BILLINGS, Mont. – Matt Hayes matched the number 30 on his back with 30 points for the visiting Dominican University (Calif.) Penguins as the Montana State University Billings men's basketball team fell 92-74 on Friday evening at Alterowitz Gymnasium.
Jace Anderson led a quartet of double-figure scorers for MSUB with 17 points, but the 'Jackets couldn't withstand a 16-2 run by DU to close the first half as they lost momentum.
Dominican nudged its record above .500 at 3-2 with the win, while MSUB fell below at 2-3 with the loss in the nonconference matchup.
After a three by
Marc Matthews put the 'Jackets up 30-25 with less than five minutes to go before the break, Dominican went on a game-changing run. Hayes hit three 3-pointers during the three-minute stretch, elevating the Penguins to a 43-34 edge at halftime.
"The last four minutes of the first half were pretty huge, and that was the difference in the game," said MSUB head coach
Jamie Stevens. "We didn't compete the way we competed last week, and we are looking forward to another opportunity tomorrow against a good Dixie State team. We will need to play better to have a chance against them."
MSUB scored nine quick points to cut the spread to five points early in the second, but Hayes put a stop to the run with another three.
A layup by
Preston Beverly ended a nearly three-minute dry spell by MSUB's offense, but two more threes from Ryo Tawatari and Hayes made it a double-digit lead for the Penguins at 61-49.
A layup by Matthews and a free-throw by Beverly got the 'Jackets to within eight points with 9:58 to go, but it was the last time MSUB trailed by single digits as DU pulled away down the stretch.
Josh Ramirez finished with 16 points, Christopher Schwartz-Edmisten had 15, and Tawatari contributed 11 as the Penguins' top scorers. Hayes came up a rebound shy of a double-double, as his nine boards led all players.
Jordan Perry finished with 16 points, six rebounds, and four assists, and didn't have a turnover in 30 minutes of action. Beverly (12) and
Christian Evans (10) were also in double figures in scoring, and Beverly matched Perry for the team lead in rebounds with a half-dozen.
"Jace and Jordan played extremely hard," Stevens said. "Jordan played really well tonight, and he played with the same energy he played with last year. We need that to transfer over to all the other guys as well."
DU shot an impressive 52.2 percent from the field (35-for-67), 52.4 percent from 3-point range (11-for-21), and made 11 of 12 foul shots (91.7 percent). On the other hand, MSUB shot 44.1 percent overall (26-for-59), 36 percent on long-distance shots (9-for-25), and 72.2 percent from the line (13-for-18).
"We ran into a team that played very well tonight," said Stevens. "A lot of credit goes to Dominican, and they shot the ball well."
The 'Jackets had 15 turnovers compared with 10 by the Penguins, but MSUB had nine offensive boards against DU's six.
THE BUZZ: Perry earned St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game honors…the 30 points were a career high for Hayes…four of Perry's six rebounds came on the offensive end.
NEXT UP: MSUB challenges Dixie State on Saturday evening in a 7:30 p.m. Mountain time matinee inside Alterowitz Gym. Live video with commentary, as well as live statistics will be available for Saturday's game.
