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MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) -- Kevin Criswell scored 24 points and Kamarr Davis added 21 Saturday night as Montana defeated Big Sky Conference champion Portland State 79-65.
The victory guarantees Montana (14-12, 8-5 Big Sky) a March 5 home game in the first round of the conference tournament.
Portland State (19-8, 11-3) wrapped up the top seed with an overtime victory at Montana State Thursday and will play host to the semifinal and championship games March 8-9.
The Grizzlies scored 10 unanswered points midway through the second half to take a 55-42 lead with 9:53 remaining. Matt Dlouhy, who scored 18 points, and Corey Easley, who added 10, both had dunks during the run.
Portland State never got closer to nine points after that, the last time at 67-58 on a 3-pointer by Jake Schroeder with 4:09 left.
Criswell answered with a 3-pointer of his own 16 seconds later.
Criswell hit 12-of-16 free throws for half his points, and the Grizzlies were 29-of-41 at the foul line. Portland State was called for 26 fouls, had two players foul out and made just 10-of-17 free throw attempts.
Seamus Boxley hit 10 of his 15 field goal attempts and led Portland State with 22 points, but played only 20 minutes because he got into foul trouble as well. Schroeder was 4-of-6 on 3-pointers and had 14 points. Will Funn had 10 assists for PSU.
The Grizzlies, who turned the ball over 26 times in an 89-77 loss to the Vikings earlier this season, had just seven turnovers against Portland State's press this time. The Vikings had 18 turnovers.
Montana led 36-32 at halftime.
