FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Holding tough through the final buzzer on Saturday evening at the Patty Center, the Montana State University Billings men's basketball team defeated University of Alaska Fairbanks 64-59 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
Leading by as much as 12 with 5:55 left to play, the Yellowjacket lead dwindled to as little as three points with 43 seconds left. Bilal Shabazz and Carrington Wiggins combined to go 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the final minute, knocking down key foul shots that ultimately sealed the win.
 
"Our guys really responded to the start of GNAC and played well especially with both games being on the road," said MSUB head coach Mick Durham. "Our defense cause UAF a lot of problems and led us to extend our lead in the second half. We found a way late again to hold on and made some crucial free throws."
 
Abdul Bah led the Yellowjackets with 18 points on 7-for-12 shooting, and Wiggins finished with 16 points including a 6-for-6 mark from the foul line. Steven Richardson helped the 'Jackets out-rebound the Nanooks 35-33 by grabbing a game-high 12 boards, while adding seven points, two assists, two blocks, and two steals. Emmanuel Ajanaku contributed eight points, seven rebounds, and a pair of blocks in the well-rounded effort from the Yellowjackets. MSUB improved to 6-2 overall and 2-0 in league play.
 
Abdullahi Mohamed led all players with 20 points in the game, making 6 of 9 shots and eight free throws to lead the Nanooks.Tyler Mrus and Jaycson Bereal Jr. scored 10 points apiece, and Bryan Nguyen had a team-high four assists. Alaska fell to 4-4 overall and is now 1-1 in conference play with the defeat.
 
The game got off to an even start, with the lead changing hands several times and neither team pulling ahead by more than four points in the first 19 minutes of action. Momentum tilted slightly in favor of the 'Jackets at the end of the first half, as the Nanooks scored just four points over the final four minutes. MSUB used the lull to build a 34-29 edge at the break.
 
A three by Bah at the 15:59 mark in the second half gave MSUB its largest lead to that point, with a 41-34 advantage. The 'Jackets created some distance pulling ahead by as much as 50-37 at the 11:32 mark in the second. MSUB's edge stayed in double figures for the next eight minutes, until the Nanooks made their late push and got it to a single possession late.
 
Shabazz finished with seven points and a team-leading four steals, while Jajuan Tot added three steals in 22 effective minutes off the bench. The Yellowjackets shot 45.1 percent overall (23-for-51), but made just 5 of 19 threes (26.3 percent). The 'Jackets finished the night shooting 72.2 percent from the free-throw line (13-for-18).
 
Alaska shot 38.6 percent in the game (22-for-57), while making only 4 of 14 threes (28.6 percent) and 11 of 15 free throws (73.3 percent). Neither team protected the ball particularly well, with MSUB committing 20 turnovers and Alaska committing 19.
 
"The end of an eight-game stretch on the road to start the season is a tough thing to throw at a team, but we learned and grew up a lot these last four weeks," Durham said.
 
THE BUZZ: Richardson was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game.
 
NEXT UP: The Yellowjackets return home to face Providence on Dec. 7 and Rocky Mountain College on Dec. 10. Live coverage will be available online here.