LOS ANGELES, Cal. - The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket men's basketball team (20-10) ended their historic 2023-24 season after falling 78-64 to the Chico State University Wildcats in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
HEAR FROM FENNELLY: "This was a special group; throughout the whole season they did the little things right that you look for in a program. I love these guys; they gave me their all from start to finish led by a special senior class. They left a legacy reaching the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons and I'm just thankful to be a part of their ride."
 
The opening matchup of the west regional tournament featured seven lead changes with the 'Jackets in front at the half. Chico State made their moves in the second half of the game and ended 2024 NCAA Tournament debut outshooting MSUB 41.5-33.9. The Wildcats also bested the 'Jackets on the glass 45-38, total team assists 20-12, and won the turnover battle 8-13 while scoring 23 fast break points. The Yellowjackets found their success from beyond the arch shooting 36.4 percent (8-22) while the Wildcats shot just 30.4 percent (7-23).
 
Famous Lefthand led the way offensively, leading the 'Jackets in scoring with 17 points while also adding five rebounds and a pair of assists. Following Lefthand was Emmanuel Ajanaku who posted an impressive 12-point performance while shooting 5-9 from the field with seven rebounds. Steven Richardson also had a stellar outing, scoring 11 points while shooting 4-5 from the field, 3-3 from beyond the arch, and tallied three steals.
 
Daniel Moody made his NCAA Tournament debut with a bang, winning the opening tip-off and hitting a triple on their first possession to take the 3-0 lead. The Wildcats answered quickly going on a 6-0 run of their own until Moody hit his second deep ball of the game to square up the ballgame. Following the first media timeout of the game it was back-and-forth until the 11:41 mark when Famous Lefthand got on the board with a three-pointer to regain a three-point lead for the Yellowjackets.
 
At this point in the game the contest was chippy with both teams combining for nine team fouls. Untimely turnovers by the 'Jackets and timely capitalization by the Wildcats led them to score nine unanswered points and take a six-point lead at the 7:54 mark.  Lefthand got the offense going again helping the Yellowjackets score seven unanswered points of their own bringing their deficit back to just two points with just over two minutes to play in the half. Both squads traded punches in the final minutes, but it was MSUB who headed into the half up 32-31.
 
Richardson scored his eighth point of the game and got the Yellowjackets on the board in the second half with a steal, following it with a coast-to-coast lay-in. The Wildcats came out firing back, going on a 10-2 run in the first three and a half minutes of play. At this point in the game Chico found success outrebounding the 'Jackets 11-5 on offense and was winning the steal battle 8-2 on defense. By the halfway point in the second frame, MSUB was down 51-43 after making a pair of free-throws due to a technical foul by the Wildcats for having six players on the court.
 
By the 7:35 mark in the second half the game continued to be chippy, with both squads totaling 31 personal fouls and two technical fouls. With time winding down and the Yellowjackets down by 10 with needed a spark, a spark was what they got as Jalen Tot started cooking. Jalen scored five straight points to try and bring the 'Jackets within striking distance but it wasn't enough. The Wildcats answered and held their lead to eventually stump the Yellowjackets 78-64.
 
KEY PERFORMANCES:
Famous Lefthand – 17 PTS (2-6 3PT, 7-8 FT), 5 REB, 2 AST, 1 BLK
Jalen Tot – 12 PTS, 3 REB, 4 AST
Steven Richardson – 11 PTS (4-5 FG, 3-3 3PT), 1 REB, 1 AST, 3 STL
 
THE BUZZ: Emmanuel Ajanaku was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting 12 points while shooting 5-9 from the field. Ajanaku also posted seven rebounds, one assist, one block, and one steal.
 
UP NEXT: Following their NCAA Tournament loss to Chico State, the Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket men's basketball team concludes their successful 2023-24 season and will return to action this fall.