Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information, Photo Terri Haverfield
DILLON, Mont. – The Montana Western men's basketball team (2-0, 0-0) won their second straight game this season after they took care of business against Walla Walla University.
The Bulldog bench combined for 41 points in the matchup with the team combining to outshoot the Wolves 55.1 to 43.1 percent.
How It Happened
Knocking down 11 points in the first ten minutes of the game, Kyle Gruhler led the Bulldogs on their way to a 30-14 first half lead with nine minutes to play until the break.
Walla Walla's Soren Dalan hit a jumper that broke a 7-0 UMW run and the two teams would match each other point for point through the next four minutes of the game.
Up 38-25 with four minutes on the clock, UMW's Gruhler and Billy Carlson drilled consecutive threes on back-to-back possessions. They would push Western out to a 44-25 lead with under three to play.
After outscoring the Wolves 7-3 in the final two minutes, the Bulldogs would take a 51-31 lead into the break.
Western found the hoop in a big way to start the second half, with three different Bulldogs putting down dunks to keep the momentum on the side of the Bulldogs.
It was Stepney who led the Bulldogs on a 10-0 run to keep the Bulldogs out 74-40 with 12 minutes to play in the game. The Bulldog men would continue to hang on to the momentum and hold tight to the lead down the stretch.
Billy Carlson drove to the hoop for a bucket to break the 100-point margin in the game. The Bulldogs would go on to win the game by a final score of 102-75.
Notables
Today's win marks the 14th win over the Wolves dating back to the 2006 season. UMW holds a 14-1 record over WWU.
Gruhler led the Bulldogs with 21 points on a five for six performance from the arc. He also added five rebounds and an assist.
Jacob Ankeny neared double-double numbers with 15 points and a team-leading nine rebounds. He recorded seven offensive boards in the game.
Alan Kane hit double digits in scoring while also totaling four assists and five rebounds.
Up Next
Montana Western will return to the court Nov. 8 in Butte, Mont. where they will tip-off against Jamestown University (N.D.) at 5 p.m. in the HPER Complex.
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