UM's Johnson Nominated for ESPY

6/24/2010 3:51:57 PM

Former University of Montana men’s basketball player Anthony Johnson has been nominated for an ESPY Award in the category of best (individual) championship performance.

The 2010 ESPY Awards show will be broadcast live on ESPN on July 14 at 7 p.m.

Johnson, from Tacoma, Wash., was nominated for his record-breaking performance in the Big Sky Conference Men’s Basketball Championship on March 10. In a game televised live on ESPN2, Johnson scored a Big Sky Championship record 42 points to lead the Grizzlies to a to a 66-65 victory over top-seeded Weber State. Johnson scored 34 points in the second half, including his team’s final 21 as the Grizzlies rallied from a 20-point halftime deficit.

Johnson made the game-winning shot with 11 seconds to play. He made 13-of-22 shots from the floor, and made 14-of-14 free throws. The 14 free throws were a Big Sky single-game tournament record, and the 42 points was a Dee Events Center record.

According to reports, Johnson and his wife Shaunte Nance-Johnson, a former Montana Lady Griz player, will attend the ESPY’s in Los Angeles.

On Tuesday, Johnson and his wife were both drafted by the Harlem Globetrotters.

Johnson played two seasons at Montana. He was named First Team All-Conference both seasons, was the Newcomer of the Year in 2008-09, and was the MVP of the 2010 Big Sky Championship.

 Others nominated in the “Best Championship Performance Category” are: Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints for his effort in Super Bowl XLIV, Swimmer Michael Phelps for his performance at the World Swimming Championships, and snowboarder Shaun White for his Gold Medal at the Winter Olympics.