Montana walked into a neutral-site setting (venue TBD) and did the most difficult thing to do in March: absorb a second-half punch and still get out with the win. The Grizzlies (18-15) led 39-24 at halftime, then withstood Portland State’s 48-point second half to escape with a 75-72 victory over the Vikings (20-11) on March 11, 2026.
Game flow: Montana’s first-half control, Portland State’s second-half response
This one was defined by two very different halves. Montana’s 39 points before the break set the tone and created breathing room, while Portland State struggled to generate enough offense to keep pace early, entering intermission down 15.
After halftime, the script flipped. Portland State came out with urgency and put up 48 in the second half, turning the game into a possession-by-possession finish. But Montana answered with 36 after the break—enough to keep the Vikings from fully erasing the deficit.
Turning point: the halftime margin
In a three-point game at the horn, the decisive stretch was the first 20 minutes. Montana’s 39-24 halftime lead forced Portland State to play from behind the rest of the night. Even with the Vikings’ second-half surge, the early gap narrowed the margin for error and made every empty trip magnified late.
What it means going forward
For Montana, the win is a blueprint game: establish separation early, then manage the finish when the opponent’s shot-making spikes. The Grizzlies didn’t match Portland State’s second-half burst, but they stayed connected enough offensively to avoid a total collapse.
For Portland State, the takeaway is more complicated. The Vikings showed they can generate high-level offense when the pressure rises—48 in the second half is proof of concept—but the slow start left too much to recover. At 20-11, the Vikings have the résumé of a team that can win tough games; this one was a reminder that March doesn’t give you 20 minutes to find your footing.