Box Score BELLINGHAM, WASH. – The Montana State University Billings Men's Basketball team fell to 19th nationally ranked Western Washington University Saturday night, 84-71.

The Yellowjackets (8-8, 4-4 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) dug themselves an early hole to start the game as WWU (11-4, 5-2 GNAC) exploded out to a 23-9 lead at the ten minute mark of the first half. 

MSUB would have to fight with tooth and nail to get back into the game.  They would close the gap to go into halftime only down by nine, 36-27.

The Jackets continued the fight and after back-to-back three point shots by Chase Miller and Jonathan Mesghna, as well as a layup by Mesghna, pulled to within four points 60-56 with ten minutes and thirty three seconds left in regulation. 

The Vikings would call a timeout and after would go on a 15-4 run to take a 75-60 lead with five and a half minutes left.

MSUB could not pull themselves out of a second hole, as WWU kept the double digit lead for the rest of the game and went onto the 84-71 victory. 

"We just did not have it tonight," head coach Jamie Stevens said.  Our shots were not falling and we missed the open ones.  Western's size and athleticism gave us some problems as well.  We will need to have a great week of practice in preperation for a great SPU team coming here on Saturday."

WWU clamped down on the Jackets, who scored 100 points Thursday against Simon Fraser University.   The Jackets only shot 34.8 percent from the floor and would go 4-21 from behind the arc for a season low 19.0 percent.  WWU finished shooting 46.6 percent from the floor and 23.1 percent from three point land. 

For the second game in a row Austin Hudson registered a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds, it is his fourth double-double on season.  But for the sixth time this season, Hudson would foul out of the game with six minutes left in the contest. 

Mesghna, MSUB's leading scorer and rebounder, finished with 13 points and five rebounds.  Kalob Hatcher, who is currently 12th in the Nation for assists per game (6.6), dished out a game high nine assists and scored eight points.

Tyler Nelson had a career high 11 points in the game and pulled down four rebounds. 

The Vikings would finish with four players in double figures.  The GNAC's second leading scorer and top rebounder, Austin Bragg was held in check for the most part but would finish with 12 points and seven rebounds.  Six of his points came from the free throw line. 

Anye Turner finished with a double-double, leading all players with 21 points and 14 rebounds as well as a game high four blocks.  Richard Woodworth scored 16 points.  Jeffery Parker was the final Viking in double digits finishing with 15 points and eight rebounds. 

WWU held the advantage in points in the paint 40-30 but MSUB received more bench production out pacing WWU 32-14. 

The Yellowjackets return home to Alterowitz for their next game against Seattle Pacific University.  The game in on Jan. 25 at 7:00 P.M. MT.  


Newspaper Box Score
Montana St. Billings vs Western Washington
01/18/14 7:00 pm at Carver Gym - Bellingham, WA
At Carver Gym - Bellingham, WA
WESTERN WASHINGTON 84, MONTANA ST. BILLINGS 71
MONTANA ST. BILLINGS (8-8, 4-4 GNAC)
Hudson,Austin 6-15 2-6 14; Mesghna,Jonathan 5-16 2-2 13; Nelson,Tyler 1-2
9-9 11; Matthews,Marc 4-9 0-0 9; Hatcher,Kalob 1-9 6-9 8; Miller,Chase 3-7
0-0 7; Wallace,Devon 1-2 2-3 4; Desin,Danny 1-1 0-0 3; Anderson,Jace 1-2 0-0
2; Donaldson,Connor 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 23-66 21-29 71.
WESTERN WASHINGTON (11-4, 5-2 GNAC)
Turner,Anye 6-9 9-14 21; Woodworth,Richard 5-10 6-8 16; Parker,Jeffrey 6-12
0-1 15; Bragg,Austin 3-6 6-6 12; Harris,Robert 3-7 0-0 6; Abe,Dana 1-4 4-4
6; Mosby-Barber,Jordan 1-2 2-2 4; Thorpe,Dane 1-2 0-0 2; Mitchell,Colby 1-6
0-0 2. Totals 27-58 27-35 84.
Montana St. Billings..........   27   44  -   71
Western Washington............   36   48  -   84
3-point goals--Montana St. Billings 4-21 (Miller,Chase 1-4; Mesghna,Jonathan
1-6; Desin,Danny 1-1; Matthews,Marc 1-5; Anderson,Jace 0-1; Donaldson,Connor
0-2; Hatcher,Kalob 0-2), Western Washington 3-13 (Parker,Jeffrey 3-5;
Woodworth,Richard 0-1; Bragg,Austin 0-1; Harris,Robert 0-3; Abe,Dana 0-1;
Thorpe,Dane 0-1; Mitchell,Colby 0-1). Fouled out--Montana St.
Billings-Hudson,Austin, Western Washington-None. Rebounds--Montana St.
Billings 37 (Hudson,Austin 11), Western Washington 47 (Turner,Anye 14).
Assists--Montana St. Billings 14 (Hatcher,Kalob 9), Western Washington 12
(Harris,Robert 4). Total fouls--Montana St. Billings 22, Western Washington
23. Technical fouls--Montana St. Billings-Miller,Chase, Western
Washington-None. A-959
WWU ranked #19 in the nation