Box Score

LACEY, Wash. – The Saint Martin's University (Wash.) men's basketball team edged Montana State University Billings', 84-78, Saturday. The loss ends MSUB's season-long three-game win streak.

The Yellowjackets (15-12, 8-8 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) also had their four-game winning streak over SMU snapped. Saint Martin's was paced by Will Bond's game-high 28 points. The sophomore stole the show on Senior Night, making 11 of his 16 shots from the field, including all four from behind-the-arc.

Three other Saints recorded double-digits, Roger O'Neill added 19 points, Eric Taylor had 15, and Brady Bomber scored 10. Taylor was 3-of-4 from three-point range. Bomber tossed out a game-high six assists. Lucas Shannon grabbed nine rebounds off of the bench.

The Saints (9-15, 5-11 GNAC) were eliminated from the conference tournament with a loss earlier this week, but played inspired and beat a team that clinched a berth in the GNAC tournament this week. MSUB returns to Saint Martin's in two weeks for the tournament. The last time the Yellowjackets played at SMU they made their stunning run to the GNAC title.

“That was a disappointing way to end the trip,” MSU Billings' Head Coach Jamie Stevens said. “We just were a step slow all night. All credit goes to St. Martin's. They shot the ball well, and we didn't. We need to compete better on both ends.”

Montana State Billings is now 2-8 when opponents make 50-percent of their shots from the field. Saint Martin's made 52 percent, including 11-of-17 from three-point range. After making five of their nine three-pointers in the first half, the Saints missed only two of their eight attempts from long-distance in the second half. SMU also made 13-of-20 from the free-throw line.

The Yellowjackets scored the first four points in a game that featured nine lead changes and 11 ties. Saint Martin's responded by making a 19-7 run to take an eight-point lead at the 12:54 mark of the first half. Three minutes later, SMU had a 26-19 lead, but MSUB then went on an 8-0 run to regain the lead. The Saints took the lead back, and led by six with four minutes left in the first half. But, the Yellowjackets scored 12 of the final 14 points in the first half, and had a 39-35 lead at halftime.

Montana State Billings scored the first basket of the second half, but back-to-back Saints' three-pointers tied the game at 41. The Yellowjackets answered again to take their largest lead of the game, 50-42, four minutes into the half. SMU responded with a 12-1 run to take a three-point lead.

The lead was exchanged over the next 10 minutes, with the lead never larger than four points. Montana State Billings' last lead, 76-75, with 2:31 remaining in regulation. The Saints scored nine of the last 11 points to close the game, and seal the win.

Jarrell Crayton and David Arnold combined for 37 points in the loss. Crayton scored 19, on 9-of-13 shooting from the field. Arnold had 18, making 6-of-14, including 3-for-6 from behind-the-perimeter. Sam Johnson and Omar McDade added 13 and 10. McDade also had five assists. Robby Trabing had a team-high nine rebounds.

The Yellowjackets outrebounded SMU, 36-30. Entering the game, MSUB was 21-4 under Stevens when it has advantage on the boards. MSU Billings outscored Saint Martin's 36-18 in the paint, and 20-14 in second chance points. The Yellowjackets were 46 percent from the field, 7-of-22 from behind-the-arc, and 13-for-20 from the free-throw line.

With two games left in the regular season, the Montana State Billings is two games behind Alaska-Fairbanks, and Alaska-Anchorage for third place. The Yellowjackets welcome Alaska-Fairbanks and Alaska-Anchorage Thursday and Saturday, in pivotal GNAC tournament seeding contests. Both games will have live video and stats on MSUBSports.com. Tipoffs are scheduled for 7 p.m.

MSUB – SAINT MARTIN'S POSTGAME NOTES
* Saturday was the 21st all-time meeting between MSUB and Saint Martin's.
* MSU Billings has an 11-10 slim advantage in the all-time meetings.
* The Yellowjackets had won four straight in the series before the loss.
* MSUB has won four of the 11 all-time meetings in Lacey.
* The last SMU win in the series was Dec. 30, 2010, in Billings.
* Entering the game, MSUB was 21-4 under Stevens when it has advantage on the boards.
* Montana State Billings is now 2-8 when opponents make 50-percent of their shots from the field.
* Saint Martin's made 11 three-pointers, a season-high for an MSUB opponent.
* Entering the game, MSUB was 10-1 this season when leading at halftime.

MSU Billings vs Saint Martin's
02/23/13 7:00 pm at Marcus Pavilion - Lacey, WA
At Marcus Pavilion - Lacey, WA
SAINT MARTIN'S 84, MSU BILLINGS 78
MSU BILLINGS (15-12, 8-8 GNAC)
Crayton,Jarrell 9-13 1-3 19; Arnold,David 6-14 3-3 18; Johnson,Sam 4-8 4-5
13; McDade,Omar 3-13 2-4 10; Trabing,Robby 4-4 0-1 8; Hatcher,Kalob 1-5 3-4
6; Wallace,Devon 2-5 0-0 4; Desin,Danny 0-0 0-0 0; Cusworth,Cameron 0-0 0-0
0. Totals 29-62 13-20 78.
SAINT MARTIN'S (9-15, 5-11 GNAC)
Bond,Will 11-16 2-4 28; O'Neill,Roger 8-16 2-3 19; Taylor,Eric 3-7 6-6 15;
Bomber,Brady 3-6 2-2 10; Coulter,Evan 2-6 0-0 5; Jensen,Rei 2-3 1-3 5;
Shannon,Lucas 0-1 2-3 2. Totals 29-55 15-21 84.
MSU Billings..................   39   39  -   78
Saint Martin's................   35   49  -   84
3-point goals--MSU Billings 7-22 (Arnold,David 3-6; McDade,Omar 2-9;
Johnson,Sam 1-2; Hatcher,Kalob 1-4; Wallace,Devon 0-1), Saint Martin's 11-17
(Bond,Will 4-4; Taylor,Eric 3-4; Bomber,Brady 2-4; O'Neill,Roger 1-1;
Coulter,Evan 1-4). Fouled out--MSU Billings-None, Saint
Martin's-Coulter,Evan. Rebounds--MSU Billings 36 (Trabing,Robby 9), Saint
Martin's 30 (Shannon,Lucas 9). Assists--MSU Billings 13 (McDade,Omar 5),
Saint Martin's 15 (Bomber,Brady 6). Total fouls--MSU Billings 20, Saint
Martin's 16. Technical fouls--MSU Billings-None, Saint Martin's-None. A-632