Montgomery Emerges as Second Option

While the Columbia Lions continue their stellar play in the 2004-05 season, a potentially dangerous threat has been looming over the team. Though senior Matt Preston continues to carry the offensive load with his 15 points per game, the team has struggled to find a consistent second scoring option. However, last weekend’s back-to-back wins against Dartmouth and Harvard suggest that the Lions are well on their way to developing a clear complement to their team leader. When Preston was swallowed up by numerous double-teams, the ball seemed to make its way into the hands of freshman guard/forward Mack Montgomery.

“He’s a talented kid,” head coach Joe Jones said. “He’s got to learn how to play harder more consistently. Taking a look at what he’s done over the course of the year, I would say that he’s really starting to turn a corner. He’s going to make us a better team, because he’s definitely a weapon out there.”

Montgomery, named Ivy Rookie of the Week for the second time on Monday, played key roles in both of the Lions’ games over the weekend. Against Dartmouth, in only his third start of the season, the North Carolina native made his presence known early on, keeping the Lions afloat during a woeful first half. Seven points and five rebounds from Montgomery kept the Lions in range, and his stunning three-pointer off a crossover dribble to end the first half meant the Lions went into the locker room down by only four.

As Preston and the Lions managed to take the lead with a second half surge, Montgomery and fellow first-year Brett Loscalzo continued to see a great deal of time alongside Preston and senior Jeremiah Boswell, forming the core of the Lions’ efforts of the weekend. Montgomery finished the game with a helpful 13 points and five rebounds, going three-for-five from the field and hitting five of his six free throw attempts, in what proved to be an easy 65-46 win.

“I thought his play really helped our team tonight,” Jones said after the game. “Even in the first half, when we were struggling, he was able to get free for a couple of shots. As he starts to blossom, we’ll become a much better team.”

The Lions faced a brief scare when Montgomery was pulled from the game after a rebound attempt left him limping, but he returned to the bench after a few minutes with what turned out only to be a muscle cramp.

On Sunday, Montgomery showed his versatility. Struggling through a two-for-eight day from the field, the 6’5” player hit the defensive glass hard, coming up with eight rebounds as part of an effort to out-rebound a tough Crimson front line.

The final rebound for Montgomery proved to be one of the most crucial plays of the weekend. With about five seconds remaining, Crimson guard Kevin Rogus launched a three which bounced off the front of the rim. In the ensuing scramble for the ball, Montgomery was fouled by Harvard junior Matt Stehle, sending the freshman to the line with two seconds remaining and a one-point lead.

“We had given up an offensive rebound already, so I just dove [for the ball],” Montgomery said. “The best thing to do in a loose ball situation is to dive, and that’s what we teach at Columbia basketball, so I dove, tried to get the ball, and luckily, got fouled.”

With Harvard calling a series of timeouts to ice his nerves, Montgomery calmly proceeded to hit the first free throw, but was off on the second.

“When I’m at the free throw line, I know I’m going to make it every time,” Montgomery said after the game. “I made the first one, and the second one was good too, it just didn’t fall. I’m not nervous or anything like that when the game’s on the line.”

As Stehle’s tip-in attempt fell off the rim at the buzzer, the Lions were left with a pair of key Ivy wins, and perhaps more importantly, a clear second option in the clutch. After playing 31 minutes against Harvard, ending up with seven points, eight rebounds and two assists, Montgomery’s growth into a starter seems to be complete.