MINOT, N.D. – Using a strong first half to establish momentum, Montana State University Billings rode an early lead to a 76-69 win over host Minot State University on Saturday evening at the MSU Dome.
 
The Yellowjackets held a 32-25 lead at halftime, before the teams battled back-and-forth to an even 44-44 score in the second half. MSUB improved to 4-0 on the season, marking its best start to a campaign since going 5-0 at the outset of 2017-18. "This was a good, team road win," said MSUB head coach Mick Durham. "We needed some early energy from the bench guys and we got it tonight. We took the lead into halftime, built on it, and had to hold off a pretty good Minot rally. We didn't shoot a free throw in the first half, and then made 21 of 25 in the second. It seems like it's always hard to put teams away on the road."
 
The glaring discrepancy in free throws between halves proved to be a major factor in the win, as MSUB took care of business from the foul line in the second. After no attempts in the opening 20 minutes, the Yellowjackets knocked down 21 of 25 shots (84.0 percent) to score more than a quarter of their points from the line. It was part of a hot shooting night overall, as MSUB made 23 of 55 shots (41.8 percent) including 9 of 21 threes (42.9 percent).
 
Senior Carrington Wiggins was yet again the catalyst, leading all players with 26 points on the evening including a perfect 13-for-13 mark from the free-throw line. Bilal Shabazz had 15 points – two off his MSUB career high – to go along with a team-high seven rebounds. Steven Richardson also reached double figures with a dozen points, and Abdul Bah finished with eight on the evening.
 
Minot State was led by a trio of double-figure scorers, with Javeon Tolliver pacing the team at 16 points to go along with six rebounds. Khari Broadway added 14 points and Jaxon Gunville had 10, while Roman Srejma led the team with nine rebounds. Despite out-rebounding the Yellowjackets 37-31, the Beavers fell to 1-1 on the young season with the defeat.
 
Minot State held the early momentum from the tipoff, leading for the first 13 minutes of play. It wasn't until a 3-pointer by Bah at the 6:57 mark in the first half that the Yellowjackets obtained their first lead, as he pushed the score to 19-17. The next few minutes went back-and-forth, with a three by Shabazz being answered by a three from Broadway to even the score at 25-25.
 
MSUB went on a 7-0 run over the final 2:21 of the first half however, with Wiggins scoring the first five points and Shabazz knocking down a last-second jumper to give the 'Jackets the momentum heading into the locker rooms.
 
Minot State got the first bucket of the second half, but MSUB never relinquished the lead over the final 20 minutes despite a valiant effort by the Beavers. The Yellowjackets' lead peaked at 18 points after a big three by Richardson at the 10:19 mark in the second, but MSUB had to endure a late comeback push by Minot State. The Beavers whittled away and got it down to a four-point game with 48 seconds left on the clock, but a three-point play by Wiggins highlighted a final minute that saw MSUB hit 6 of 7 free throws to put the game to bed.
 
MSUB made up for its rebounding shortcomings by limiting its turnovers to just 13, while Minot State had 22 giveaways that led to 21 points off of turnovers for the Yellowjackets. MSUB's scrappy defense came away with 16 steals – far and away its highest total of the 2022-23 season thus far.
 
THE BUZZ: Wiggins was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…MSUB is now 10-2 all-time against Minot State and is 1-1 in games played in North Dakota.
 
AHEAD: The Yellowjackets are up for a mighty test next Wednesday, as they'll face No. 10 Black Hills State University on the road. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. at the Donald E. Young Center, with live coverage available online here.