Box Score

NAMPA, Idaho – Omar McDade reached 20 points for Montana State University Billings for the second straight game, scoring 21 in a 63-61 come-from-behind win at Northwest Nazarene University Saturday.

McDade hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 1:42 remaining in regulation. The Yellowjackets (9-9, 2-5 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) closed the contest on an 8-0 run after trailing 61-55 with 4:46 left in the game. McDade made seven of his 15 shots from the field, including 3-of-8 from behind-the-arc. Sam Johnson added 17 points and Jarrell Crayton had 13. Crayton grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. Kalob Hatcher threw a game-high four assists, and McDade had a game-high three steals. It was the third straight victory for MSU Billings over Northwest Nazarene.

“Our guys fought hard tonight,” MSUB Head Coach Jamie Stevens said. “We didn't play our best offensive basketball, but the guys made some big plays down the stretch. We knew this early GNAC schedule would be tough. Hopefully, this win can get us going a little.”

The Yellowjackets were outrebounded 43-36, but forced 19 turnovers, and had a 26-14 points off of turnovers advantage. MSUB committed 12 turnovers, but had 11 steals. MSU Billings had a slim 35.8 percent to 35.7 percent shooting advantage from the field. The Yellowjackets shot 26 percent in the first half, but responded with a 47 percent second half. MSUB made 4 of its 19 three-pointers, but 21 of its 28 free-throws.

Montana State Billings scored the first four points in the game, and led 8-2 just over five minutes into the game. A minute later, the Yellowjackets had their largest lead of the game, 12-5. NNU answered with a 9-0 run capped by a Jonathan Hawkins three-pointer. The Crusaders continued their run and held a 24-16 advantage at the 7:19 mark of the first half.

A McDade three-pointer three minutes later cut the margin to 29-28. A 5-0 Northwest Nazrene run closed the half, and the Crusaders took a 34-28 lead into halftime. NNU shot 40 percent from the field in the opening stanza. Northwest Nazarene also outscored the Yellowjackets 11-1 in bench points in the half.

The Crusaders continued their run into the second half scoring 11 of the first 14 points. NNU had a 45-31 lead after a Keith Moilanen three-pointer four minutes in the half. Four minutes later, after a 13-2 Yellowjacket run, the NNU lead was only three points. Northwest Nazarene held a nine-point advantage with 8:06 left in regulation.

From there MSU Billings began slowly cutting into the lead. Kevin Rima scored the last Crusader basket with 4:46 remaining in the game, giving NNU a 61-55 advantage. MSUB held Northwest Nazarene scoreless in the final four minutes and went on an 8-0 run. A Kenny Jones three-pointer for the Crusaders fell short as time expired.

Northwest Nazarene (9-7, 3-5 GNAC) had three double-digit scorers led by Jones' 16 points. Rima and Hawkins added 13 and 11 respectively. Grayson Moore had a game-high 12 rebounds. The Crusaders made seven of their 19 shots from behind the perimeter, 14-of-21 from the free-throw line. After a five-game win streak, NNU has lost four of the past five.

The Yellowjackets return to Billings and host Saint Martin's (6-9, 2-5) Thursday and Western Oregon (8-7, 3-4) Saturday. It's the final two games of the first half of the conference schedule. Thursday's tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., while Saturday's is 7:30 p.m. Live video and stats will be available on MSUBSports.com.

MSUB – NORTHWEST NAZARENE POSTGAME NOTES
* Northwest Nazarene and the Yellowjackets met for the 26th time Saturday.
* Montana State Billings is now 6-6 in Nampa all-time.
* MSUB swept the season series last season, including a 94-75 win at Northwest Nazarene.
* The Crusaders swept the season series the season prior, 2010-11.
* The series dates back to the first meeting on Nov. 27, 1959. A 56-49 win by NNU at home.
* After losing six straight in the series, MSU Billings has won seven of the last nine.
* Omar McDade scored his second straight 20-point performance, and third of the season.
* Jarrell Crayton reached double-digit scoring for the 15th time.
* Crayton was one rebound shy of his fifth double-double of the season.
* Crayton has led MSUB in rebounding in 12 games this season.
* The Yellowjackets' low under Jamie Stevens for points in a GNAC game is 60, and fewest points allowed in a GNAC game is 57.
* Stevens is 3-0 against Northwest Nazarene.
* Montana State Billings is 8-4 in games decided by five points or less under Stevens.

MSU Billings vs Northwest Nazarene
01/19/13 7:00 p.m. at Johnson Sports Center
At Johnson Sports Center
MSU BILLINGS 63, NORTHWEST NAZARENE 61
MSU BILLINGS (9-9, 2-5 GNAC)
McDade,Omar 7-15 4-5 21; Johnson,Sam 4-7 8-10 17; Crayton,Jarrell 5-14 3-5
13; Trabing,Robby 0-1 5-6 5; Hatcher,Kalob 1-4 1-2 3; Arnold,David 1-5 0-0
2; Wallace,Devon 1-5 0-0 2; Cusworth,Cameron 0-2 0-0 0; Ridgeway,Brian 0-0
0-0 0. Totals 19-53 21-28 63.
NORTHWEST NAZARENE (9-7, 3-5 GNAC)
Jones,Kenny 5-16 5-8 16; Rima,Kevin 4-8 5-7 13; Hawkins,Jonathan 3-8 3-3 11;
Moilanen,Keith 2-3 0-0 6; Donaldson,Mario 2-6 1-2 6; Moore,Grayson 2-8 0-0
5; Kurimsky,Michal 1-5 0-1 2; Nicholes,Jordan 1-2 0-0 2; Perryman,Shayne 0-0
0-0 0. Totals 20-56 14-21 61.
MSU Billings..................   28   35  -   63
Northwest Nazarene............   34   27  -   61
3-point goals--MSU Billings 4-19 (McDade,Omar 3-8; Johnson,Sam 1-3;
Trabing,Robby 0-1; Hatcher,Kalob 0-1; Arnold,David 0-2; Wallace,Devon 0-2;
Cusworth,Cameron 0-2), Northwest Nazarene 7-19 (Hawkins,Jonathan 2-5;
Moilanen,Keith 2-3; Jones,Kenny 1-3; Moore,Grayson 1-6; Donaldson,Mario
1-2). Fouled out--MSU Billings-None, Northwest Nazarene-None. Rebounds--MSU
Billings 36 (Crayton,Jarrell 9), Northwest Nazarene 43 (Moore,Grayson 12).
Assists--MSU Billings 7 (Hatcher,Kalob 4), Northwest Nazarene 5 (Jones,Kenny
2). Total fouls--MSU Billings 18, Northwest Nazarene 19. Technical
fouls--MSU Billings-None, Northwest Nazarene-None. A-795