BILLINGS, Mont. – Offensive efficiency and defensive production led the Montana State University Billings men's basketball team to a dominant 22-point victory over the Western Oregon Wolves (4-17, 1-10 GNAC). Reaching 1,000 career points in a Yellowjacket uniform and leading MSUB with an 18-point 10 rebound double-double was senior guard Jalen Tot.
 
The Yellowjackets (15-9, 6-5 GNAC) were nearly flawless in their 90-68 victory, shooting over 50 percent from the field as a team while holding the Wolves to just 39 percent. Where the 'Jackets really created their separation was connecting on 16 total three pointers which is the most triples made in a game since December 7^th of 2022. MSUB also bested the Wolves in rebounds 38-31, assists 18-12, fastbreak points 16-7, and second chance points 11-2. Alongside their efficient offense was their pesky defensive production, forcing 15 turnovers off 11 steals and converting those into 21 total points off of turnovers.

BIG DUBZZZZZ

Yellowjackets pick up their fourth win in a row after downing the Western Oregon Wolves 90-68❗️

Jalen Tot was named Intermountain Health Player of the game after posting a double-double while hitting 1,000 career points in an MSUB uniform❗️#msubsports | #msubmbb pic.twitter.com/zkRNaN1Iup

— MSUB Men's Basketball (@MSUBMBB) February 1, 2025

 
Along with the 'Jackets impressive 18 team assists was their balanced offensive attack, featuring six players with at least eight points and four players with at least 15. Brendon Johnson led all scorers on the afternoon, dropping 19 points on 6-7 from the field, 5-6 from three, and 2-2 from the line with five boards and a pair of assists. Also posting a double-double was Kael Robinson with 17 points on 7-14 with 10 rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Rounding out the double-digit scores was Cooper Dewitt who tied his career high for the second game in a row, tallying 15 points on 6-8 from the field and 3-4 from three with a team best three steals.
 
FIRST HALF
What proved to be a blowout win for the Yellowjackets did not start that way, in the first three minutes of play it was back-and-forth with both teams knotted up at nine apiece. MSUB didn't create their separation until a pair of buckets from Famous Lefthand and Jalen Tot to head into the first media timeout with a 21-17 lead. MSUB kept their momentum going, extending their lead to 15 points after Johnson hit a pair of threes on back-to-back possessions. At this point in the game the Yellowjackets came out with impressive offensive efficiency, shooting 63 percent from the field and 62 percent from beyond the arch as a team. Following an 8-4 late run by the Wolves, Johnson connected on his third triple of the game in the final seconds, but the half was capped off by a buzzer beater by Western Oregon to cut their deficit to just 52-41.
 
SECOND HALF
Both squads hit a bit of a lull coming out of the half time break, scoring just two points each in the first two and a half minutes until Robinson and Dewitt hit back-to-back threes to extend their lead back to 15. At this point in the game the Yellowjackets had spread out their scoring attack efficiently with four players already reaching double digits in points. With just over 11 minutes left in the ball game MSUB had taken complete control, leading by 21 points due to a 13-3 run in just the last five minutes. The 'Jackets defense was much to thank, forcing 11 turnovers with 10 steals at this point in the matchup. By the seven-minute mark, the Yellowjackets had amassed their largest lead of the afternoon, leading by 25 points via back-to-back three pointers from Johnson and Jajuan Tot. The final five minutes was back-and-forth basketball, but it was the Yellowjackets who went on to take the dominant 90-68 victory.
 
STATISTIC LEADERS
POINTS: Brendon Johnson (19); Jalen Tot (18)
REBOUNDS: Jalen Tot (10); Kael Robinson (10)
ASSISTS: Jalen Tot (6); Famous Lefthand (4)
STEALS: Cooper Dewitt (3); Jalen Tot (2); Kael Robinson (2)
BLOCKS: Jalen Tot (1); Hanniel Ouattara (1)
 
THE BUZZ: Jalen Tot was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting an 18-point 10 rebound double-double with six assists, two steals, and one block. In the second half, Tot also reached the 1,000 career points mark in a Yellowjacket uniform.
 
UP NEXT: The Montana State Billings Yellowjacket men's basketball team hits the road for a two-game stretch of more Great Northwest Athletic Conference basketball. MSUB will take on the Western Washington Vikings on February 6^th at 8:00 PM MT in Bellingham, WA and the Simon Fraser Red Leaf's on February 8^th at 8:00 PM MT in Burnaby, B.C. Live statistics for the WWU matchup can be found here, and the livestream link can be found here.