LACEY, Wash. - The Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets fell to the Central Washington Wildcats on the road Thursday night. MSUB has now lost five of their last six and the Great Northwest Athletic Conference playoffs are slowly shrinking away in the distance.
 
The Yellowjackets (9-12, 4-9 GNAC) were in need of a win tonight to keep pace and try to grab the sixth and final playoff spot in March. The loss drops MSUB into a tie for ninth and the road does not get any easier. The Yellowjackets will need to muster some late season magic if they hope to reach the post season.
 
The Yellowjackets jumped out to a 10-2 lead to start the game, but CWU remained resolute and took the lead at 19-18 after a Jeryn Lucas three point shot. The Wildcats would surrender the lead briefly then retake it 22-20 and never look back. CWU would go into halftime with a 32-25 point lead.
 
Cold shooting and a Wildcat on fire would prove to be too much for MSUB to overcome. Collectively the 'Jackets shot 4-28 (14.3 percent) from three point range and Lucas scored 27 points on 10-12 from the field with seven threes for CWU.
 
MSUB would bring it to a two possession twice in the second half with the final attempt to overcome CWU at 41-35 after a Psalm Maduakor jumper with 11:36 left. CWU would extend their lead back to 12 just three shot minutes later and cash in their largest lead at 65-49 with 1:33 remaining. With the 67-56 point win, CWU avenged their loss at the hands of MSUB and Tyler Green earlier this year when Green beat CWU on a buzzer beating three point shot in Billings, Montana.
 
"The difference was we did not shoot the ball well from three point range," commented head coach Mick Durham. "We competed and played defense about as well as we have all year but Lucas was unbelievable too. He hit tough shots and his 27 points was the difference."
 
Green lead MSUB with 21 points, making three of MSUB's four three point shots, added four rebounds and two assists. Brendan Howard was second on the team with 20 points and eight rebounds.
 
Zharon Richmond finished with four points and a team leading nine rebounds. Chrishon Dixon also captured eight rebounds from his point guard position.  
 
As a team, MSUB shot 37.5 percent from the floor while CWU shot 37.9 percent and 50.0 from beyond the three point line.
 
The Wildcats forced 14 Yellowjacket turnovers and surrendered nine of their own. Off those 14 turnovers, CWU was able to cash in 19 points and MSUB was only able to score four off of CWU's miscues.   
 
MSUB had 10 second chance points to CWU's eight and more fast break points out scoring CWU 13-0. CWU's bench out preformed MSUB's 41-9.  
 
"The difference was we did not shoot the ball well from three point range," commented head coach Mick Durham. "We competed and played defense about as well as we have all year but Lucas was unbelievable too. He hit tough shots and his 27 points was the difference."
 
Player of the Game: Tyler Green was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game for his team high 21 points and three, 3 point shots made.  
 
WHAT'S AHEAD: The Yellowjackets travel to Nampa, Idaho for a game against Northwest Nazarene University. CWU just defeated NNU 64-59 this past Tuesday. NNU beat MSUB 85-72 in Billings on January 9.