 56-48 with 9:02 left.
 
The Dons then went to work down low and went on a 9-0 run to take a 57-56 lead with 6:39 left.
 
Montana was nursing a 64-61 lead with 4:08 left when Dickerson and Tollefsen hit back to back 3's to give the Dons a 67-64 lead with 2:48 left.
 
USF's lead was five at 74-69 with :49 left but managed to make just 1-of-7 free throws down the stretch to bring Montana back into the game.
 
The Dons outboarded Montana, 35-25 and also had nine steals on the night.
 
USF played the game without the services of points guard Cody Doolin, who is with his family while attending to a personal matter. Doolin had made 103 consecutive starts before tonight.

The Dons will return to action on Sunday as they face the Oregon Ducks in Eugene.