CHENEY - Will Cherry and Mathias Ward scored 13 points apiece to lead Montana to its 12th consecutive victory, 65-46 over Eastern Washington on Saturday night.

Mike Weisner added 11 points and Keron DeShields had 10 for the Grizzlies (16-4, 12-0 Big Sky), who also won their 23rd consecutive Big Sky Conference game - moving them within one win of Weber State's conference record from 1967-70.

Thomas Reuter led the Eagles (6-16, 4-8) with 11 points. Eastern Washington committed 16 turnovers and shot 37.5 percent from the floor.

"When I look back to this week, I have to remember we played four games in eight days," Eastern coach Jim Hayford said. "I was worried about how much we had left, and to be shorthanded, I knew that was going to be hard. I really liked the character of our players. I thought we could fight through and do it. We didn't have enough, and they were a better team."

The Eagles, playing without injured starters Venky Jois and Jeffrey Forbes, came out hot, opening the game on an 11-2 run. But Montana made quick work of Eastern Washington's lead, ripping off a 26-3 run and cruising from there. The Grizzlies led by as many as 20 after halftime.

Montana was 9 of 11 from the line, improving upon its 76.9 percent free-throw shooting that ranked fifth in Division I entering the game.

"What today clearly showed was that Montana is the class of the league, and I give them credit," Hayford said. "For us to have won this game, we would have needed each guy to play at the top of his game, because that is what it takes when you play a premier team."

EWU plays at Sacramento State on Thursday.

MONTANA (16-4)

Coleman 1-5 0-0 2, Ward 5-10 2-2 13, Hutchison 1-1 0-0 2, Cherry 5-8 2-2 13, Jamar 4-12 0-1 8, Young 0-0 0-0 0, Henderson 0-0 1-2 1, Gregory 1-5 2-2 5, Wiley 0-0 0-0 0, Emerson 0-0 0-0 0, DeShields 4-4 0-0 10, Weisner 3-7 2-2 11, Martin 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-52 9-11 65.

E. WASHINGTON (6-16)

Reuter 5-9 0-0 11, Chiverton 2-7 0-0 5, Seiferth 4-7 1-3 9, Kelly 2-6 4-7 8, Winford 3-7 1-2 8, Harvey 1-2 0-1 3, Hill 0-1 0-0 0, Dorsey 1-4 0-0 2, Jorg 0-1 0-0 0, Forbes 0-0 0-0 0, Hickert 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 18-48 6-13 46.

Halftime_Montana 30-18. 3-Point Goals_Montana 8-22 (Weisner 3-7, DeShields 2-2, Ward 1-2, Cherry 1-3, Gregory 1-3, Coleman 0-2, Jamar 0-3), E. Washington 4-16 (Reuter 1-2, Harvey 1-2, Winford 1-3, Chiverton 1-4, Kelly 0-2, Hickert 0-3). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Montana 32 (Jamar 7), E. Washington 28 (Kelly 7). Assists_Montana 14 (Cherry 7), E. Washington 8 (Winford 5). Total Fouls_Montana 14, E. Washington 10. A_2,732.