Montana Grizzlies Defeat Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 78-64
Thursday, January 1, 2026, 6:00 PM ET · Dahlberg Arena
Montana Grizzlies 78, Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 64, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Northern Arizona Lumberjacks vs Montana Grizzlies?
Montana Grizzlies beat Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 78-64 at Dahlberg Arena on January 1, 2026.
Who was favored in Northern Arizona Lumberjacks vs Montana Grizzlies?
Montana Grizzlies were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -238 (about 70% implied). The favorite won.
The Montana Grizzlies secured a decisive 78-64 victory over the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks at Dahlberg Arena, marking a significant win in their NCAAB campaign. This matchup was particularly noteworthy as it showcased the Grizzlies' ability to rebound from a challenging stretch, having lost their last two games prior to this contest. With this win, Montana improved its home record to 8-7, while Northern Arizona fell to 6-9 overall.
In the lead-up to the game, Montana had a mixed recent form, holding a record of 4-6 over their last ten games. They had been averaging 80.5 points scored per game while allowing 80.2 points, indicating a tendency for high-scoring affairs. The Grizzlies' last five contests reflected a record of 2-3, with an average of 76.4 points scored and 75.6 points allowed. In contrast, Northern Arizona entered the game with a record of 5-5 in their last ten outings, with a scoring average of 77.0 points and an average of 74.0 points allowed. The Lumberjacks had recently snapped a losing streak, winning their last game against Benedictine Mesa Redhawks, 112-60.
The Grizzlies had a home record of 2-4 in their last six games at Dahlberg Arena, while Northern Arizona struggled significantly on the road, with an away record of 0-4 in their last four games. This context added to the significance of the matchup, as home court advantage often plays a critical role in college basketball.
Historically, Montana has dominated this rivalry, winning all three previous meetings in the current season. Their latest encounter before this game was on March 10, 2025, where Montana won 74-65. The Grizzlies also won earlier matchups on February 9 and January 10, with scores of 83-80 and 81-76, respectively, showcasing their consistent performance against the Lumberjacks.
In terms of injuries, there were no specific details provided in the block that indicated any key players were unavailable for either team, allowing both sides to field their best lineups.
The betting market, as reported by DraftKings, favored Montana with a spread of -5.5 and a money line of -238. Northern Arizona was listed at +5.5 with a money line of +195. The total for the game was set at 149.5, reflecting expectations for a moderately high-scoring affair.
Conditions during the game were typical for indoor basketball, with no adverse weather factors impacting play. The atmosphere at Dahlberg Arena was likely charged, given the stakes of the matchup and the Grizzlies' need to regain momentum after recent losses.
As the game unfolded, Montana took control early and maintained a lead throughout. Key moments included several scoring plays in the second half, such as Tyler Thompson's 26-foot three-point jumper, which extended Montana's lead to 74-60. The Grizzlies effectively utilized their offensive capabilities, with multiple players contributing to the scoreline, including Brooklyn Hicks, who capped off the scoring with a driving layup that brought the final score to 78-64.
Overall, this game reflected Montana's resilience and ability to perform under pressure, while Northern Arizona will need to regroup as they continue their season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | MONT -5.5 | 149.5 o -110 / u -110 | Northern Arizona Lumberjacks +195 · Montana Grizzlies -238 |
Leaders
- PointsBrooklyn Hicks15Montana Grizzlies
- AssistsGrant Kepley6Montana Grizzlies
- ReboundsTyler Thompson6Montana Grizzlies
- PointsRyan Abelman13Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
- AssistsBrennan Peterson5Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
- ReboundsTraivar Jackson10Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
Recent form
Montana Grizzlies
Last 10: 4-6Streak L280.5 scored · 80.2 allowed per game2-4 at home
- L54-94at Louisville CardinalsDec 20
- L75-82vs Montana Tech OrediggersDec 18
- W102-46vs Salish Kootenai BisonDec 11
- W79-75at North Dakota Fighting HawksDec 7
- L72-81vs North Dakota State BisonDec 4
- L87-95vs Oakland Golden GrizzliesNov 26
- L63-68vs Lamar CardinalsNov 23
- L81-86at Texas A&M AggiesNov 19
- W90-82vs Cal Poly MustangsNov 15
- W102-93at UNLV RebelsNov 12
