MISSOULA – It didn’t end like fans hoped as the #15 seed Montana Grizzlies got beat by the #2 seed Michigan Wolverines on Thursday night, but that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm from Griz fans.
The place to be was on Thursday night was anywhere with a big TV — and the place they call the official fan headquarters of Griz Athletics was packed.
With more than 50 tv’s blaring, the fans at the Press Box were pulling for the big upset.
General Manager Matt Warner says everyone on the schedule was working tonight to keep up, way more than you would expect on a typical Thursday night.
He told MTN News that the hype picked up on Selection Sunday when fans eagerly awaited the pick and that excitement carried it all the way through until tonight.
But Warner says the Griz faithful don’t just show up for tournament time.
“Griz fans turn out, really well. Throughout the regular season too,” he said. “Thursday and Saturday home games — we were really busy before and after. It’s a definite increase for us so from a management perspective it’s great.”
The Grizzlies struggled from the field in a 74-55 loss in Des Moines, the second consecutive year Montana has been bounced from the tournament by Michigan.
