BILLINGS, Mont.- The Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets fell to the Seattle Pacific University Falcons 83-62 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference games Thursday night in Alterowitz Gym. SPU earns the season sweep over MSUB and now have won 11 of the last 12 meetings between the teams. MSUB (9-14, 4-11 GNAC) is all but eliminated from playoff contention pending other results around the league.
 
Tyler Green became the 24^th player in the history of the program to reach 1,000 career points. Green hit the milestone on his signature shot, a three pointer from the top of the key. Green finished the game with seven points and is now at 1,001 for his outstand career.
 
MSUB kept things close to start the game, battling the first place Falcons (19-5, 15-1 GNAC) and taking a lead 13-10 on a Zharon Richmond layup with 12:22 remaining in the first half. That would be the final time MSUB would be in front as SPU went on a 10-0 run to open up a seven point lead and never looked back.
 
The Falcons took a 36-24 point lead into halftime. MSUB would need to convert a high rate of shots in the second half, something difficult to do against the Falcon's top ranked defense.
 
MSUB made two three point shots in the first half and have lived or died by the three a few times this year. This was one of the games that killed them. Going 4-10 from three point range in the second half, MSUB's shooting woes continued which made life hard to keep up with the number one team in the conference.
 
SPU would increase their lead as they turned up the defense which led to good offense. Ultimately, SPU pulled away putting the game on ice up 63-39 with 10:22 remaining in regulation.
 
As a team, MSUB was held to 38.1 percent from the floor and 27.3 percent (6-22) from beyond the arc. MSUB finished with 15 assists to 13 turnovers and had 30 points in the paint. SPU shot 53.7 from the field and 34.8 percent (8-23) from three point range. SPU had 13 assists and only committed eight turnovers with 50 points in the paint. SPU's bench out worked MSUB's 32-19.
 
Brendan Howard led MSUB with 15 points and had three points. Psalm Maduakor finished with 11 points, four rebounds and one block. Chrishon Dixon finished with six points and a team high six rebounds. Richmond finished with eight points.
 
Braden Olsen and Harry Cavell each had 15 points to lead the Falcons.
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Brendan Howard is named the St. Vincent Player of the Game for his team high 15 points…Howard has scored at least 13 points in every game this season.
 
WHAT'S AHEAD: MSUB hosts Saint Martin's University Saturday night at 7:30pm for MSUB's Hall of Fame Game.