BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings men's basketball team finished yet another close game with a victory, this time edging out Western Washington University in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
The win did not come easy for the Yellowjackets (18-5, 12-1 GNAC), despite leading for nearly 85% of the game. The 'Jackets jumped out to a 16 point lead in the second half, before an offensive explosion from the Vikings (12-11, 5-8 GNAC) would make the game close down the stretch. In the end though, MSUB would come up with just enough stops, and hit some key baskets to sink Western Washington for the second time this season.
 
Carrington Wiggins and Abdul Bah each scored their season high in points. Wiggins finished with 29, going 11-17 from the field and 5-8 from three. He also finished with a team high four assists, four rebounds and a pair of steals. Bah had 24 points, going 6-7 from the free throw line where he made some crucial shots down the stretch.
 
Bilal Shabazz ended with 15 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks. Jalen Tot had six points, both three pointers, with two assists and two steals. Emmanuel Ajanaku had eight rebounds, two assists, and tied his career high with three blocks.
 
The opening half saw the 'Jackets get out to an fast start. Up 40-29 at the halftime break, MSUB shot 47.1% in the opening 20 minutes, and 46.2% from three. Wiggins scored 15 in the first, and Bah scored 14, combining to match WWU's offensive output. After Jalen Tot's buzzer beating three was ruled good to end the half, the 'Jackets rolled into the half with serious momentum.
 
But Western Washington would not be counted out. The Vikings shot 53.3% in the second quarter, progressively chipping into MSUB's lead. What once was a lead of as much as 16 had dwindled to just three, when a three pointer on the wing from D'Angelo Minnis tied up the game with 4:14 to go. Needing to slow down the Vikings, the 'Jackets found a way to get the stops they needed, and the trio of Wiggins, Bah, and Shabazz made eight free throws in the final minutes to help seal an MSUB victory.
 
Minnis ended with 20 points for the Vikings, shooting 8-15. Daniel Hornbuckle scored 17. Kai Johnson and Lucas Holden each had a team high eight rebounds, while Johnson's four assists were likewise a team high.
 
THE BUZZ: Bah was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game… The Yellowjackets swept the season series with the Vikings for the first time since the 2018-2019 season… With the win tonight, the 'Jackets clinched their spot in the GNAC Championships, scheduled to start on March 2.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets travel for their next two games, with the first coming against Western Oregon University on Thursday, February 9. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 PM. Live video will be available here, and live statistics will be
available here.