Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information, P.C. Terri Haverfield
DILLON, Mont. – The Montana Western men's basketball team (5-2) came back from down 13 points to take down the Dickinson State Blue Hawks by a final score of 75-68.
Kyle Gruhler led the Bulldogs in the effort with 22 points and nine rebounds.
How It Happened
Jalyn Stepney and Alan Kane were the first to find the hoop, connecting for 4-0 Western lead in the first minute of the game. Dickinson answered and the two teams continued to battle for position across the ensuing minutes.
After falling by two points, UMW's Kane forced a turnover and tied the game at 20 on a fast break layup with 11 minutes left in the half. The Blue Hawks answered, taking the first big edge of the game at 29-22 behind five points from DSU's Cordell Stinson.
Dickinson continued to stretch their lead, taking a 49-37 lead into the half break after hitting 57 .6 percent from the field.
Following the half break, Western found momentum behind seven points from Jalyn Stepney. They would narrow the gap to 61-53 with 11 minutes left in the game.
Despite a three-minute scoring drought, the Bulldogs fought to stay in it as Gruhler added a pair along with a triple from the top of the arc. It was Gruhler once more who utilized a screen to take it to the basket to cut the deficit to three with under seven to play.
Abi Adedo threaded the needle with a pass to Stepney who slammed it down to tie the game at 63 all, pushing the Bulldogs into a power struggle with the Blue Hawks down the stretch.
Western would gain the edge and go on to finish the game on a 10-0 scoring run to take the 75-68 win.
Notables
Western has won the last three straight games over the Blue Hawks in the series and eight of their last ten.
After being outscored 49-37 in the first half, the Bulldogs held DSU to just 19 points across the second half in a big defensive stand that forced the Blue Hawks to shoot just 17 percent from the field.
Alan Kane had an impressive game tallying 17 points and seven rebounds.
Stepney and Adedo each surpassed double digits in scoring in the game with 15 and 13 points respectively.
Up Next
The Bulldogs will hit the road for a neutral matchup with the Eastern Oregon Mounties on Nov. 27 at 3pm.
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