ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Montana State Billings Yellowjackets (11-9, 2-5 GNAC) suffered an 82-69 defeat to the Central Washington Wildcats (12-5, 6-1 GNAC) on Thursday night at Nicholson Pavilion.
Kael Robinson led the charge for the Jackets offensively, scoring 18 points on 7-11 from the field while also adding a team high six rebounds and four assists. Following Robinson was
Jalen Tot who added 14 points of his own and now sits just 25 points shy of 1,500 for his collegiate career.
Cooper Dewitt also poured in 14 points, which was one shy of his season high and also led the team with three steals and two blocks.
Famous Lefthand rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points, now just 12 points shy of the 1,500-career mark.
Despite the Wildcats' 13-point victory, the game remained competitive throughout, featuring three ties and three lead changes. The Yellowjackets excelled in ball control, committing only five turnovers while forcing 11, converting them into a 17-13 advantage in fastbreak points. However, Central Washington's efficient shooting—53% from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 70% from the free-throw line—proved decisive.
FIRST HALF
The Wildcats got out to a 10-4 lead to start the game, but the Jackets responded quickly with back-to-back threes from Tot and Lefthand to knot up the ballgame at 10 apiece at the 15-minute mark. Central Washington controlled the next 4 minutes of play, extending their lead to six heading into the first media timeout. MSUB stayed within striking distance as
Brendon Johnson hit a deep three to cut the deficit to five. After a quick bucket from the Wildcats, the 'Jackets responded with a three from Robinson and a layup from Johnson to bring them within 2. Robinson scored six points in the last five minutes as he paced MSUB with 10 points, but the Wildcats went into the half holding a 39-34 lead.
SECOND HALF
The final 20 minutes of play started similar to the opening frame with Central Washington going on a 6-0 run, forcing the Yellowjackets to take their first timeout of the half. Both squads traded punches from there until the 11-minute mark when the Yellowjackets connected on three straight possessions, decreasing the Wildcat advantage to just two points. Despite shooting only 38 percent from the field with seven minutes remaining, MSUB stayed in the game with key defensive stops, leading them in an edge in steals 8-4 over CWU. With one minute remaining, Tot made it a two-possession game by adding his 12
th point on the night. The 'Jackets attempted to comeback by sending Central to the line, but ultimately the Wildcats triumphed with a final score of 82-69.
STATISTIC LEADERS
POINTS: Kael Robinson (18);
Cooper Dewitt (14);
Jalen Tot (14)
REBOUNDS: Jalen Tot (6);
Kael Robinson (6)
ASSISTS: Famous Lefthand (4);
Kael Robinson (4)
STEALS: Cooper Dewitt (3);
Famous Lefthand (2)
BLOCKS: Cooper Dewitt (2); 3 players tied (1)
THE BUZZ: Kael Robinson was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting 18 points on 7-11 from the field and 1-2 from three with six rebounds, four assists, and one block.
UP NEXT: The Montana State Billings Yellowjacket men's basketball team heads home for a four-game home stretch starting with the University of Alaska Fairbanks on January 23
rd at 5:15 PM in Alterowitz Gym. Live statistics for all four games can be found
here, and live stream can be found
here.
