College basketball: Davion Berry scores 25 to lead Weber State over Montana State

Ogden • Davion Berry keeps rolling along.

So does Weber State.

Berry scored 25 points and the Wildcats shot 62.2 percent Thursday night during a lopsided 86-57 Big Sky Conference victory over Montana State at the Dee Events Center.

Berry has scored at least 23 points in each of the last three games, when he's gone 8-for-17 on three-pointers and 35-for-41 from the free-throw line.

"He's doing everything well," said Weber State coach Randy Rahe said. "... He's playing with a very clear mind right now. Mistakes don't bother him. He's playing like a senior — very mature."

With Berry once again leading the way, the Wildcats improved their record to 9-6 overall and 6-1 in the Big Sky. They are tied for first place with Northern Colorado.

According to Rahe, a quick start was the key to defeating Montana State, which slipped to 9-9 overall and 4-3 in the conference.

"Everything starts with our defense and that's what got us going," he said. "... We got a couple of stops and, when shots also go in early, your confidence rises."

Weber State forward Joel Bolomboy, who finished with 11 points, 12 rebounds and the first three-pointer of his career, agreed.

"Everybody was ready to play," he said, "and good things happened during the game."

The Wildcats made their first three shots, including a pair of three-pointers by Berry, and jumped to an 8-2 lead. It was 21-5 with 12 minutes left in the first half before Montana State went on a 17-6 run.

With Weber's lead down to 35-28, however, Berry stepped into a three-pointer at the buzzer. He buried it, bumping the Wildcats' lead to 10 at halftime.

Still, Montana State hung around in the opening minutes of the second half.

Weber State was nursing a 51-41 lead before freshman guard Jeremy Senglin started a 19-6 run with another three-pointer. He scored eight points during the decisive six-minute stretch that finished the Bobcats.

Senglin finished with 13 while Jordan Richardson and Kyle Tresnak added 12. All five Wildcat starters reached double figures.

"I thought everybody who played contributed," Rahe said, "and that was fun to see."

Weber State plays its fourth game in eight days on Saturday against Montana.

The Grizzlies have knocked the Wildcats out of the Big Sky Conference tournament four straight years, including three times in the finals. —

Storylines

O Davion Berry scores 25 points as the Wildcats improve to 9-6 overall and 6-1 in the Big Sky Conference with their seventh win in eight games. —

Weber St. 86, Montana St. 57

MONTANA STATE (9-9)

Davis 3-9 1-3 7, Coleman 3-9 0-0 7, Egwuonwu 5-10 4-5 14, Dison 2-7 0-0 4, Colbert 4-7 1-2 10, Holm 2-3 0-0 5, Brumwell 0-0 0-0 0, Biglow 2-7 3-4 7, Brown 0-2 2-2 2, Shannon 0-0 0-0 0, Norman 0-2 1-2 1, Robison 0-1 0-0 0.

Totals 21-57 12-18 57.

WEBER STATE (9-6)

Berry 6-8 10-10 25, Bolomboy 5-6 0-0 11, Tresnak 4-5 4-6 12, Richardson 4-8 2-2 12, Senglin 4-8 2-2 13, Gittens 1-2 0-1 2, Fulton 0-1 0-0 0, Williams 0-1 2-2 2, Hill 3-5 0-1 6, Fuller 1-1 0-0 3, Hajek 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals 28-45 20-24 86.

Halftime—Weber St. 38-28. 3-Point Goals—Montana St. 3-12 (Holm 1-1, Colbert 1-3, Coleman 1-6, Dison 0-1, Brown 0-1), Weber St. 10-22 (Berry 3-5, Senglin 3-7, Richardson 2-6, Fuller 1-1, Bolomboy 1-1, Williams 0-1, Fulton 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Montana St. 27 (Coleman 7), Weber St. 33 (Bolomboy 12). Assists—Montana St. 7 (Colbert, Norman 2), Weber St. 23 (Berry 7). Total Fouls—Montana St. 19, Weber St. 20. A—7,358.