BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Yellowjackets men's basketball team fell just short against crosstown rival Rocky Mountain College, falling in overtime 74-73 in the second meeting between the two teams this season.
 
The Battlin Bears (7-3) came into Alterowitz Gymnasium looking to avenge their earlier loss this season to the 'Jackets (7-3), a 71-54 loss on their home court. And they managed to do just that after surviving an overtime scare from MSUB. Rocky led for a majority of the second half, until the 'Jackets closed the second half on a tear, punctuated by a game-tying layup from Abdul Bah extended the game into overtime. The extra period was a battle, with each team leaving it all out on the court. But the 'Jackets couldn't quite complete their comeback, falling just short in the second version of the Rimrock Rivalry this season.
 
Carrington Wiggins scored 23 points to lead all scorers, collecting six rebounds and an assist to complement. Bilal Shabazz had a double-double, scoring the same number of points as he collected rebounds (12). Steven Richardson had 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Jajuan Tot had a team high four assists, and scored seven, going 2-for-3 from 3-point range. The 'Jackets finished shooting 40 percent from the field, while matching that percentage from beyond the arc. They outrebounded the Bears 45-31, including 18 offensive boards.
 
The game started close, with each team switching leads multiple times through the opening 10 minutes. But after a Cade Tyson layup with 7:38 left in the first half, Rocky would take control, taking the lead by as much as eight. They outscored the 'Jackets 15-10 in the final seven minutes, going into halftime up 39-34.
 
The second half started with each team struggling to score, but the visitors got on a run. Rocky took advantage of cold MSUB shooting to grow its lead coming out of halftime. They led 61-48 with only four and a half minutes left on the clock. But then the 'Jackets caught fire. Over that four and a half minutes, MSUB put together a 15-2 run. Rocky missed three important free throws while trying to see out the game late, and the 'Jackets were able to turn those into quick baskets. It was the Rocky transfer Bah who would hit the game tying layup with just four seconds left, and a Kael Robinson heave couldn't find its way home for the Bears, giving a large MSUB crowd a little extra basketball to watch.
 
Overtime was a slugfest, with each team making huge shots and forcing major mistakes as the game swung in the pendulum. It sat tied at 72 apiece with around 30 seconds, until forward Kace Kitchel took the ball in the post, and found the go-ahead basket. The 'Jackets would have chances late, but Wiggins missed a free throw, and a Shabazz layup with just four seconds left was blocked by Robertson out of bounds. Shabazz had a second chance to win it at the buzzer, but his shot from the right elbow clanged off the rim, and the Battlin' Bears escaped overtime with a victory.
 
Robinson was crucial for the Battlin' Bears. He led the team in scoring with 18, collecting six rebounds, four assists, two steals, and the game saving block to go with it. Elliot Brooks finished with 14 points for Rocky, shooting a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. Billings natives Jesse Owens and Cade Tyson played big roles for their hometown team, with Owens ending with 13 points, and Tyson getting six points to accompany four assists and two steals.
 
THE BUZZ: Shabazz was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…the Yellowjackets split the season series with Rocky, and move to 24-13 all time against the Battlin Bears…this was MSUB's second overtime game this season, where the 'Jackets are now 1-1 in games that go past regulation.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets play next in the Holiday Hoops Classic in Las Vegas, where they will play a pair of games. The first of which comes against the Missouri S&T Miners on Saturday, December 17 at 8 p.m.