Montana didn’t need style points — it needed a result. The Grizzlies got it Thursday, handling Sacramento State 81-73 to steady themselves late in the 2025-26 season.

The win lifts Montana to 16-14 after entering the night at 15-14 with a WLLLW stretch behind it. Sacramento State, already reeling at 9-19 and riding an LLLLL run, fell to 9-20 as the losses piled up.

The result

Montana 81, Sacramento State 73 (Feb. 27, 2026; venue: TBD)

How it happened

With no quarter-by-quarter breakdown available, the story is the final margin: Montana created enough separation to keep Sacramento State at arm’s length. The Grizzlies’ 81 points gave them the offensive baseline they needed, and the Hornets never found the extra gear required to flip the game late.

Turning point

The decisive swing was Montana’s ability to turn a competitive game into an eight-point finish. In a matchup featuring a home team hovering around .500 and an away team in a prolonged slide, Montana’s control of the game state — keeping the Hornets from getting over the top — ultimately defined the night.

What it means going forward

Montana: At 16-14, the Grizzlies add a needed win to stabilize their closing stretch. It’s the type of result that matters in late-season sorting — a game they couldn’t afford to let slip.

Sacramento State: Now 9-20, the Hornets’ losing run continues, and the path forward gets narrower. Until they can turn competitive stretches into full-game execution, results like Thursday’s will keep repeating.