Box Score Stevens Interview Hatcher Interview
BILLINGS, Mont. –The Montana State University Billings Men's Basketball beat nationally ranked #24 Western Washington University 102-101 in overtime Saturday night at Alterowitz.
The Vikings saw a six game win streak come to an end at the hands of the Yellowjackets, while MSUB won their second game in a row. More importantly, it keeps them in the hunt for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference tournament in March. The top six team qualify for the tournament and the Jackets are currently seventh, but only one game back from the fifth and sixth place teams.
The contest featured 10 ties and 17 lead changes, with no lead of more than seven points. The Vikings carried a one point lead into half time, 41-40.
The Yellowjackets had a chance, and they would take that chance. Neither team could pull away from the other. MSUB had a five point lead, 67-62, with eight minutes minutes left in the game after an
Austin Hudson layup, but then WWU countered with an 8-0 run to take a three point lead with five minutes left in regulation.
MSU-Billings pulled ahead, 83-77 with under 90 seconds remaining in regulation, but WWU would rally. Richard Woodworth cut through the lane and made a beautiful pass to Dane Thopre who laid the ball in to tie the game 84-84 with 16 seconds left.
Jonathan Mesghna then drove the length of the floor and kissed a floater from the left side of the key, off the back board and in to take a two point lead. Woodworth would match him making his own drive the length of the floor to score and send the game into overtime, 86-86.
Overtime saw MSUB score only one field goal, a critical three point shot by Mesghna. The rest of the game MSUB would have to convert free throws, which they did going 13-18 in overtime. MSUB had an 98-91 lead with forty seven seconds left, but WWU had one more come back try left. The Vikings would rally after a huge three by Robert Harris and a couple easy layups, to make it 102-101 with five seconds remaining after two Woodworth free throws.
The Vikings fouled
Devon Wallace, a 74 percent free throw shooter on the year, with three seconds left. Wallace would miss the first attempt, then he missed the second. Woodworth grabbed the rebound, but lost control of the ball at mid court and never got a shot off as MSUB secured the 102-101 victory.
MSUB, who improved to 10-12 overall and 6-8 in GNAC play, was led by the game-high 32 points and 10 rebounds of center
Austin Hudson who recorded his third game in a row with a double-double and his seventh of the year. Guard
Kalob Hatcher also added a double-double of 19 points and 10 assists for his third of the season. He scored all 19 points and dished out five assists in the second half alone. He is currently sixth nationally in Div. II with 7.2 assist per game.
Mesghna added 18 points on 3-5 shooting from behind the arc, while Wallace had 15 points, four rebounds and five steals.
Woodworth had 26 points and eight assist for the Vikings and Jeffery Parker added 23 points and 10 rebounds. Three other WWU players finished scoring double figures as well.
The Yellowajckets shot 47.9 percent from the field including 30.0 percent from three point range (6-20). WWU shot 50.0 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from behind the arc (9-27).
MSU-Billings out rebounded WWU 39-31 and forced 12 Viking turnovers while only giving up seven. The Jackets scored 52 points in the paint compared to WWU's 46.
The Vikings, who were ranked No.24 in this week's National Association of Basketball Coaches/NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, drop to 16-5 overall and 10-3 in GNAC play.
"I was proud of our guys," head coach
Jamie Stevens said. "They are a really good team, we had to play really well to beat them. We have lost some OT games this season and kind felt like it might go that way again but Jon stepped up big and we got enough stops." We have to run the table or at least get five of six, Saturday is a huge game and the guys are aware of that. SFU is much improved and way better then what their record says. We will need to go out and makes shots and make stops."
The Yellowjackets will play their final game at home Saturday night against Simon Fraser University. It is senior night for three MSUB Seniors.
Kalob Hatcher Jonathan Mesghna and
Devon Wallace will all be honored after the game. It is scheduled to being at 7:30 PM. Stats and live video can be found at MSUBSPORTS.COM.
Newspaper Box Score
Western Washington vs Montana State Billings
02/13/14 7:30 PM at Alterowitz Gym, Billings Mont.
At Alterowitz Gym, Billings Mont.
MONTANA STATE BILLINGS 102, WESTERN WASHINGTON 101
WESTERN WASHINGTON (16-5, 10-3 GNAC)
Woodworth,Richard 9-18 7-9 26; Parker,Jeffrey 9-18 3-3 23; Harris,Robert
6-10 0-1 17; Mitchell,Colby 5-9 4-5 14; Bragg,Austin 4-9 3-4 11; Thorpe,Dane
3-6 0-0 7; Abe,Dana 1-2 1-2 3; Oliver,Robert 0-1 0-0 0; Hopkins,Mark 0-1 0-0
0. Totals 37-74 18-24 101.
MONTANA STATE BILLINGS (10-12,6-8 GNAC)
Hudson,Austin 12-20 8-12 32; Hatcher,Kalob 3-12 12-14 19; Mesghna,Jonathan
6-9 3-4 18; Wallace,Devon 6-10 3-6 15; Matthews,Marc 2-7 2-2 6;
Donaldson,Connor 2-3 0-0 4; Miller,Chase 1-4 0-0 3; Desin,Danny 1-3 0-0 3;
Nelson,Tyler 1-3 0-2 2; Anderson,Jace 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 34-71 28-40 102.
Western Washington............ 41 45 15 - 101
Montana State Billings........ 40 46 16 - 102
3-point goals--Western Washington 9-27 (Harris,Robert 5-7; Parker,Jeffrey
2-6; Thorpe,Dane 1-3; Woodworth,Richard 1-5; Hopkins,Mark 0-1; Abe,Dana 0-1;
Bragg,Austin 0-1; Mitchell,Colby 0-3), Montana State Billings 6-20
(Mesghna,Jonathan 3-5; Desin,Danny 1-3; Miller,Chase 1-3; Hatcher,Kalob 1-5;
Donaldson,Connor 0-1; Matthews,Marc 0-3). Fouled out--Western
Washington-Bragg,Austin, Montana State Billings-None. Rebounds--Western
Washington 31 (Parker,Jeffrey 10), Montana State Billings 39 (Hudson,Austin
10). Assists--Western Washington 15 (Woodworth,Richard 8), Montana State
Billings 16 (Hatcher,Kalob 10). Total fouls--Western Washington 25, Montana
State Billings 16. Technical fouls--Western Washington-None, Montana State
Billings-Hudson,Austin; TEAM. A-532
