BILLINGS, Mont. – Though they maintained a lead most of the night, the Montana State University Billings men's basketball team missed out on an upset bid as they fell 76-74 to No. 23 Saint Martin's University Thursday night at Alterowitz Gymnasium in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game. Tyler Green and Brendan Howard each had 17 points and the Yellowjackets led by as many as 18 points in the first half, but stingy defense by the Saints down the stretch were just enough to hold off MSUB.
 
Luke Chavez scored 25 points on 8 of 15 shooting to lead the Saints and EJ Boyce also chipped in 17 points and five rebounds. The Saints outrebounded the 'Jackets 40-34 and made 13 three pointers on 40 tries.
 
"It was a great effort by our guys tonight," commented head coach Mick Durham. "We just have to continue to clean up a few things that continue to hurt us. We played very well defensively but just didn't finish possessions. SMU's second chance opportunities hurt us but we played hard to the end and had the basketball to win it."
 
The Yellowjackets (9-8, 4-5 GNAC) fell to seventh place in the conference standings and have lost two in a row. Saint Martin's (16-2, 9-1 GNAC) won their sixth straight game and have a 1.5 game advantage on second place Northwest Nazarene in the GNAC.
 
MSU Billings played solid defense in the opening minutes and temporarily silenced the Saints shooters. After the Yellowjackets built their lead up to 36-26, SMU put together a 15-0 run heading into the final minute of the first half to tie the game 36-36. Free throws by Howard stopped the run and enabled MSUB to lead at the half 40-36. The 'Jackets shot 51-percent in the first half compared to 41-percent for Saint Martin's.
 
MSUB kept offensive pressure on the Saints in the first five minutes of the second half and another Green three pointer kept the 'Jackets ahead 56-43. SMU went on their second big run of the game and outscored MSUB 15-2 to achieve a tie and eventually the lead 61-60. Saint Martin's, the GNAC's leading three point shooting team by volume began finding the twine from long range and extended its' advantage to 69-62.
 
Kobe Terashima got the 'Jackets back to a one possession contest with 1 minute, 25 seconds to play. SMU made shots to push the lead to 74-69 which forced MSUB to foul. Luke Chavez missed three of four free throws, enabling Zack Rollins to drive up the floor for a quick hitting three to get the 'Jackets to within a pair. With 5.2 seconds remaining, Zharon Richmond forced a long shot through traffic but missed at the buzzer for MSUB, leaving SMU in front by two.
 
Both teams scored 13 second chance points but SMU had a slight edge in points off turnovers 18-15. The Yellowjackets struggled from the free throw line and made 13 of 20 (65-percent) while the Saints connected on 15 of 21 (71-percent).
 
Tavian Henderson (SMU) led all players with 10 rebounds. Zack Rollins had seven rebounds and 10 points as he narrowly missed earning a double-double. MSUB was more effective close to the rim and outscored SMU 32-14 in the points in the paint category.
 
MSU Billings ended 26-for-58 on field goals (44-percent) while the Saints posted 24-for-60 shooting (40-percent). The Saint's largest lead was accomplished with 3 minutes and 37 seconds left in the second half. The 'Jackets led by 18 with 6:40 to go in the first half. Green and Melvin Newbern Jr. committed four personal fouls apiece, but no player for either team fouled out of the game.
 
NEXT UP: The Yellowjackets play at home again Saturday against Seattle Pacific University (9-5, 6-3 GNAC) at 5:15 p.m. in the first game of a men's and women's basketball doubleheader.
 
THE BUZZ: Brendan Howard was named St. Vincent Healthcare player of the game for the Yellowjackets. Howard had 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting and 3 of 6 free throws. Howard also collected four rebounds…MSU Billings is now 14-18 all-time against the Saints and 8-8 at home. The 'Jackets are 3-7 in their last ten matchups with SMU.