FAIRBANKS, Alaska – After falling behind by double-digits in both halves the Montana State University Billings men's basketball team (5-2, 0-2 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) was unable to capitalize on a series of late runs in their 88-80 loss to the University of Alaska Nanooks (3-5, 1-1 GNAC) on Saturday night.
 
"All credit to Alaska and Coach Durham," head coach Jamie Stevens said after the loss. "They were coming off of a bad loss in Anchorage and our staff knew they would be ready to play tonight. It was back-and-forth the whole game but their team made huge, game-changing, tough basketball plays in the last few minutes. The GNAC is a beast and our young team got its first taste of it. Hopefully, we will learn from it and get better moving forward."
 
Nineteen turnovers hurt the Yellowjackets and led to 23 points for the Nanooks' offense. Alaska also finished plus-seven in rebounds as they earned a decisive 18-12 advantage on the offensive glass translating to 18 second chance points.
 
Twelve threes guided the MSUB offense as the 'Jackets converted 38.7 percent of their shots from beyond the arc while the Nanooks sunk 10 of 21 attempts from long range.
 
The 'Jackets started the night with threes from Kendall Denham, Sven Jeuschede and Tyler Green before a Kamal Tall dunk gave MSUB an 11-2 advantage forcing a timeout from the Nanooks. Alaska used a 13-0 run to take a 15-11 lead before a Daniel Shedden drive added two points for the 'Jackets. Another UA run ensued, with the Nanooks breaking the game open and going up 29-15.
 
With the help of hot shooting from beyond the arc the Yellowjackets responded with a 23-7 run of their own culminating in a three-pointer from Zack Rollins to give the 'Jackets their first lead in over ten minutes. MSUB held on to their advantage for the remainder of the half and carried a 45-40 lead in to the break.
 
Alaska's Davis Kimble was a force in the second half scoring 16 points and grabbing two steals to help deliver the win. The Yellowjackets' five-point lead was erased in the first 50 seconds of the period and UA earned their own five-point margin with a 14-4 run in the first five minutes out of the break.
 
After falling behind by 11, the 'Jackets clawed their way back into the game on the back of two threes from Rollins. MSUB kept inching closer leading to a Denham three with 1:44 left in the game cut the lead to one. It was at that point in which Kimble delivered a clutch performance for the Nanooks. The junior guard tallied two points, two rebounds, two steals and an assist in the final 1:24 of regulation.
 
Rollins was the 'Jackets top scorer with 19 points on 50 percent shooting and tied for the team lead with six rebounds. After a tough night on Thursday, Green rebounded with an 18 point performance and showed his toughness with four rebounds and a team best three steals against the Nanooks.
 
Denham, Jeuschede and Tall all scored 10 points in the contest. Denham added four assists and two steals to his totals while Tall grabbed six rebounds.  Zharon Richmond finished the night with seven points and three boards while Shedden added six points.   
 
The Yellowjackets will return to Alterowitz Gym to begin a four-game home stand featuring a trio of Montana schools starting with Montana Tech on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Next Friday and Saturday both the men's and women's teams will take to the court for a pair of doubleheaders as the 'Jackets celebrate EMC Throwback Weekend with games starting at 5:30 p.m.
 
You can follow all MSUB home games and all GNAC road contests via the MSUB Stretch Internet Portal.