BILLINGS, Mont. – Erik Kinney scored a team-high 19 points and led a quintet of double-digit scorers for the Crusaders as Northwest Nazarene picked up a convincing 91-67 Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's basketball victory over host Montana State University Billings Thursday evening at Alterowitz Gym.
 
Emmanuel Johnson had a game-high 20 points and added five rebounds for the Yellowjackets, who fell to 5-22 overall and 3-14 in GNAC play with the loss.
 
Antoine Hosley scored 10 points in the first four minutes of the second half and finished with 14 points for MSUB, and Jordan Perry added 13 and five boards.
 
Kevin Rima finished with 16 points and six rebounds for the Crusaders, who shot 54.7 percent from the floor and outrebounded the 'Jackets 35-22. Bouna N'Diaye and Alex Birketoft each had a dozen points for NNU, and the former led the team with seven rebounds. Birketoft was a perfect 4-for-4 from 3-point range, and Pol Olivier finished with 11 points for NNU.
 
With the victory, NNU improved to 13-14 overall and 11-6 in conference play.
 
"Even though our record has not been good this year, our guys have continued to fight hard in every game," said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. "That being said, we needed to compete better tonight, and I as a coach needed to get our team ready to compete better."
 
The Crusaders started off with a 7-0 run, but a three by Kendall Denham followed by a mid-range jumper from Johnson pulled the 'Jackets within four, 9-5.
 
Johnson drilled a three on the Yellowjackets' next possession, but Birketoft answered with a trey to keep NNU's cushion at six points, 14-8.
 
Kinney threw down an emphatic dunk, and then generated a steal on the next possession that led to two more points as the Crusaders rallied for an 8-0 run.
 
Johnson interrupted the streak with a layup for MSUB, but NNU continued the scoring spree, which ended up being a 13-2 outburst to give the 'Saders a 28-12 advantage. By halftime, NNU had established a 14-point, 42-28 lead.
 
Hosley scored the first 10 points of the second half for the 'Jackets, but NNU matched his effort and maintained its double-digit lead.
 
A three by N'Diaye with 10 minutes left put the game out of reach, giving the Crusaders their largest lead of the night to that point at 68-44. The Crusaders kept their foot on the gas the rest of the way, pulling ahead and securing the victory.
 
On the game MSUB shot 45.3 percent from the field, making 24 of 53 shots including 8 of 24 from 3-point range. The 'Jackets were also 11-for-16 from the free-throw line, while NNU was just 11-for-19. The Crusaders converted 10 of 24 shots from 3-point range, and had 38 points off of the bench compared with 15 by MSUB.
 
The Yellowjackets committed 13 turnovers while the Crusaders had just nine, and NNU turned MSUB's mishaps into 18 points. The Crusaders were also strong underneath the basket, outscoring the 'Jackets in the paint 46-28.
 
Johnson was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game.
 
"With senior night coming up, we are excited about the chance to end our season on a better note," Stevens said. "I think we will come out Saturday and play and compete much better."
 
NEXT UP: The 'Jackets host Central Washington in the team's season finale on Saturday, with a 7 p.m. tipoff at Alterowitz Gym. MSUB will honor its two graduating seniors, Hosley and Tyler Nelson, in a pregame ceremony on Senior Night.