BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings Men's basketball team lost their first home game of the year to Northwest Nazarene University 85-72 Thursday night in Alterowitz Gym.   
 
In their Great Northwest home opener, The Yellowjackets (6-7, 1-4 GNAC) were out-worked and never sustained any type of flow or run needed to overtake NNU (5-6, 2-4 GNAC).
 
A back and forth half saw MSUB hold an early lead 19-12 on a Clarence Daniels layup at the 11:11 mark for their largest lead of the game. Slowly but surely, NNU closed the gap until they tied the game at 22 and then took the lead 24-22 with 4:43 left in the first half.
 
NNU would never trail again and in a game that felt closer than it was, MSUB did make a run early in the second half to pull within one point 43-42 after a Chrishon Dixon Layup. But the Nighthawks slowly and methodically pulled away from MSUB by controlling both ends of the floor, stretching their lead to as many as 16 points on their way to an 85-72 win.

"NNU was really good tonight," said head coach Mick Durham. "They controlled both ends and were the tougher team".
 
MSUB finished with 11 turnovers and 13 assists to NNU's nine turnover and 9 assists. The Nighthawk bench proved the difference, outscoring MSUB's 31-10. Ezekiel Alley scored a game high 27 points coming off the bench and provided the offensive spark to hold MSUB at bay.  
 
Brendan Howard posted a team high 22 points and had 7 rebounds. Tyler Green finished with 19 points on five three point shots and Zharon Richmond scored 17 points to go with four rebounds.
 
Player of the Game: Brendan Howard was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game for his team high 22 points and seven rebounds.
 
WHAT'S AHEAD: The Yellowjackets host Central Washington University on Saturday, January 11 in Alterowitz Gym. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00pm. Last season, MSUB split two games with CWU as both teams defended their home court. MSUB beat CWU 87-47 in Alterowitz last year.