BILLINGS, Mont. - The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket men's basketball team (15-6, 9-2 GNAC) bounced back with a 76-69 victory over the Central Washington Wildcats (13-7, 6-5 GNAC) to stay atop the conference standings.
Coming off their third lowest scoring game of the season the Yellowjackets were on full display. The 'Jackets had seven players with at least six points and had four in double figures.
Daniel Moody led the way with 17 points followed by
Zharon Richmond and
Jalen Tot with 14 apiece. The difference in the seven-point victory was the turnover battle winning it 16-9 and scoring 23 points from Wildcats turnovers. The matchup featured 12 lead changes (10 in the first half) with MSUB leading 82 percent of the game.
The 4
th ranked (MSUB) and 10
th ranked (CWU) west region matchup in Alterowitz gym did not disappoint. The Yellowjackets came out as hot as they ever had going on an early 11-2 run led by
Zharon Richmond and
Famous Lefthand who combined for seven of the eleven points. The Wildcats stole the momentum going on an 11-1 run of their own and taking the lead until a trademark
Beni Fungula poster brought the energy back to everyone in attendance. The action packed first half became a tight race for the next 14 minutes with 10 lead changes at this point in the game, but it was the 'Jackets taking the last punch to head into the locker room with a 42-39 lead.
Lefthand got the 'Jackets on the board for the second half scoring his sixth point of the game but following was a lull for both teams for the next 10 minutes. By the halfway mark in the second half, both squads were shooting under 28 percent from the field and under 26 percent from beyond the arch. It was the Yellowjackets defense that kept them in the game and started a 13-4 run to lead the Wildcats 64-54. At this point in the game the 'Jackets had double the number of steals, were leading the turnover battle 15-6. Richmond again was leading the offensive surge scoring six of the 13 points on the late momentum switching run. The Wildcats stayed within striking distance the final three minutes of play and even brought the game within four with 52.3 left in the game. From there the Yellowjackets were able to make late free-throws closing out the game and winning 76-69.
HEAR FROM FENNELLY:
"It was a great bounce back win for the guys. Life in athletics is all about how you respond to adversity, and we did that through our senior leadership. We contributed across the whole roster and I'm proud of a great team win."
KEY PERFORMANCES:
Zharon Richmond – 14 PTS (4-10 FG, 1-3 3PT, 5-5 FT), 6 REB
Jalen Tot – 14 PTS (4-9 FG, 3-6 3PT, 3-4 FT), 5 REB, 3 AST, 4 STL
Steven Richardson – 10 PTS (4-10 FG, 1-2 3PT), 2 REB, 1 AST, 1STL
Emmanuel Ajanaku – 6 PTS, 10 REB, 1 BLK
THE BUZZ: Daniel Moody was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting 17 points while shooting 7-13 from the field, and 2-4 from beyond the arch. Moody also totaled 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals.
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket men's basketball team heads across the northern border to Burnaby, British Columbia to take on the Simon Fraser Red Leaf's on February 8
th at 7:00 PM (PST).
