MONMOUTH, Ore. - The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket men's basketball team (13-5) bounced back with a nine-point win over the Western Oregon Wolves (4-11) with a final score of 69-60.
The Yellowjackets outrebounded and outshot the Wolves from beyond the arch to help lead them to another conference win.
Daniel Moody and
Jalen Tot played a big part with both scoring 17 points apiece. Moody was also one rebound away from another double-double to add to his resume.
Emmanuel Ajanaku also had a noteworthy night scoring 10 points with nine boards in crucial moments late in the game. The Wolves had two players with over twenty points, but the success MSUB found was bench points and had nine players with at least two points.
Coming off their first conference loss of the year, the Yellowjackets came out firing on all cylinders.
Daniel Moody led the way winning the opening tip-off followed by hitting a triple and leading MSUB on an early 8-2 run. The Wolves didn't shy away as they slowly climbed back, tying the game up at 11 at the 10:39 mark. With three minutes left to play in the half the Wolves had amassed a six-point lead over the 'Jackets, this didn't last long as
Jalen Tot and
Ky Kouba hit back-to-back shots from beyond the arch to tie up the game at 29. Following that was
Jajuan Tot running out the clock on the final possession of the half, taking it to the basket, and hitting a buzzer beater layup to give MSUB the 33-31 lead heading into the half.
The first five minutes of the second half were no different with both teams trading punches, unable to gain a lead over one another. Not until the 14-minute mark,
Daniel Moody hit his third triple of the night to give the 'Jackets a four-point lead over the Wolves. The next six minutes would slow down with both teams going scoreless for over two minutes and struggling to find consistent production on the offensive side of the ball. At the 5:45 mark
Jalen Tot hit
Steven Richardson on an alley-oop to give the Yellowjackets their largest lead of the night at eight. MSUB would continue to control the floor and hold on to beat Western Oregon with a final score of 69-60.
KEY PERFORMANCES:
Jalen Tot – 17 PTS (7-16 FG), 3 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL
Daniel Moody – 17 PTS (4-10 FG, 3-7 3PT, 6-6 FT), 9 REB, 5 AST
Zharon Richmond – 6 PTS (4-4 FT), 5 REB, 1 AST, 1 BLK, 1 STL
THE BUZZ: Emmanuel Ajanaku was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting 10 points (3-4 FG, 4-6 FT), 9 rebounds, and 2 steals.
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket men's basketball team comes back home to square off against the Seattle Pacific Falcons on January 27
th at 7 PM in Alterowitz Gym.
