Box Score BILLINGS, Mont. –The Montana State University Billings Men's Basketball lost their fourth game in a row at the hands of Saint Martin's University Saturday night, 83-70.
The Saints opened a ten point lead to begin the game, 17-7 seven minutes into the game. The Jackets could not close the gap as MSUB shot 37.0 percent from the filed in the first half (10-27). SMU shot 51.9 percent in the first half and went into the break with a 40-29 lead.
The Jackets shooting woes continued into the second half as they saw the visiting Saints build on the 11 point half time lead. SMU extended the lead to as much as 19, 68-49 with six minutes remaining in the game.
MSUB would end the game shooting 44.0 percent from the field. The Jackets defensive intensity increased in the second half as they went on to hold SMU to 43.3 percent from the field. But the hot start for the Saints combined with the cold start for the Yellowjackets, was too much for MSUB to overcome as SMU went onto the 83-70 win.
Kalob Hatcher would be one of the few bright spots for MSUB on the night as he finished with 29 points and six assists. His 29 points are a new career high, beating his previous 28 point game high against Western Oregon University just two nights before. (Jan. 30).
Marc Matthews was the only other Jacket in double figures, scoring 12 points and gathering in 5 rebounds.
The Saints finished with three players in double figures lead by Evan Coulter who erupted for 35 points on 15-21 shooting from the field and 10-11 from the free throw line.
MSUB scored 26 points in the paint to SMU's 18. MSUB also had better bench production, outscoring the Saints 19-14. SMU had 13 second chance points while MSUB only had five.
The loss drops MSUB to 8-11 overall and 4-7 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. SMU improves to 7-12, 4-7 GNAC.
MSUB next travels north to take on the two GNAC Alaska schools. The University of Alaska-Anchorage and the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Newspaper Box Score
Saint Martin's vs Montana State Billings
2/1/14 7:00 PM at Alterowitz Gym
At Alterowitz Gym
SAINT MARTIN'S 83, MONTANA STATE BILLINGS 70
SAINT MARTIN'S (7-12, 4-7 GNAC)
Coulter,Evan 10-14 10-11 35; Rogers,Ryan 4-8 3-8 13; Dodson,Matt 2-5 6-7 10;
Carel,Riley 1-5 5-6 7; Norman,Brad 2-4 0-0 6; Shannon,Lucas 2-5 1-2 5;
Copp,Tyler 1-8 1-1 4; Bianchini,Isaac 1-3 0-0 3; Jensen,Rei 0-1 0-0 0.
Totals 23-53 26-35 83.
MONTANA STATE BILLINGS (8-11, 4-7 GNAC)
Hatcher,Kalob 7-11 14-16 29; Matthews,Marc 5-9 0-0 12; Mesghna,Jonathan 3-5
1-2 9; Hudson,Austin 3-8 1-4 7; Wallace,Devon 2-5 1-2 6; Anderson,Jace 1-1
0-0 3; Desin,Danny 1-1 0-0 3; Nelson,Tyler 0-0 1-2 1; Miller,Chase 0-7 0-0
0; Donaldson,Connor 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 22-50 18-26 70.
Saint Martin's................ 40 43 - 83
Montana State Billings........ 29 41 - 70
3-point goals--Saint Martin's 11-23 (Coulter,Evan 5-7; Rogers,Ryan 2-4;
Norman,Brad 2-4; Bianchini,Isaac 1-2; Copp,Tyler 1-4; Carel,Riley 0-2),
Montana State Billings 8-23 (Mesghna,Jonathan 2-4; Matthews,Marc 2-4;
Hatcher,Kalob 1-2; Wallace,Devon 1-3; Anderson,Jace 1-1; Desin,Danny 1-1;
Miller,Chase 0-7; Donaldson,Connor 0-1). Fouled out--Saint
Martin's-Shannon,Lucas, Montana State Billings-None. Rebounds--Saint
Martin's 32 (Rogers,Ryan 11), Montana State Billings 22 (Hudson,Austin 7).
Assists--Saint Martin's 13 (Carel,Riley 4; Copp,Tyler 4), Montana State
Billings 10 (Hatcher,Kalob 6). Total fouls--Saint Martin's 22, Montana State
Billings 24. Technical fouls--Saint Martin's-None, Montana State
Billings-Hudson,Austin; Mesghna,Jonathan; TEAM. A-325
