BILLINGS, Mont. – After trailing by six at halftime, the Montana State University Billings men's basketball team broke out for 55 second half points helping them to a 90-70 win over Black Hills State University in a non-conference MSUB Thanksgiving Tournament game Saturday night at Alterowitz Gymnasium.
 
Melvin Newbern Jr. finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Tyler Green, Brendan Howard, Zack Rollins, and Zharon Richmond also posted double-digit point totals for MSUB and the Yellowjackets shot an impressive 54-percent in the game.
 
"I was excited about how we competed in the second half," commented head coach Mick Durham. "We received contributions from a lot of guys and we are continuing to build good depth. I think the schedule we have had has prepared us ready for conference Tuesday night. We had contributions from a lot of guys and we are continuing to build good depth."
 

 
Montana State Billings (3-3) split two games in the Thanksgiving Tournament after losing Friday night to California State Dominguez Hills 75-73 on a buzzer beater 3-point shot. They 'Jackets head into Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on Tuesday, November 27 with a game against Alaska Fairbanks (3-4). MSUB moved to 1-1 in their current five game homestand.
 
FIRST HALF BREAKDOWN: Montana State Billings made 4-of-5 field goals to start the game and grabbed a 10-6 lead. Black Hills State quickly countered to go ahead 13-10. MSUB received early contributions from the bench with Seth Christiaens picking up a dunk and a block in successive possessions. Then Green entered the game and hit a 3-point shot to get MSU Billings back in front 25-24 with 7:22 to play in the first half.
 
BHSU again responded with a 13-2 run to build their largest lead at that point to 11 at 41-30. Dez Stoudamire had 12 points for BHSU in the first 20 minutes on 4-for-10 shooting. Brendan Howard and Zharon Richmond led MSU Billings with eight points apiece. MSUB outshot Black Hills State 48.3-percent (14-for-29) to 35.3 percent (12-for-34). Black Hills State led at the break 41-35.
 
 
SECOND HALF BREAKDOWN: Brendan Howard was a force in the first five minutes of the second half both in the paint and beyond the arc. MSUB began to distribute the ball more efficiently and found openings from outside the arc but BHSU held strong and mirrored Montana State Billings' 3-point propensity through the first ten minutes. Zack Rollins re-entered the game after being plagued by foul trouble early and immediately hit a 3-pointer, tying the game at 52-52 at the midway point of the second half. After the Rollins triple, the 'Jackets shooters continued their torrid pace and Black Hills State finally relented and began to fade.
 
MSU Billings went on an 8-0 run to lead 58-52. Shortly after, MSUB opened up a 20-point advantage stopped only by the sound of the final horn. MSUB shot 61-percent from long range in the second half and went 8-for-13 on 3-point attempts. Montana State Billings also made it to the free throw line at more than double their first half frequency, putting away 15-of-18 shots from the charity stripe.
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Newbern Jr. was the only player to record double figure rebound numbers for either team, but MSU Billings also got defensive contributions from Rollins (eight rebounds), Howard (six rebounds), and Zharon Richmond (two rebounds, two steals).
 
The (MSUB) Yellowjackets flipped the script on their previous game against CSUDH and scored 26 points off turnovers compared to 10 for Black Hills State. The pace of play was quick for both teams and MSUB narrowly lost the fast break point category 9-8. The lead changed hands six times in the game and the largest margin was 21 points for MSU Billings with 3 minutes, 27 second left in the second half.
 
Zack Rollins picked up his third personal foul early in the second half but was still effective offensively during the Yellowjackets' second half shooting spree. Rollins ended 5-for-8 from the field with 13 points in 25 minutes of playing time.
 
Green, had another strong offensive night for MSUB and shot 6-for-12 for 19 points along with two rebounds, four assists, and a pair of made free throws.
 
Makaleb McInnis led the scoring for Black Hills State with 18 points (7-for-13). BHSU's Dez Stoudamire posted five 3-pointers and finished with 15 points. Connor O'Hearn led the defense with three steals.
 
UP NEXT: Montana State Billings continues with game three of a five game homestand on November 27 at 7 p.m. MSUB will welcome Alaska Fairbanks to lead off the Great Northwest Athletic Conference portion of the schedule. The 'Jackets will also play University of Alaska Anchorage at home on December 1.
 
THE BUZZ: Melvin Newbern Jr. was named St. Vincent Healthcare player of the game. Newbern Jr. The junior put up a single-game best 22 points and added 11 rebounds for his first double-double since November 14 against University of Mary…MSU Billings improved to 12-7 all-time against (the other) Yellow Jackets and have won each of the past three matchups. MSUB has not lost to BHSU since November 16, 2013 and holds a 9-4 record against Black Hills State at home.