BILLINGS, Mont. – After starting the game 6-for-6 from the field, the Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets (9-6, 1-3 GNAC) never trailed on their way to a 99-88 win over Great Northwest Athletic Conference rival Northwest Nazarene (6-4, 2-2 GNAC).
Zack Rollins scored 10 of the first 13 points for the 'Jackets after assisting
Sven Jeuschede's 3-pointer to start the game. Rollins finished with 18 points and was one of five MSUB players to reach double figures in the contest.
"We looked rested tonight," head coach
Jamie Stevens noted after the game. "After traveling to the bay area, Alaska and Hawaii to start the season I think our guys needed the break as much as anyone. NNU is a very good team and we saw what they could do offensively in the second half but we came out strong and were able to finish. Whenever we shoot like we did tonight, we're going to be tough to beat."
Daniel Shedden was the 'Jackets' leading scorer on the night with 21 points as he shot 8-for-8 from the field including three shots from beyond the arc. In just 13 minutes Shedden made a huge impact off of the bench
with his best scoring performance of the season paired with four rebounds.
The 'Jackets finished the first half with a 19-point lead after shooting 55.2 percent in the first 20 minutes and making 7 of 13 3-point attempts.
Kamal Tall recorded seven of his 10 rebounds in the first period and finished the game four points shy of a double-double.
To start the second half, MSUB padded their lead to 25 points following one of
Zharon Richmond's four threes on the night. The Nighthawks rallied to narrow the lead to five with 4:07 remaining in the game but MSUB finished the game 4-for-4 from the field and converted 6 of 9 free throws down the stretch.
Kendall Denham finished the night with 14 points, three assists and three rebounds while playing a team-high 37 minutes. Richmond had a season-high 18 points including a team-best 13 points in the second half. The freshman added three blocks to his season total which now sits at 31 and is tied for the eighth most blocks in a season at MSUB.
Continuing his breakout season, Jeuschede added 17 for the 'Jackets and had a season-high four assists. He also recorded two blocks in the win.
The 'Jackets overcame a 30-point disadvantage in the paint with a stellar shooting night as MSUB sank 17 of 31 shots from 3-point range. MSUB made 20 of 28 free throws while NNU could only convert 10 of 20 from the line.
Outstanding team defense helped MSUB hold the conference's top scorer, NNU's Maurice Jones, to just nine points on 4 of 11 shooting. Obi Megwa put up 25 for the Nighthawks and added five assists. The 'Hawks' offense struggled to connect from three in the second half as they hit just 3 of 9 shots from long range stunting their late rally.
UP NEXT: Conference play will continue next week as the Yellowjackets travel to Oregon to face Concordia and Western Oregon. MSUB will play Concordia in Portland on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Pacific time followed by a trip to No. 14 Western Oregon on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. PST. The 'Jackets were 1-4 against their Oregon counterparts last season including a 72-61 loss to WOU in the GNAC Tournament.
