SEATTLE, Wash. - The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket men's basketball team (19-7, 13-3 GNAC) fell short 91-80 to the Seattle Pacific Falcons (15-14, 8-8 GNAC). The 'Jackets remain one magic number away from clinching sole possession of the GNAC regular season title.
 
The Falcons were nearly flawless on their senior day outshooting the 'Jackets from the field and beyond the arch. Despite the Yellowjackets leading at the half, SPU outscored MSUB by 15 points in the second half largely due to the 16 made three-pointers from the Falcons with nine of them coming after the halftime break. Daniel Moody did most of the heavy lifting for the Yellowjackets scoring a career high 33 points while shooting over 92 percent from the field.
 
The 'Jackets started the game just like any other and led for over 16 and a half minutes in the first half. They found a majority of their success from second chance points as they outscored the Falcons 17-5 in that category. The first half was back-and-forth basketball with all five lead changes before the half. MSUB had their largest lead of the night with seven at the 6:45 mark in the first half after a three-pointer by Jajuan Tot. From there they did their best to keep the Falcons at a distance and went into the locker room 45-41.
 
The second half was where SPU went on a tear, regaining a lead at the 16:07 mark and did not loose it for the rest of the game. The Falcons shot 52 percent from the field, 56 percent from beyond the arch, and 100 percent from the line and made nine triples in just the second half. This helped them gradually pull away to their largest lead of the night. The Yellowjackets didn't give up as Moody went on a heater of his own scoring 20 of his 33 points in the second frame and was able to help pull them within single digits multiple times. Ultimately it was not enough as Seattle Pacific went on to take it 90-81.
 
 
KEY PERFORMANCES:
Zharon Richmond – 18 PTS (10-12 FT), 6 REB, 2 AST
Famous Lefthand – 10 PTS (2-5 3PT, 2-3 FT), 1 REB, 1 AST
Steven Richardson – 8 PTS (3-6 FG, 2-2 FT), 4 REB, 3 STL
 
THE BUZZ: Daniel Moody was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting a career high 33 points while shooting 13-14 from the field, 2-2 from beyond the arch, and 5-7 from the line. Moody also tallied four rebounds, three assists, and three steals!
 
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket men's basketball team will finish out their conference slate in Alaska as they take on Fairbanks on February 29^th at 7:30 PM (AST), and Anchorage on March 2^nd at 7:30 PM (AST).