Box Score
CEDAR CITY, Utah -- Antoine Proctor had 16 points and Jaxon Myaer chipped in 11, but the Montana State Billings men's basketball team fell on the road 63-60 to Southern Utah University Thursday evening at Centrum Arena as the Jackets fell to 2-2 on the season.
 
“Once again, I was pleased with our defensive effort tonight,” said Jamie Stevens, MSUB head coach. “We forced 20 turnovers and were able to once again get more shot attempts than our opponent. I think our inside presence on both ends was better, as well. Unfortunately, we just didn't shoot the ball the way we can and that cost us in the end. We had chances and just couldn't convert them. I need to do a better job of getting our guys in a position to score. We are looking forward to getting after it again on Tuesday at home"
 
The Yellowjackets trailed by five with 1:48 to go in the game when Myaer hit his lone three-pointer of the game to cut the lead to 58-56. After a defensive stop, a pair of free throws by Robert Mayes, who had seven points and five boards, tied the game at 58 with 50 seconds remaining.
 
SUU built the lead back to three on a jumper and a free throw by Jackson Stevenett who had 11 points for the Thunderbirds. A layup by Proctor with just 18 seconds left cut the lead back to two, but two free throws by Ray Jones Jr. sealed the victory for SUU.
 
Proctor and Myaer were the only two Jackets in double figures as Proctor and Mayes were tied with a team-high five boards in the contest. The Yellowjackets went 21 of 60 from the field during the game and were just 2 of 19 from deep, but were 16 of 18 from the free-throw line.
 
Ramell Taylor led the Thunderbirds with 18 points and also had a team-high 10 rebounds. Stevenett and Jones Jr. also contributed 11 points apiece, while Matt Massey was the fourth Thunderbird in double figures with 10 points on 5 of 9 shooting.
 
SUU won the game at the line on 23 of 36 shooting and by hitting 20 of 46 shots from the field, despite going 0 for 5 from three point land.
 
The Yellowjackets were outrebounded 41-31, but once again flexed their defensive mussel as they forced 20 turnovers, the fourth straight game of forcing 20+ turnovers, while turning the ball over 15 times. The Jackets were outscored 32-30 in the paint, but outscored the Thunderbird bench 17-4.
 
SUU built a lead of as many as 12 at 25-13 when Stevenett hit a jumper with just over six minutes remaining in the first half. The Yellowjackets managed to cut the lead back down to eight at 34-26 at the halftime break.
 
The Thunderbirds would get the lead back to 10, 38-28, with 18:07 remaining in the half, but the Jackets went on a 13-2 run, including five points by Proctor, to get the lead back to one at 41-40, keeping the game close throughout the rest of the contest.
 
The Yellowjackets and Thunderbirds exchanged the lead three times and the ballgame was tied nine times throughout the evening.
 
MSUB returns home for one game as they play host to Colorado Christian University next Tuesday night at Alterowitz Gymnasium. The Jackets and Cougars tip-off at 5:30 p.m. as part of doubleheader with the women's basketball team.