BILLINGS, Mont. –
Kael Robinson's career high 34-point performance helped improve the Montana State University Billings men's basketball teams record to 17-10, and 8-6 in conference after taking down the top ranked GNAC team in the standings. The Yellowjackets knocked off the #1 Central Washington Wildcats (16-7, 10-3 GNAC) 79-66 in Alterowitz Gym earlier this evening.
Robinson had a career performance in the 'Jackets 13-point win, dropping a career-high 34 points while shooting an incredible 77 percent from the field, 80 percent from three, and a perfect 100 percent from the line. The New Zealand native also tallied a team high of three blocks while adding six rebounds and one assist. Also lighting up the stat sheet was
Brendon Johnson with 19 points 5-11 from the field while tallying a team high of eight rebounds and seven assists with one steal. Rounding out the double-digit scorers was
Jalen Tot with 11 points, five boards, and three assists.
After a back-and-forth first half the Yellowjackets clawed their way into a consistent advantage, largely due to their defensive performance. MSUB held the Wildcats nine points under their field goal average while forcing 18 turnovers and converting them into 18 points. Leading the way on the defensive end was
Cooper Dewitt who tied his career high with four steals and five defensive rebounds, followed by
Jajuan Tot who posted three steals and a pair of defensive boards.
FIRST HALF
The opening ten minutes of play was a back-and-forth low scoring affair with neither team able to extend their lead more than three points. Both squads traded punches from there until Johnson added his eighth point of the game on a butter jumper to give MSUB the one-point advantage. A scoring lull followed until the 3:31 mark when Dewitt hit a triple to help the Yellowjackets catch fire. The 'Jackets went on to score seven straight unanswered points behind a pair of buckets from Johnson and Robinson and MSUB was able squeak out the 37-28 advantage heading into the halftime break.
SECOND HALF
The Yellowjackets came red hot out of the half, taking a 42-28 lead after a 5-0 run with a dunk from Dewitt and a triple from Robinson. By the 15:23 mark in the second frame the Wildcats went on a 6-1 run of their own, decreasing their deficit to single digits. With just over ten minutes remaining in the game, the Yellowjackets had regained an 11-point lead after a triple from
Jalen Tot. Robinson had been carrying most of the load though, scoring eight of their last 13 points and had amassed 23 total points in just 26 minutes of play. From there, the Yellowjackets were able to hold their advantage and went on to take the 79-66 victory over the Central Washington Wildcats.
STATISTIC LEADERS
POINTS: Kael Robinson (34);
Brendon Johnson (19)
REBOUNDS: Brendon Johnson (8);
Kael Robinson (6)
ASSISTS: Brendon Johnson (7);
Cooper Dewitt (3);
Jalen Tot (3)
STEALS: Cooper Dewitt (4);
Jajuan Tot (3)
BLOCKS: Kael Robinson (3);
Fares Kacem (1)
THE BUZZ: Kael Robinson was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting a career high of 34 points while shooting 13-17 from the field, 4-5 from three, and 4-4 from the line while tallying six rebounds, three blocks, and one assist.
UP NEXT: The Montana State Billings Yellowjacket men's basketball team is back in action Saturday against the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks at 7:30 PM. Prior to the matchup, MSUB Athletics with showcase their Hall of Fame Class of 2025, recognizing them in between the basketball double header. Live statistics can be found
here, and the live stream link can be found
here.
