Steward's 19 points help Grizzlies roll past Eagles

| January 27, 2012 8:00 PM

CHENEY (AP) - Art Steward had 19 points as Montana won for the ninth time in its last 10 games, beating Eastern Washington 74-60 on Thursday night.

Kareem Jamar had 15 points for the Grizzlies (14-6, 7-1 Big Sky). Collin Chiverton scored 22 points for the Eagles (3-5, 9-12), who lost their fourth straight.

Leading by as many as 14 early, Montana saw Eastern Washington claw within 46-45 on Laron Griffin's basket with 14:30 left. The Grizzlies responded with a 9-2 run, including five points from Mathias Ward, to take a 55-47 lead with 12 minutes left. Eastern Washington never got closer than six after that.

Laron Griffin had 12 points and Cliff Ederaine 10 for Eastern.

Eastern Washington hosts Montana State on Saturday.

MONTANA (14-6)

Steward 7-14 3-4 19, Selvig 3-8 0-0 9, Ward 4-7 1-1 10, Cherry 1-7 9-11 11, Jamar 6-10 2-2 15, DeShields 1-5 0-0 2, Stockton 4-6 0-1 8, Hutchison 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-57 15-19 74.

E. WASHINGTON (9-12)

Griffin 5-10 2-4 12, Chiverton 5-10 8-12 22, Ederaine 4-9 2-4 10, Colimon 2-12 3-3 7, Forbes 0-1 0-0 0, Kelly 0-2 2-2 2, Johnson 1-6 2-2 4, Winford 1-2 0-0 3, Hickert 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-53 19-27 60.

Halftime_Montana 40-27. 3-Point Goals_Montana 7-18 (Selvig 3-7, Steward 2-2, Jamar 1-2, Ward 1-2, DeShields 0-1, Stockton 0-2, Cherry 0-2), E. Washington 5-14 (Chiverton 4-6, Winford 1-1, Johnson 0-1, Hickert 0-1, Kelly 0-2, Colimon 0-3). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Montana 40 (Cherry, Steward 8), E. Washington 36 (Ederaine 13). Assists_Montana 19 (Jamar 7), E. Washington 8 (Colimon 4). Total Fouls_Montana 20, E. Washington 17. A_3,512.