BILLINGS, Mont.- The Montana State University Billings men's basketball team (2-0) battled through 11 lead changes and 10 ties to earn a hard-fought 80-75 victory over the University of Central Missouri (1-1) on Saturday afternoon in Alterowitz Gymnasium.
Locked at 73-73 late in the game, the Yellowjackets closed strong with a decisive 7-2 run to secure their second win of the season. After shooting over 51 percent in the first half, MSUB turned up the defense after the break, holding the Mules to just 27 percent shooting in the final 20 minutes.
Ten different Yellowjackets contributed offensively, with five scoring in double figures.
Miles Gurske led the way with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting to go along with five rebounds, five assists, and four steals in a complete all-around performance.
Mason Landdeck followed closely with 16 points and a team-high five assists, while
Croix Cox added 13 points and six rebounds.
Jonas La Tour knocked down three triples en route to 11 points, and
Brandon Tchouya chipped in 10 points, six boards, and two assists.
With both teams coming off dominant season-opening wins, game three of day two was set to be a must-watch matchup. The contest began evenly, as both sides traded baskets and found early trips to the free throw line. Central Missouri struck with back-to-back three-pointers to grab a 12–7 lead, but Gurske quickly answered with a three of his own to trim the Yellowjackets' deficit to two. After another quick burst from the Mules, Landdeck tied things up at 16-all at the 14-minute mark with five straight points.
Following a 6–0 Mules run that made it 22–19,
Rhyse Owens knocked down a triple to ignite a 9–3 surge for MSUB, evening the score midway through the first half. The teams continued to battle back and forth, not able to create much separation for the next nine minutes. It wasn't until a late 5–2 Yellowjackets run, capped by a
Jakob Milling three-pointer, that MSUB took a 47–42 lead into halftime.
Central Missouri opened the second half strong, as freshman standout Lazerek Houston—who had dropped 35 points in the tournament opener—scored his 12th of the night to spark a Mules rally. They quickly pulled within one before
Croix Cox completed a three-point play to make it 55–51 MSUB. But the Mules answered immediately with a 9–0 run to reclaim a five-point advantage. At the 10-minute mark, the Yellowjackets were struggling to find rhythm, shooting just 23 percent in the half and trailing by six.
Looking for a spark,
Jonas La Tour delivered—draining a deep three that kicked off an 8–0 run to put MSUB back in front, 65–63. The momentum continued as Cox and Landdeck combined for five quick points on consecutive possessions, stretching the lead to seven. Central Missouri responded with five straight, but Gurske halted the run again with his third triple of the night, giving him 15 points. After a brief scoring drought, the Mules clawed back at the line, tying the game at 73 with 2:23 to play. From there, the Yellowjackets regained control, taking the lead on a Tchouya free throw and holding strong down the stretch to seal an 80–75 victory.
STAT LEADERS
Points: Miles Gurske (17)
Rebounds: Three players tied (6)
Assists: Mason Landdeck (6)
Steals: Miles Gurske (4)
Blocks: Jakob Milling (2)
THE BUZZ: Miles Gurske was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting 17 points on 6-12 from the field, 3-6 from beyond the arch, and 2-3 from the line. The junior transfer also tallied five rebounds, five assists, and four steals.
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings men's basketball team is back in action tomorrow for their final game of the D2 CCA Tipoff Classic against the University of Nebraska-Kearney at 1:00pm in Alterowitz Gym.
