BILLINGS, Mont. - The Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets fell to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference rival the University of Alaska Anchorage 81-80 Thursday night in Alterowitz Gym.
 
In a game that featured six ties and 11 lead changes, the two teams fought back and forth with the largest lead belonging to MSUB (8-9, 3-6 GNAC) at 16-9 only five minutes into the game. A steal by senior Tyler Green led to a thunderous Stevie James dunk to put an exclamation point on the first half and give the 'Jackets a 41-38 led heading into the locker room.
 
The Yellowjackets jumped to an eight point lead early in the second half but could not stretch it far beyond that. It was not until the 12 minute mark that MSUB was able to push their advantage to double digits going up by 11 on a Brendan Howard layup.
 
Ever the fighters, the Seawolves (13-8, 6-4 GNAC) clawed their way back into the game tying MSUB at 71-71 with 5:35 remaining. A Yellowjacket turnover followed by a three point shot form Tobin Karlberg gave UAA their first lead 74-71 with 5:05 left.
 
Counter punch after counter punch, both teams would take the lead and then lose it only to end up knotted at 79-79 with 1:15 left in regulation. A free throw from Zharon Richmond gave MSUB the one point advantage 80-79 and what happened next can be chalked up to a series of unfortunate events.
 
The Seawolves had the ball with 26 seconds left after forcing an MSUB turnover, and would proceed to collect four offensive rebounds in a row before converting a layup with 2.7 remaining to go ahead 81-80.
 
An anxious crowd hushed wondering if they would be witness to another miracle ending reminiscent of the buzzer beating shot by Green just a few weeks ago. Sadly, UAA tipped the inbounds pass and collected the ball to run the clock out and escape Alterowitz with a critical victory.
 
The loss drops MSUB to 3-6 in the GNAC with 11 conference games left. Every game is becoming more crucial as the season ebbs towards March and the GNAC Championships.
 
"I thought we did a lot of things well tonight", said head coach Mick Durham. "We shot well, rebounded well and competed on defense. We were too loose with the ball and committed too many turnovers. Even so we had a chance to win in the end."
 
As a team, MSUB shot 51.8 percent from the floor and 44.8 percent from three point range. UAA finished shooting 42.0 percent from the field and 37.0 from down town.
 
Perhaps the critical stat of the night was turnovers. UAA only committed 10 and forced 24 Yellowjacket turnovers. Off the 24 turnovers, UAA scored 32 points. The Seawolves bench also out played MSUB's to the tune of 30 points to eight.
 
Individually, MSUB's big three was paced by Richmond who led all players with 25 points and 10 rebounds on his way to a double-double. Howard finished with 19 points while Green added 14 points, six rebounds and six assists.
 
Player of the Game: Zharon Richmond was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game for his game high 25 points and 10 rebounds and the only player to record a double-double in the game.
 
WHAT'S AHEAD: The Yellowjackets welcome the University of Alaska, Fairbanks to Alterowitz on Saturday January 25. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. followed by the MSUB women's basketball team taking on Saint Martin's University at 7:30 p.m.