ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Montana State University Billings men's basketball team were able to squeak past Central Washington University, winnings 70-69 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
The Yellowjackets (16-5, 10-1 GNAC) went down to the wire with the Wildcats (9-11, 5-6 GNAC), with the two teams swapping leads ten times as the game went on. For the second time this week, the 'Jackets were behind at halftime, and forced to play from behind. But like they did against Northwest Nazarene on Thursday, MSUB would find a way to rally in the second half with big shots and timely defense, with Abdul Bah's jumper with one minute remaining proving to be just enough for the Yellowjackets to snatch a victory away on the road, holding on to first place in the GNAC standings.
 
Carrington Wiggins paced the 'Jackets in scoring with 21 points, adding three rebounds and two assists. Bilal Shabazz had 18, collecting seven boards and three assists, while putting on a defensive masterclass with four blocks and two steals. Bah's final basket put him up to 15 points in the game. Emmanuel Ajanaku scored seven with four boards and a block. The 'Jackets shot 57.1% in the game, and 40% from three, both numbers due in part to offensive improvements in the second half.
 
The 'Jackets shot the ball well in the early going, outshooting the Wildcats in the first half 52% to 48.3%. But it was nine made CWU three pointers, to just two from the Yellowjackets, that would propel Central Washington to a 39-32 lead at halftime. Averaging 34.9% as a team from beyond the arc this year, the 'Jackets were just 20% in the first half. Turnovers were also an issue for the 'Jackets, who had nine in the first half.
 
But the 'Jackets showed in the second half why this team has been so difficult to defeat all season. The shooters came alive, with MSUB improving to 62.5% from the field, and 50% from three in the last 20 minutes. MSUB would also limit their turnovers to three, as they clamped down on defense to slow down the Wildcats on the perimeter. But Central Washington was able to stick around, in part to seven offensive rebounds, leading to eight second chance points.
 
Thus commenced a high intensity finale, where the two teams remained just points apart. Following a jumper by Shabazz, and a made free throw by Wiggins, Brock Gilbert drove to the hoop and finished to tie the game at 68-68. With the home crowd chanting, they would be silenced by Bah, whose left baseline jump shot would find nothing but net to put MSUB ahead by two. The Wildcats had chances late, but Matt Poquette split his two free throws with 42 seconds on the clock, and after Gilbert's next drive resulted in Shabazz picking up his fourth block, a jumper by Poquette as time expired would clank off the rim as the 'Jackets would escape victorious.
 
Camron McNeil led CWU in scoring with 21, going 5-9 from three. Samaad Hector finished with 16 points, and seven rebounds. Gilbert had 14 points with eight assists, and Poquette had 11 points and six boards.
 
THE BUZZ: Shabazz was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game… He finished with four blocks for the fourth time this season, tying his career high… The Yellowjackets swept the regular season series against Central Washington, doing so for the second season in a row… With Seattle Pacific dropping both of it's games this week after defeating the 'Jackets, MSUB regains sole control of the top spot in the GNAC standings.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets return home to Alterowitz Gym for a matchup against Simon Fraser University on Thursday, February 2. Tip off is set for 7:30 PM. Live video will be available here, and live statistics will be available here.