MISSOULA — Tyler Thompson keyed a second-half eruption, and Montana got back in the win column Saturday with a 73-68 Big Sky Conference men’s basketball win over Idaho at Dahlberg Arena.

The Grizzlies, who entered the day on a two-game skid, made just six field goals and scored a paltry 19 points in the first half to trail 29-19, but they bettered that in the first eight minutes of the second half. Thompson canned his first 3-pointer less than 30 seconds in, proving a precursor to Montana’s ensuing explosion.

WATCH THE FULL HIGHLIGHTS:

Second-half explosion leads Montana men to win over Idaho

After the Griz and Vandals traded buckets, Idaho led 34-24 with 18:29 to play, but Thompson hit another 3 — this one kick-starting a 19-0 Montana run. Thompson had three 3s in the stretch, Te’Jon Sawyer had a powerful put-back dunk and another basket, and Money Williams and Kenyon Aguino each made 3s. Aguino’s 3, which came as the shot clock wound down, banked off the backboard, hit the front rim and bounced off the backboard again before trickling in.

Following Aguino’s 3, Montana led 43-34 and wouldn’t trail the rest of the way. Idaho got back within two points — 48-46 — with eight minutes to play, but Sawyer and Brooklyn Hicks combined for an 8-0 spurt to keep the Vandals at bay.

Montana led by as many as 14 points — 70-56 — in the second half after trailing by as many as 13 in the first 20 minutes.

Williams led the Griz with 14 points, and Sawyer had 13. Thompson, Kepley and Hicks each added 12 points, as Montana made 19 of 28 field goals in the second half after going 6 of 24 in the first.

Biko Johnson scored a game-high 22 points for Idaho, which shot just 25 of 66 (37.9%) for the game.

The win gave Montana the season sweep over Idaho. The Griz (14-11 overall, 8-4 Big Sky) are back at home next weekend when they host rival Montana State on Saturday.

The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Feb. 6, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Feb. 6 drawing

13-21-25-52-62, Mega Ball: 19

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Feb. 6 drawing

17-21-29-36-39, Lucky Ball: 11

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Feb. 6 drawing

13-19-29-31, Bonus: 11

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?

• Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
• Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
• Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
• Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
• Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
• Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
• Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Republicans from across Montana gathered in Great Falls on Friday to kick off the 2026 campaign cycle, highlighting taxes and judicial reform as issues the party is looking to address.

The Montana GOP Winter Kickoff is a two-day event and includes campaign training, networking opportunities and discussion. An inter-party debate over property taxes is set for Saturday afternoon, an issue that has divided Republicans in the state.

Multiple guest speakers, including U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke and Robert Natelson, a constitutional scholar at the Federalist Society, spoke on Friday afternoon. Gov. Greg Gianforte and Judge Dan Wilson, running for a Supreme Court seat, are expected to speak on Friday night.

Natelson, appearing remotely, spoke about Constitutional Initiative 132, which would change the state’s constitution to protect a nonpartisan judiciary. He is a former University of Montana law professor and twice ran for governor. 

The state supreme court has been partisan in favor of Democrats, Natelson said, echoing a Republican theme in the Montana Legislature. 

“The fault here is not with the legislature,” Natelson said Friday. “Republican legislators have not been deliberately or inadvertently passing unconstitutional bills. The problem arises because the courts are both misinterpreting the state constitution and because they are ignoring their own rule that democratically adopted laws must be sustained unless they’re proved unconstitutional beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Natelson then launched into examples of overturned bills, several of which dealt with LGBTQ+ issues and others regarding voting laws.

Republicans have tried to legislate bathroom use, transgender athletes and medical treatment for minors with the bills, saying they’re protecting women, but human rights activists have decried some legislation as “devastating” to that community.

Courts have overturned or paused some of the bills, calling several — including SB 99, a ban on gender-affirming care, and another, House Bill 121, dealing with who can go in what bathroom — “discriminatory.”

However, Republicans have also praised certain decisions by state courts, including recently when Judge Christopher Abbott, a Lewis and Clark County District Court judge, ruled for the state party in a decision that said it had the right to strip voting rights from more moderate members of the party.

Montana GOP Chairman Art Wittich spoke on that during Friday remarks.

“It’s not very often you get a district court judge from Helena, Montana, to rule for Republicans,” Wittich said.

As a rule, Republicans see a judiciary stacked against their agenda. 

“The attack of the Montana Legislature by leftist litigators and the state judiciary is unprecedented in its scope and audacity anywhere in the United States, anytime in history,” Natelson said.

Natelson went on to point to North Carolina as an example for Montana Republicans. The state switched to partisan judge races, and that state’s supreme court flipped to a Republican majority in two election cycles, he said.

“I urge you to consider CI-132, against that backdrop,” Natelson said.

Zinke, meanwhile, spoke of what President Donald Trump has done during his first year back in office, speaking about immigration, gas prices and decried “fraud, waste and abuse” while pointing to Minnesota.

He also signaled his support for the SAVE Act, which would require some form of proof of citizenship to vote, which could include a birth certificate or passport. 

Zinke pointed to a California policy that allows those without proof of legal presence to obtain a driver’s licence.

 “You can’t vote twice, and you have to show an ID, a Real ID, in order to vote,” Zinke said of the SAVE Act. “Now in California, you can get a California driver’s license, and you can be illegal. So that’s why you have to show the US citizen ID. You have to show that you’re actually a citizen.”

Advocates of the California policy have pointed to its impacts helping immigrants find better jobs, helping the economy and less criminalization of their daily lives.

Zinke said he is a supporter of NATO, but wants other countries to “pay their share.” He also said progressives are angry, going on to say he hoped differences could be settled over “a beer or a root beer.”

“Sometimes we go across Montana and the other side is angry,” Zinke said. “They’re angry because their world that they thought was being created, DEI and men playing women’s sports, and everyone equal, not on the basis of hard work and merit, but just equal in checks in the mail. You know it’s being crushed under Trump, and I’m happy it’s being crushed.”

The Montana Republican Legislative Campaign Committee also held a brief press conference to introduce candidates, with Wittich, Sen. Greg Hertz, of Polson, and House Speaker Brandon Ler, from Savage, all speaking.

“There’s some crazy ideology that the Democrats are pushing, and so the Republicans have responded to that, but as far as general themes, it’s taxing and spending,” Wittich said. “It’s the same old thing.”