Montana, the defending Big Sky tourney champion, blew a 13-point lead in the final 8:30. The second-seeded Grizzlies (22-6) on Wednesday night will meet the winner of the other semifinal between top-seeded Northern Arizona, the tourney host, and No. 5 seed Sacramento State. The Grizzlies are one win away from reaching the NCAA tournament for the third time since 2002.

Rodney Stuckey, the Big Sky's Most Valuable Player, led Eastern Washington (15-15) with 26 points. He hit two free throws with 20 seconds left to force overtime.

Leading 55-42 with 8:30 to play, Montana appeared to be in control. But the Eagles went on a 10-0 run. Stuckey was a key player in the rally, scoring four straight baskets in one stretch as the Eagles chipped away at the deficit.

With 1:55 to go, Stuckey scored on a lay-up and was fouled by Criswell. Stuckey missed the free throw but grabbed the rebound and fed Paul Butorac for the lay-up that tied the score at 59-59.

Montana's Virgil Matthews scored on an inbounds pass to put the Grizzlies up 61-59. After an Eastern Washington turnover, Criswell went up for what appeared to be the game-clinching shot. But it was blocked and Stuckey drew an intentional foul on Matthews with 20 seconds left. Stuckey hit both free throws.

On the ensuing possession, Stuckey dribbled the down game clock before missed a leaning 10-footer at the horn.

Stuckey scored the first basket of overtime to put Eastern Washington up by two, but he later had a shot blocked, leading to a fast break lay-up, and committed a turnover. The Grizzlies clinched it by scoring six straight points after Eastern Washington took a 65-63 lead. Montana limited the Eagles to one field goal in the first four minutes of overtime.

Criswell scored six of Montana's 12 points in overtime. He hit four straight free throws in the final 18 seconds to seal the victory.