BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings men's basketball team found the edge defensively and grinded out enough points to pick up a 56-53 win over University of Mary Wednesday night at Alterowitz Gymnasium. Melvin Newbern Jr. and Brendan Howard combined for 32 points and finished with just shy of 70-percent of the Yellowjackets' total offense.
 
The Marauders came close to stealing back the lead in the final minute of the game after a pair of missed free-throws kept it to a one possession affair. Then, in the closing second, Tom Kubank missed a long 3-pointer and the Yellowjackets walked away with their first win of the season.
 
Both teams struggled offensively in the game. MSU Billings shot 38.5-percent compared to 36.4-percent for University of Mary. Ordinarily a strong 3-point shooting team, the 'Jackets never found their range and ended 3-of-21 from beyond the arc (14-percent). The Marauders were equally challenged from long range and went 5-for-19 at a 26-percent clip.
 
One area the Yellowjackets found success at was defense. MSU Billings won the battle for steals 11-to-6 and out-blocked the Marauders 8-to-4.
 
Newbern Jr. had 14 rebounds along with 17 points to record a double-double. Newbern Jr. shot extremely well from the field and went 8-for-12 on total shot attempts.
 
Brendan Howard was a force in the paint for MSUB. Howard went 10-for-22 and finished with 22 points in 28 minutes. The forward also added a pair of rebounds and a pair of blocks.
 
MSU Billings led by seven at half time and extended the lead to 11 in the second half before a 16-8 run by the Marauders trimmed the deficit to 44-41 with under 10 minutes to play. Turnovers and offensive struggles for both sides ensued but a layup by Howard helped the Yellowjackets stay on top by four. Then Jaylan White drove the lane and made his shot to get UMary back to a one possession game with 50 seconds left in the second half.
 
The next time up the floor, the Yellowjackets kicked the ball out to the corner and Tyler Green sunk a 3-point shot but the Marauders quickly responded with an offensive rebound and a put back with 21 seconds to play.
 
University of Mary called a timeout trailing the Yellowjackets 56-53 and quickly fouled Green once play resumed to try and gain possession back. Green missed the free-throw and UMary's Wyatt Carr grabbed the rebound. With six seconds remaining, Newbern Jr. made a steal as the Marauders tried to drive to the rim, forcing another UMary foul coming back up the floor.

 
Newbern Jr. missed his free throw opportunity and Matthew Kreklow hurried the ball up to mid-court. Tom Kubank received the pass and heaved up a three point shot at the buzzer but it clanked off the front of the rim to end the game.
 
Kreklow led the Marauders in scoring with 16 point on 6-for12 shooting. Lucas Mayer had eight rebounds for the visitors.
 
The Yellowjackets scored 23 points off turnovers compared to 14 for UMary. The Marauders received more contributions from the bench 12 points to five. The lead changed nine times and was tied just once.
 
Last season the Yellowjackets defeated University of Mary by two points. In 2018, the margin was three.
 
NEXT UP: Montana State Billings (0-2, 0-0 GNAC) continues in non-conference action Saturday November 17 at 7 p.m. against Minot State (3-1, 0-0) at Alterowitz Gymnasium. University of Mary (0-3, 0-0 NSIC) returns to Bismarck on November 16 against Yellowstone Christian College.
 
THE BUZZ: Melvin Newbern Jr. was selected St. Vincent Healthcare player of the game for the second straight night for Montana State Billings…The Yellowjackets improved to 8-3 all-time against the Marauders. The last time UMary won the matchup was November, 2010.