HILO, Haw. — The Montana State University Billings men's basketball team (4-0) kept its unbeaten start alive on Friday night, pulling away in the second half to defeat the University of Hawai'i at Hilo (0-1) by a score of 81–64 inside Vulcan Gymnasium. The late-night matchup—tipping off at 11:00 p.m. and concluding at 1:30 a.m. Mountain Time—rewarded those who stayed up with a strong road performance from the Yellowjackets.
MSUB entered the game averaging 88 points per contest, but early on the matchup took the shape of a defensive grind. The Yellowjackets went into halftime holding a narrow 39–38 lead, despite being outshot from both the field and the three-point line. Their ability to stay out in front came largely from their work on the boards, a theme that would only grow more pronounced as the night went on.
The second half saw the game shift entirely in MSUB's favor. The Yellowjackets elevated their shooting efficiency to 53 percent while tightening up defensively and holding the Vulcans to 36 percent. The rebounding disparity became the defining factor of the game: MSUB overwhelmed Hilo 51–30 on the glass, including a commanding 20 offensive rebounds. Those extra possessions turned into a 32–7 advantage in second-chance points, ultimately creating the separation the 'Jackets needed.
Brandon Tchouya delivered a standout performance, finishing with a 22-point, 13-rebound double-double on 60 percent shooting.
Mason Landdeck was a steady force on both ends, contributing 18 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
Croix Cox added 13 points and six boards, while role players
Miles Gurske and
Jakob Milling supplied valuable scoring with nine points each.
The opening half featured multiple momentum swings. After Landdeck knocked down an early three to give MSUB a 5–2 lead, Hilo answered with a brief run to move back in front. A jumper from Tchouya evened the score at 12, setting the tone for a back-and-forth stretch that lasted most of the half. The Vulcans took a small lead midway through before
Gabe Hatler tied the game at 36 with a key bucket. MSUB then closed out the half by converting three late free throws to take a one-point lead into the locker room.
The second half opened at a fast pace, with both teams combining for 25 points in the first five minutes. Landdeck and Tchouya fueled the early scoring for MSUB, but the turning point came when the Yellowjackets' relentless rebounding began to tilt the game fully in their favor. By the 11-minute mark, MSUB had put together a 12–0 run—highlighted by contributions from both Cox brothers—to take a 59–49 advantage.
Hilo briefly revived its hopes with a flurry of three-pointers, stringing together a 9–2 run to cut the deficit to three. The Yellowjackets, however, responded immediately. Milling and Gurske combined for three consecutive layups to rebuild a nine-point cushion, and from there MSUB seized full control. A decisive 15–0 run late in the half pushed the lead to 18 points—its largest margin of the night. MSUB closed out the game without letting up, securing the 81–64 victory and improving to 4–0 on the season.
STAT LEADERS
Points: Brandon Tchouya (22)
Rebounds: Brandon Tchouya (13)
Assists: Mason Landdeck (3);
Miles Gurske (3)
Steals: Mason Landdeck (3)
Blocks: Brandon Tchouya (1);
Croix Cox (1)
THE BUZZ: Brandon Tchouya was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting 22 points on 9-15, 13 rebounds, and one block.
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings men's basketball team turns around for their second game of the GNAC/PacWest Crossover, facing off against Westmont College tonight at 7:00 pm (MT) in Vulcan Gymnasium.
