Grizzlies Fall to Dons 63-58 in Upset
Montana led for more than 30 minutes but lost to San Francisco after a late collapse on Tuesday night.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Basketball
The Montana Grizzlies lost 63-58 to the San Francisco Dons on Tuesday night. Montana led for over 30 minutes, but San Francisco took a 50-49 lead with just under five minutes remaining and closed out the game at the free-throw line.
Why it matters
San Francisco was picked third in the West Coast Conference before the season, and the result shows Montana's offense struggling to close out close games. The loss arrives early in the season, when the outcome can still be recovered.
Montana shot 25% from three-point range and 65% from the free-throw line, while San Francisco shot 36.4% from the field and 25% from long range. Montana out-rebounded San Francisco 17-14 in the first half but made only 10 of 27 field goals in that half.
The players
Montana Grizzlies
The Montana Grizzlies are the men's basketball team representing the University of Montana in NCAA Division I competition.
San Francisco Dons
The San Francisco Dons are the men's basketball team representing the University of San Francisco and compete in the West Coast Conference.
Semaj Carter
Semaj Carter is a Montana Grizzlies guard who led his team in scoring and rebounding in the loss to San Francisco.
The details
Montana led 29-27 at halftime and held San Francisco to 36.4% shooting for most of the game. Semaj Carter led Montana with 16 points and 7 rebounds, and the team recorded 10 assists. Jalen Brown missed a fading three-pointer while trailing by three late in the game.
Timeline
Tuesday night (November 10, 2026): Montana lost 63-58 to San Francisco.
Saturday: Montana plays North Dakota on the road, tipping off at 11 a.m. MT.
Season Trajectory
San Francisco was picked third in the West Coast Conference preseason poll, so the win over Montana fits the expectation that the Dons would compete near the top of the league. For Montana, the loss puts pressure on the team to rebuild its close-game execution before conference play begins.
Montana's Saturday game at North Dakota is the next opportunity to answer the close-game problems seen against San Francisco. Fans tracking the Grizzlies should note the 11 a.m. MT tip-off when planning to watch.
The takeaway
Montana's 25% three-point shooting and inability to finish against San Francisco show that close games are decided by execution in the final minutes. Watching how the Grizzlies handle the next road test will reveal whether the late-game issues are fixable.
What happens next
Montana plays North Dakota on the road Saturday at 11 a.m. MT.
Further reading
Explore more Basketball coverage for Missoula and the surrounding region.
