SPEARFISH, S.D.
– In a Thursday night thriller at the final buzzer, Montana State Billings emerged victorious over Black Hills State, securing a dramatic 73-70 win at the Donald E. Young Center Thursday night in front of a packed crowd of 2,219. The victory lifts the Yellowjackets to a 5-2 record on the season, while Black Hills State falls to 2-3.
The game was an intense back-and-forth battle, with momentum swinging wildly throughout the contest. Black Hills State had the upper hand in shooting percentage, outshooting MSUB 44.4% to 38.9% from the field, but it was the Yellowjackets' remarkable three-point shooting that ultimately made the difference. MSUB drained 10 of 20 attempts from beyond the arc, good for 50%, while Black Hills could only manage 4 of 15 (26.7%) from long range. It was an exhilarating 40 minutes of basketball, with 18 lead changes and the game tied eight times, as MSUB controlled the tempo for nearly 80% of the game.
Jalen Tot was the undisputed star of the night, putting on a career performance. The senior guard erupted for 35 points, going 10-for-20 from the field, 6-for-9 from three, and 9-for-12 from the free-throw line while adding four rebounds, two steals, and a team-high 26.0 efficiency, showing why he's one of the most dangerous players in the league.
Supporting Tot in the victory were
Famous Lefthand, who contributed 12 points on 46% shooting from the field and 50% from three, and
David Jones, who had his best game in a Yellowjacket uniform, posting 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.
Kael Robinson also played a pivotal role, finishing with nine points and nine rebounds, while
Jajuan Tot contributed across the board with five points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
HEAR FROM FENNELLY: "That was a huge win for us, we challenged the guys to respond the championship way the entire week in practice and they did just that. Black Hills is a really good team and not a lot of opponents go into their arena and win. We had contributions across the board, specifically
David Jones and
Jajuan Tot who gave us a huge lift. It was a great team win, we will enjoy it until midnight, and then its time to move onto South Dakota Mines."
FIRST HALF
The game got off to a strong start for MSUB, with Robinson draining a deep three-pointer to give the Yellowjackets an early 3-0 lead. What followed was a fast-paced, hard-fought battle that saw the teams trading blows for the first seven minutes. The largest lead of the first half came when
Jajuan Tot hit a three to give MSUB a seven-point advantage. As the clock wound down, MSUB's lead grew to as much as nine points after
Jalen Tot exploded for five points in quick succession. However, Black Hills State responded with a buzzer-beater three-pointer, cutting MSUB's lead to 37-31 at the half.
SECOND HALF
The Yellowjackets came out of the locker room with renewed energy, as Lefthand hit a crucial three-pointer to push the lead back to nine. But Black Hills wasn't about to back down. The Yellow Jackets responded with an 8-0 run, narrowing the gap to just one point. Jones then took charge, extending the lead back to five with a pair of free throws and a fast-break layup. For the first time since the 15:34 mark of the first half, Black Hills took the lead, but MSUB quickly regained it with another clutch three-pointer from Lefthand and some timely free throws from Jones.
With just 24 seconds left on the clock, the game was tied at 70-70. The intensity reached a fever pitch as Black Hills had one final chance to take the lead, but
Jalen Tot had other plans. With mere seconds remaining, he dribbled to just inside half-court and launched a desperation three-pointer as time expired. The ball sailed through the air, hitting the backboard and banking in as the buzzer sounded, giving MSUB the heart-stopping 73-70 victory.
STATISTIC LEADERS
POINTS: Jalen Tot (35);
Famous Lefthand (12)
REBOUNDS: Kael Robinson (9);
David Jones (8)
ASSISTS: Jajuan Tot (3);
David Jones (3)
STEALS: Jajuan Tot (3);
Jalen Tot (2)
THE BUZZ: Jalen Tot was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting a career-high 35 points while shooting 10-20 from the field, 6-9 from three, and 9-12 from the line while tallying four rebounds and two steals.
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings men's basketball team stays in South Dakota for another GNAC/RMAC competition, facing off against the South Dakota Mines Hardrockers this Saturday at 6 PM in Rapid City.
