FAIRBANKS, Alas.- The Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets lost the University of Alaska, Fairbanks on the road in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game Thursday night. The loss eliminates MSUB from playoff contention.
MSUB (10-15, 5-12 GNAC) falls victim to a Shadeed Shabazz game winning jumper with thirteen seconds left. Shabazz is the favorite for GNAC player of the year and good players just make shots. MSUB played well, fought hard and rallied in the second half but could just not get that ever fateful last stop.
Coming out of the first half tied at 37-37, the teams went back and forth until UAF was able to open up a nine point led 52-42 with 11:46 left. Just when you thought UAF was about to go on a big run and create separation, MSUB stormed back cutting the lead to 54-53 on a
Tyler Green three point shot.
In a frantic final 30 seconds, MSUB was up by one point 68-67 after a crucial rebound from
Zharon Richmond that led to a foul and two made Richmond free throws. With 13 second left Shabazz hits the fateful jumper from the baseline to put UAF ahead 69-68.
MSUB would have a chance to get a shot off as Green raced down the court, crossed half court and stormed into the paint. With no foul call, Green loss control of the ball as it went out of bounds and back into the Nanooks hands. Two UAF free throws gave them the 71-68 point lead with three second left. MSUB would have one final chance to send the game into overtime and keep their post season hopes alive.
Brendan Howard would launch a three from the right wing only to see it hit the rim and bounce off to the left effectively ending the game and UAF escaped with a win.
Green led MSUB with 15 points on five three point shots. Howard was held to his season low of 13 points on 3-11 shooting and 7-7 from the free throw line. Richmond scored 11 points and grabbed four rebounds.
Psalm Maduakor had eight points and six rebounds while
Chrishon Dixon had six points and three assists.
Jordan Lehrer and
Clarence Daniels each had six points as well.
The GNAC's leading scorer Shabazz finished with a game high 22 points and six assists. Hunter Sweet was the only other Nanook in double figures as he finished with 17 points. A dual headed monster, Sweet and Shabazz are the only two UAF players averaging double figures.
As a team MSUB shot 48.0 percent from the floor and 37.5 from three point land. UAF fished shooting 47.5 percent from the floor and 41.2 from beyond the arc. UAF had 11 turnovers to MSUB's 15 and 16 assists to the Yellowjackets 13.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Tyler Green is named the St. Vincent Player of the Game for his 15 points on 5-7 shooting from three point range,
WHAT'S AHEAD: MSUB plays their final road game of the 2019-20 season when they travel to the University of Alaska Anchorage. MUSB will look to play the role of spoiler as they can hamper UAA's chances of making it to the GNAC tournament. The Yellowjackets will also look to avenge an 81-80 point loss to UAA on January 23 in Billings.