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
Last 10: 5-5Streak W177 scored · 74 allowed per game0-4 away
- W112-60vs Benedictine Mesa RedhawksDec 30
- L66-90at Incarnate Word CardinalsDec 21
- W65-57vs Southern Utah ThunderbirdsDec 19
- L69-78at San Diego TorerosDec 13
- L48-73at Arizona State Sun DevilsDec 10
- L68-69at North Dakota State BisonDec 7
- L62-75vs South Dakota State JackrabbitsDec 4
- W79-72vs Southeast Missouri State RedhawksNov 27
- W93-87vs Cal Poly MustangsNov 25
- W108-79vs Embry Riddle (AZ) EaglesNov 19
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland State | 20-11 | - | 13-5 |
| Montana State | 18-14 | 1 | 12-6 |
| Eastern Washington | 14-19 | 2 | 11-7 |
| Northern Colorado | 20-12 | 3 | 10-8 |
| Montana | 18-16 | 3 | 10-8 |
| Weber State | 16-16 | 3 | 10-8 |
| Idaho | 21-15 | 4 | 9-9 |
| Sacramento State | 10-21 | 8 | 6-12 |
| Idaho State | 13-20 | 8 | 5-13 |
| Northern Arizona | 10-22 | 9 | 4-14 |
Box score
| Stat | Northern Arizona Lumberjacks | Montana Grizzlies |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 23-54 | 28-52 |
| Field goal % | 43 | 54 |
| Three-pointers | 7-19 | 10-24 |
| Three-point % | 37 | 42 |
| Free throws | 11-15 | 12-14 |
| Free throw % | 73 | 86 |
| Rebounds | 30 | 29 |
| Offensive rebounds | 10 | 5 |
| Defensive rebounds | 20 | 24 |
| Assists | 12 | 17 |
| Steals | 6 | 5 |
| Blocks | 3 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 13 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 12 | 14 |
| Fast-break points | 5 | 4 |
| Points in the paint | 26 | 32 |
| Fouls | 15 | 17 |
| Largest lead | 5 | 14 |
| Lead changes | 10 | 10 |
| Time in front | 15 | 70 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half36-38Tyler Thompson makes 18-foot jumper
- 2nd Half39-38Isaiah Shaw makes 23-foot three point jumper (Brennan Peterson assists)
- 2nd Half39-41Kenyon Aguino makes 22-foot three point jumper (Grant Kepley assists)
- 2nd Half41-41Traivar Jackson makes layup (Brennan Peterson assists)
- 2nd Half41-43Kenyon Aguino makes 6-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half41-44Brooklyn Hicks makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half41-45Brooklyn Hicks makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half41-46Brooklyn Hicks makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half41-48Trae Taylor makes 4-foot dunk
- 2nd Half43-48Zack Davidson makes layup (Karl Poom assists)
- 2nd Half43-51Tyler Thompson makes 27-foot three point jumper (Grant Kepley assists)
- 2nd Half46-51Ryan Abelman makes 24-foot three point jumper (Brennan Peterson assists)
- 2nd Half46-52Grant Kepley makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half46-53Grant Kepley makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half47-53Kavon Bradford makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-53Kavon Bradford makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half49-53Chris Komin makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-53Chris Komin makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-55Kenyon Aguino makes 7-foot hook shot (Grant Kepley assists)
- 2nd Half51-55Chris Komin makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-58Brooklyn Hicks makes 23-foot three point jumper (Money Williams assists)
- 2nd Half51-59Money Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-60Money Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-60Ryan Abelman makes 24-foot three point jumper (Brennan Peterson assists)
- 2nd Half54-62Money Williams makes layup
- 2nd Half54-64Money Williams makes 15-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half55-64Isaiah Shaw makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half55-65Money Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-66Money Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-66Kavon Bradford makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-69Brooklyn Hicks makes 23-foot three point jumper (Money Williams assists)
- 2nd Half58-69Kavon Bradford makes driving layup
- 2nd Half60-69Ryan Abelman makes driving layup
- 2nd Half60-71Kenyon Aguino makes layup (Grant Kepley assists)
- 2nd Half60-74Tyler Thompson makes 26-foot three point jumper (Money Williams assists)
- 2nd Half61-74Zack Davidson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-74Zack Davidson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-76Te'Jon Sawyer makes layup (Tyler Thompson assists)
- 2nd Half64-76Chris Komin makes 12-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half64-78Brooklyn Hicks makes driving layup
Win probability
Above the line favours Montana Grizzlies, below favours Northern Arizona Lumberjacks.
Venue
- Dahlberg ArenaMissoula, MT
- Attendance2777
- OfficialsShawn Lehigh, Wesley Ford, Jacob Hirz
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