Central Plains FFA Chapter

03/12 01:01 CDT Brickner, Idaho beat Montana for Big Sky Conference title, clinch 1st NCAA berth since 1990 Brickner, Idaho beat Montana for Big Sky Conference title, clinch 1st NCAA berth since 1990 BOISE, Idaho (AP) --- Isaiah Brickner had 23 points and 10 rebounds --- his first double-double of the season --- and Brody Rowbury scored 12 points to help seventh-seeded Idaho beat No. 4 seed Montana 77-66 on Wednesday night to win the Big Sky Conference Tournament and clinch a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nearly 40 years. Idaho (21-14), which played its fourth game in five days, has won five in a row and won the Big Sky Conference Tournament for the first time since 1990. The Vandals snapped a nine-game losing streak against Montana and leads the series 113-99. Kolton Mitchell added 11 points and Trevon Blassingame scored 10 for Idaho. Under third-year coach Alex Pribble, the Vandals have their most victories since they also won 21 games in 2015-16. Money Williams and Te'Jon Sawyer led the Grizzlies (18-16) with 19 points apiece and Brooklyn Hicks scored 11. Williams scored a tournament-record 91 points, breaking the mark of 83 set by Montana's Anthony Johnson in 2010. The Grizzlies beat No. 1 seed Portland State 75-72 and Idaho knocked off third-seeded Eastern Washington 81-68 in the semifinals.

Up next Idaho: Looks to Selection Sunday. Montana: Awaits a potential postseason invitation. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball