BURNABY, B.C. – In an absolute thriller, the Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets lost 112-107 in triple overtime against Simon Fraser University late Saturday night at West Gymnasium in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game. Tyler Green made an improbable 3-point shot to send the game into double overtime, but after three extra sessions, the Clan pulled in front for the final time with just over one minute left, ending MSUB's hopes of winning a second straight overtime affair.
 
Green led the Yellowjackets with 31 points (8-for-19) and played a team high 48 minutes while Zack Rollins ended with 29 points and made seven 3-pointers on 15 attempts. The Yellowjackets were stymied all night and especially in overtime by Clan forward Michael Provenzano, who posted 32 points (10-for-17) and six assists.
 
Montana State Billings defeated Western Washington in overtime Thursday night and are now 1-2 in overtime games this season. It was also the first triple overtime game the Yellowjackets have been a part of since joining the GNAC in 2007-08.
 
MSU Billings (9-7, 4-4 GNAC) ended this week's road trip 1-1 and will return home Thursday to begin a four game homestand. After Alaska Anchorage won Saturday night, the 'Jackets moved into a three way tie for fifth place in the conference standings and remain two games behind Seattle Pacific for fourth. Simon Fraser (8-8, 2-6) moved to 7-2 at home and into ninth place in the GNAC standings ahead of Concordia and Alaska.
 
FIRST HALF BREAKDOWN: Simon Fraser began the game 3 of 3 from beyond the arc and the Clan gained an early 12 point lead. The 'Jackets picked up their outside shooting to get back to a one possession game but the Clan made a late charge to lead at halftime 37-31. Provenzano led all players with 11 points in the first half. MSUB shot 37-percent from the field and 38-percent from 3-point range. The Clan connected for 46-percent shooting and 50-percent from beyond the arc (6-for-12).  
 
SECOND HALF BREAKDOWN: Simon Fraser made three 3-pointers to start the second half while MSUB committed a pair of early turnovers, up against full court pressure from SFU. Rollins helped keep the score close with a pair of corner threes, trimming the differential to 45-40 with 15 minutes to play.
 
Kobe Terashima frequently injected energy for the Yellowjackets off the bench. The sophomore made a 3-pointer to give MSUB its first lead of the game 50-48 with 13 minutes, 40 seconds to play. Trailing by six with 1:15 to go, the 'Jackets continually fouled but worked their way all the way back when Rollins was fouled at the 3-point line trailing 81-78. He made each of three ensuing free throws to tie it 81-81. A last second shot attempt by Provenzano was no good, sending the game into an extra session.
 
OVERTIME: Green started the overtime scoring for MSUB, then made a fadeaway three and was fouled with 2 minutes, 52 seconds left to create an 88-85 lead. SFU went back in front by one and Provenzano made a quick layup inside on an inbound pass with six seconds left. Green rushed the basketball up the floor and was fouled, sending him to the line trailing 91-90. He made both attempts.
 
The 'Jackets fouled again to send Provenzano to the stripe with 3.6 seconds left. He went 2-for-2 and the 'Jackets rushed the ball up to Green, who hit an unlikely, off balance 3-point shot at the buzzer from more than 10 feet beyond the arc and near the sideline, tying the game 93-93.
 
DOUBLE OVERTIME: A finger roll by Rollins put MSUB ahead 95-93 with 2 minutes, 55 seconds left in double overtime. Provenzano later hit a floater from the left side to tie the game 97-97 with 1 minute, 40 seconds remaining. Newbern Jr. grabbed a crucial defensive rebound in the final seconds and passed it up to Rollins who missed an attempted final shot.
 
TRIPLE OVERTIME: After an offensive foul was called on SFU's Julian Roche, Green made a three pointer with 1 minute, 52 seconds left to tie the game 106-106. Provenzano then made a long jump shot to give SFU a two point advantage. After a foul called against Newbern Jr. resulted in one of two good SFU free throws, Roche intercepted an MSUB inbound pass with 13.3 seconds left, forcing another foul by the 'Jackets.
 
Roche missed both attempts, giving Green another chance to tie the game with a three point attempt, but it clanked off the left side of the rim with 2.9 ticks left, effectively ending the game.
 
Brendan Howard had 21 points off the bench for MSUB and narrowly missed a double-double with eight boards. Zharon Richmond also reached double-digit scoring with 11 points while adding three rebounds and a pair of assists. Terashima was effective off the bench and had five points, eight assists, and nine rebounds. He came within range of achieving a first career triple double.
 
Five players had more than 10 points for Simon Fraser University. Provenzano led players of both teams with 32 points, three points shy of Green's GNAC leading 35 point game earlier this season. Spence Othaniel had 23 points (9-for-18) and eight rebounds. Roche and Jasdeep Singh totaled 18 points apiece, and Wilfried Balata tallied 11 points and seven board for SFU.
 
The Yellowjackets shot 40.2-percent from the floor (33-for-82), including 40.0-percent from three point range (18-for-45) and 67-percent from the free throw line (23-for-34). Meanwhile the Clan checked in at 46.3-percent shooting (37-for-80) and 50-percent from beyond the arc (16-for-32). SFU went 22-for-28 on free throw attempts (78.6-percent) and led by as many as 12 points in the first half.
 
NEXT UP: The Yellowjackets begin a four game homestand on Thursday January 24 when they take on No. 23 Saint Martin's University at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday January 26 MSUB hosts Seattle Pacific University at 5:15 p.m.
 
THE BUZZ: Tyler Green was named St. Vincent Healthcare player of the game for his second 30-point performance of the season…Tonight was the first triple overtime game in the GNAC since February 13, 2014 and the seventh triple overtime game in conference history…MSUB is 7-6 in the GNAC era in overtime games while SFU improved to 3-2…It was also the first triple overtime game for Simon Fraser University since joining the conference in 2010-11…The Yellowjackets have a rematch against Simon Fraser scheduled for February 14 at Alterowitz Gymnasium in Billings.