Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Scoreboard

Montana State University Billings Athletics

Composite Calendar
gurske
Photo By: Thomas Damone
87
Winner Saint Martin's SM 12-2,4-0 Great Northwest
68
Mont. St. Billings MSUB 13-3,2-1 Great Northwest
Winner
Saint Martin's SM
12-2,4-0 Great Northwest
87
Final
68
Mont. St. Billings MSUB
13-3,2-1 Great Northwest
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Saint Martin's SM 38 49 87
Mont. St. Billings MSUB 39 29 68

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Hayden Foltz, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications

Yellowjackets Drop Home GNAC Battle to #RV Saint Martin’s

BILLINGS, Mont.- In a highly anticipated GNAC matchup, the No. 23 Montana State University Billings men's basketball team saw its six-game winning streak come to an end, falling 87-68 to Saint Martin's University on Saturday afternoon at Alterowitz Gym.
 
The contest featured two of the top teams in the GNAC and quickly showed why, as both squads entered riding long win streaks and battling for early conference positioning. MSUB (13-3, 2-1 GNAC) had won six straight, while Saint Martin's (12-2, 4-0 GNAC) carried an eight-game winning streak and had received national votes. Fans were treated to a tightly played, high-energy game that included nine lead changes and 10 ties, with neither team able to gain more than a one-possession edge for the first 31 minutes.
 
The Yellowjackets opened the scoring behind Miles Gurske, who got to the free-throw line early and converted both attempts. MSUB followed with a 12-3 run to grab a 14-5 advantage, highlighted by a three-pointer and a pair of free throws from Mason Landdeck. Saint Martin's responded with a run of its own, evening the score at 14-14, and the rest of the half saw constant back-and-forth action. Over the final seven minutes of the period, the lead changed hands six times, and the game was tied five times. Despite being outshot from the field, MSUB stayed close by shooting a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line. Landdeck scored 14 of the Yellowjackets' final 16 points of the half, including a fadeaway three late, to give MSUB a slim 39-38 lead at the break.
 
Saint Martin's opened the second half with a basket, and once again neither team was able to gain much separation early. The Yellowjackets found success on the offensive glass, building an 8-0 edge in offensive rebounds, but the Saints continued to shoot efficiently. A Saint Martin's run midway through the half gave the visitors a 49-43 lead at the 16-minute mark. MSUB briefly answered with free throws and a Gurske three to tie the game at 49, but Saint Martin's quickly seized momentum with an 8-0 run to regain control.
 
Looking for a spark, the Yellowjackets got one when Gurske knocked down his second three-pointer of the game, followed by an and-one play from Landdeck to pull MSUB within two points with just over 10 minutes remaining. However, Saint Martin's responded with its most decisive stretch of the game, holding MSUB scoreless for more than three minutes while scoring 12 unanswered points to push the lead to 71-58 with six minutes to play.
 
From there, the Saints continued to pull away behind red-hot shooting, finishing the second half at nearly 60 percent from the field and from three-point range. MSUB was unable to generate enough offense down the stretch as Saint Martin's closed out the contest with an 87-68 victory.
 
Landdeck led all scorers with 24 points while adding four steals and three assists. Gurske earned Intermountain Health Player of the Game honors after posting 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including three triples, to go along with three rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Jakob Milling contributed 13 points, five rebounds, and two blocks, while Croix Cox anchored the glass with a game-high 11 rebounds.
 
STAT LEADERS
Points: Mason Landdeck (24)
Rebounds: Croix Cox (11)
Assists: Mason Landdeck (3)
Steals: Mason Landdeck (4)
Blocks: Jakob Milling (2)
 
THE BUZZ: Miles Gurske was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting 17 points on 6-13 from the field, 3-7 from beyond the arch, and 2-2 from the line with three rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets will hit the road for a two-game GNAC stretch, traveling north to face Simon Fraser in Burnaby, B.C. on Thursday, January 8th at 8:00 p.m. (MT), before taking on Western Washington in Bellingham, WA on Saturday, January 10th at 6:00 p.m. (MT).
 
Print Friendly Version