Box Score

BISMARCK, N.D. -- Senior Antoine Proctor came up with a steal and a coast-to-coast drive for a bucket with just over a minute remaining, breaking a 72-72 tie and sparking a 79-75 Montana State Billings road victory Saturday night over the University of Mary at the McDowell Activity Center in Bismarck.
 
“Any win is a good win,” said first-year head coach Jamie Steven. “It's especially good when it's on the road against a good Division II opponent. I didn't think we played real well on either end of the floor; you have to credit Mary for that. Defensively, we did not have the same energy we have had in previous games and I thought we missed some shots we normally make. In the end, the guys had a couple of big stops on defense and a couple big conversions on offense.”
 
The Yellowjackets improved to 4-2 on the season and were led by Proctor's game-high 26 points. Jaxon Myaer scored 16 and Preston Richards dumped in 11 points as they joined Proctor as the only Jackets to score in double figures. Robert Mayes swiped a game-high seven boards after struggling from the field.
 
Proctor's clutch plays came right after he had made one of two free throws to tie the game at 72-72. As Mary guard Damon Smith took the ball up the far sideline, Proctor reached in and swiped the ball then drove to the hoop and took it off glass with his right hand to put the Jackets up 74-72.
 
Mary had a chance to tie the game again when Robby Trabing committed a foul on Josh Turner, but Turner missed the second to keep the Jackets ahead by one. Proctor again took control as he slashed to the lane, pulled back, and drained a jumper just above the free throw line to put the Jackets up three, 76-73 with 17 seconds to go.
 
The Marauders had one last chance, but Darius Robinson walked with the ball, turning it back over to the Jackets with just nine seconds remaining. Fittingly, it was Proctor icing the game with a pair of free throws as he scored seven of the final eight points down the stretch for MSUB.
 
The Yellowjackets had control of the game throughout the first half, never trailing during the first 20 minutes. They opened the game on a 5-0 run and then stretched their lead to the largest of the game at nine points when Preston Richards dropped five points during a 10-1 run, making the score 15-6 with 11:59 to go.
 
The first half would continue to go back and forth as Mary used a 5-0 run to close out the half and trail by just three, 39-36, going into the break.
 
The second half saw the same action as neither team managed to separate itself by more than five points during the entire half. The two teams combined for 12 lead changes in the second half and were tied seven times.
 
The Yellowjackets didn't have their best shooting night, but posted a 46.6 percent night from the field on 27-of-58 shooting, including eight three-pointers, and were 17-of-21 from the charity stripe. The Jackets forced 16 turnovers, their lowest output this season, leading to 16 points.
 
The Marauders (1-3) shot 47.2 percent from the field on 25-of-53 shooting and were just 5-of-12 from the arc. Darius Roberts led Mary with 25 points and grabbed seven boards. Jalen Jaspers contributed 13 points and six boards, while Turner scored 14 points and had five boards.
 
MSUB's bench outscored the Marauders 27-5, but Mary out rebounded MSUB 34-31 and outscored the Jackets in the paint 29-24.
 
The Yellowjackets will now return home for a four-game home stand as they open Great Northwest Athletic Conference play next Thursday night against Western Washington at 7 p.m. and then host Simon Fraser University on Saturday at 7 p.m. also.