MISSOULA – One team came in the defending Class AA champion, and the other didn’t win a single game last season. But Great Falls CMR and Missoula Big Sky played toe-to-toe most of the evening in a non-conference boys basketball battle.
The defending champs had just enough in the end. CMR hung on for a 71-64 victory to improve to 3-0. Big Sky fell to 1-4.
The Eagles came out hot on their home floor, taking a 19-16 lead after the first quarter. CMR countered with a big run at the end of the second quarter to lead 38-31 at halftime.
Big Sky had the upper hand in the third quarter, cutting the Rustlers’ lead to 53-52 going into the final quarter. The Eagles remained within a bucket in the final minute, but CMR made clutch free throws to finish off a tough victory.
