MINOT, N.D.
– The Montana State University Billings men's basketball team (9-3, 1-0 GNAC) fell in North Dakota to the #13 Minot State University Beavers (13-0, 4-0 NSIC) 92-66 in the Minot State Dome earlier this evening.
The Beavers were nearly flawless on their home court, shooting over 50 percent as a team from the field and beyond the arch and shot 100 percent from the line. Minot State truly created separation on the glass, outrebounding the 'Jackets 45-27 and outscoring MSUB in second chance points 15-7.
Despite the loss, the Yellowjackets shot just under 40 percent from the field and an impressive 46 percent from beyond the arch, largely from
Jalen Tot who was 5-9,
Kael Robinson who was 2-4, and
Brendon Johnson who was 2-3. Tot ended the night as the 'Jackets leading scored, dropping 22 points on 8-16 from the field with three boards, one assist, and one steal. Following was Robinson with 17 points while shooting 50 percent from the field and three with a team best six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Johnson rounded out the double-digit scoring, posting 12 points on 4-9 from the field with two rebounds and one assist.
FIRST HALF
It was the Beavers getting hot early, getting ahead to an early 11-2 lead in front of their home crowd. Tot quickly responded with pair of three pointers, but Minot State still led by eight points heading into the first media timeout of the game. Johnson got on the board, connecting with his first jumper of the night but the Beavers continued to shoot flawlessly. Going on another 15-2 run was Minot State, extending their lead to 31-10 by the 10-minute mark in the opening half. MSUB then caught fire at the 9:55 mark, scoring 13 points in two minutes to bring their deficit back within 10 points after a three from Johnson and five points apiece from Tot and Robinson. From there it was back-and forth basketball until Minot's Jaxon Gunville hit back-to-back triples to give the Beavers the 55-38 lead heading into the half.
SECOND HALF
The Yellowjackets entered the second half on a mission, going on an 8-3 run to start the final 20 minutes of play backed behind Robinson who hit his second three pointer of the night. Both squads traded some more punches with the Beavers sustaining their 15-point lead until the 10-minute mark that encapsulated an 11-0 run. The Yellowjackets quickly responded with five unanswered points from Tot and
Hanniel Ouattara. From there the Beavers continued to extend their lead to as much as 30 points by the two-and-a-half-minute mark, not showing any sign of faulter. Minot State went on to take the victory 92-66.
STATISTIC LEADERS
POINTS: Jalen Tot (22);
Kael Robinson (17)
REBOUNDS: Kael Robinson (6);
Cooper Dewitt (4)
ASSISTS: Jalen Tot (3);
Jajuan Tot (2)
STEALS: Cooper Dewitt (3);
Kael Robinson (2);
Jajuan Tot (2)
THE BUZZ: Jalen Tot was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting 22 points while shooting 8-16 from the field and 5-9 from three while tallying three rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings men's basketball team heads to Las Vegas, NV for the Holiday Hoops Classic where they will take on Angelo State University on December 19
th and Lubbock Christian University on December 20
th.
