BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings men's basketball came up just short, falling 70-72 to Seattle Pacific in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
The Yellowjackets (19-7, 13-3 GNAC) and Falcons (10-6, 15-10 GNAC) battled back and forth all game. Two of the GNAC's top teams played solid basketball, with the two teams shooting well all night. SPU shot 56% from the field and 45% from three, while MSUB was 47.2% from the field and 45.5% from beyond the arc. But a late Seattle Pacific layup would prove to be the deciding bucket, sinking the 'Jackets, who lost consecutive games for just the second time this season.
 
Carrington Wiggins had 15 points for MSUB, with five rebounds and two steals. Bilal Shabazz battled for 12 points, with seven boards and a trio of assist. Brothers Jalen and Jajuan Tot each shot well, going a combined 7-9 from three. Jalen finished with 12, adding two assist, while Jajuan had ten points, three steals, and two rebounds and assists.
 
Both teams battled for control in the first half, with neither team able to gain control for any long period of time. Seattle Pacific outshot the 'Jackets 66.7% to just 46.7% from the Yellowjackets. Despite that advantage, it would be MSUB who lead for more of the half, due in part to eight second chance points and seven made threes. But the Falcons would score the final nine points of the half, turning a seven-point Yellowjacket advantage in a 39-37 lead at the half.
 
The two squads brough more of the same intensity in the second half, where the game was a close affair until the final buzzer. But the Falcons would get a boost from Shaw Anderson. The GNAC's leading scorer had 18 points in the second half, powering the Falcons offense as they were able to stay in front of the 'Jackets. But MSUB were able to stay close, just points behind. And when Shabazz sunk two big free throws, the 'Jackets thought they had a shot to take things to overtime. But Maui Sze came up clutch, driving the length of the court to put in a game winning layup. Jalen Tot's half court heave was no good, and the 'Jackets would take the loss.
 
Anderson finished with 23 points, going 9-13 from the field for SPU. He also had five assists, four rebounds, and two steals. Zach Paulsen added eleven points, while Ben Baker-McCann chipped in ten. Sze had just six points, but scored four of them in the final minutes, making two clutch shots to help push the Falcons to victory
 
THE BUZZ: Jajuan Tot was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game… The 'Jackets dropped both games against Seattle Pacific this season, the only team who managed to win two games against MSUB in GNAC play.
 
UP NEXT: The 'Jackets conclude their regular season with two games next week, the first of which takes place on Thursday, February 23 against University of Alaska Fairbanks. Tip off is scheduled for 5:15 at Alterowitz Gym, with live video available here, and live statistics available here.