MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) -Anthony Johnson scored 22 points on 8-for-11 shooting to lead Montana to a 71-54 victory over Northern Arizona Friday night in the Big Sky Conference opener for both teams.
Freshman Will Cherry added 10 points and five assists for the Grizzlies (5-2), who were coming off a tight 63-59 loss to No. 12 Washington in Seattle last weekend.
Montana shot 56 percent from the field on Friday and forced 17 Lumberjack turnovers.
Northern Arizona (2-4) cut Montana's lead to seven on a 3-point play from Shane Johannsen with 8:52 left, after the Grizzlies opened up a double-figure lead from a 34-31 halftime edge.
A pair of Montana 3-pointers from Michael Taylor and Raason Young put the game out of reach. The final 17-point margin was the biggest of the game.
Johannsen finished with 16 points to lead the Lumberjacks.
