How Tennessee fans can help Montana guard Money Williams in the face of tragedy
Money Williams got back on track for Montana Wednesday night at Food City Center. The sophomore guard finished with 30 points in his team’s 92-57 loss to the 11th-ranked Vols, going 8-for-15 from the floor, 4-for-7 from the 3-point line and 10-for-13 from the foul line.
It was the most points an opposing player from a non-conference team has scored against Tennessee in Knoxville during the Rick Barnes era. And it was the first 30-point performance from an opposing player in a non-conference game since Mercer’s Ike Nwamu scored 30 in 2014.
The 30 Williams scored Wednesday was more than his first three games of the season combined. He had 22 total points in wins over Hawaii Hilo and Northwest Indian and a loss at Oregon, shooting just 6-for-28 from the field before the trip to Knoxville.
It’s easy to understand the slow start, though. Williams stepped away from the Montana basketball program in October after the death of his mother. Not only that, he’s less than a year removed from the death of his father.
GoFundMe set up to help Money Williams and his sister raise younger siblings
A GoFundMe has raised over $73,000 for Williams and his sister Mo’Ney, who are now responsible for their three younger siblings. The goal for the GoFundMe is set at $75,000.
“I’m reaching out during an unimaginably difficult time for my family,” Williams wrote in the GoFundMe post.
Money raised, according to the post from Williams, are for funeral expenses, immediate needs for the family, ensuring stability moving forward and supporting educational expenses for all the siblings.
“We understand that times are tough for everyone,” Williams wrote, “and there is no obligation to contribute. However, any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated and will make a significant difference in our lives.”
Williams on Wednesday night scored 16 points in the first half, helping Montana hang around in a 40-31 game at halftime, and added 14 more in the second half.
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‘When the lights are bright is typically when (Money Williams) has showed up’
He scored five points on 2-for-5 shooting against Hawaii Hilo on November 4, had eight points on 2-for-13 shooting at Oregon four days later and had nine points on 2-for-10 shooting against Northwest Indian on Sunday.
Against Tennessee Williams went 4-for-6 from the floor in the first half, including 3-for-4 at the 3-point line.
“Money is good at making plays, whether it’s in a ball screen or in space,” Montana coach Travis DeCuire said after the game. “I think he generates offense for us in a lot of ways. Tonight he scored the ball, he made shots.
“But there are times when he is creating shots for others as well. We just did not have a great shooting night. So he felt he needed to score more for us to stay in the game, which was true.”
Montana “got a little taste” of Williams’ scoring ability last season. As a freshman the Oakland, Calif., native, averaged 13.4 points per game before being injured on December 19. He played just five minutes the rest of the season.
“His best games were Houston, Nevada,” DeCuire said. “So when the lights are bright is typically when he has showed up. Unfortunately his season ended early with an injury, so we weren’t able to see that level of consistency. But we knew he was capable of that.”
