MONMOUTH, Ore.- The Montana State University Billings men's basketball team continued its strong run through Great Northwest Athletic Conference play Saturday afternoon, taking sole possession of second place in the conference after earning an 84-74 road victory over Western Oregon.
MSUB leaned on its interior presence and ability to get to the free-throw line, finishing the afternoon with 42 points in the paint and 41 free-throw attempts. The Yellowjackets shot 46.4 percent from the field overall and turned 17 Western Oregon turnovers into timely scoring opportunities, pulling away in the second half to secure the win.
"Getting another big road win is a testament to our guys work ethic and togetherness after coming back on a short week from Alaska," said head coach
Luke Fennelly. "We had a tough night shooting the ball and had to make some adjustments at halftime, but the guys executed well down the stretch."
The Yellowjackets (18-6, 7-4 GNAC) were led by
Mason Landdeck led the way with 23 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals, turning in a complete all-around performance.
Miles Gurske added 17 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and a steal, while
Jonas La Tour finished with 15 points and five rebounds on an efficient 6-10 from the field.
Brandon Tchouya earned player of the game honors after chipping in 15 points, two rebounds, and two steals off the bench, and Cox contributed eight points, nine rebounds, and a block to anchor the interior.
Game Flow
It was the 'Jackets who struck first behind early paint touches from La Tour and Cox, but the opening minutes set the tone for a tightly contested first half. Western Oregon answered with perimeter shooting, briefly jumping ahead behind a pair of three-pointers as the lead changed hands repeatedly in the opening 10 minutes.
MSUB stayed composed through the Wolves' runs, continuing to attack the basket rather than settling from the perimeter. Landdeck got downhill for multiple finishes, while Gurske pushed the tempo in transition to keep the 'Jackets within striking distance. The game featured six ties in the opening half, with neither team able to create consistent separation.
Tchouya provided a spark off the bench midway through the period, converting second-chance opportunities and drawing fouls to swing momentum back towards MSUB. His activity helped stabilize the offense late in the half, and the Yellowjackets closed the opening 20 minutes on a strong note, taking a 30-27 lead into the locker room after a final layup in the closing seconds.
Western Oregon came out of halftime aggressively, opening the second half with back-to-back three-pointers to reclaim the lead. The Yellowjackets responded immediately, as Landdeck buried a three of his own and followed with a pair of assists to halt the momentum and reestablish control.
From there, MSUB began to impose its will inside. La Tour and Cox scored on consecutive possessions in the paint, while Gurske and Tchouya consistently pressured the defense off the dribble. A 10-0 run midway through the half, capped by a Cox dunk and free throw, gave the 'Jackets their first double-digit advantage of the game.
Western Oregon continued to battle behind perimeter shooting, but MSUB answered every push with poise. The Yellowjackets repeatedly got to the free-throw line down the stretch, converting enough attempts to keep the Wolves at bay. Strong defensive rebounding and timely stops allowed MSUB to milk the clock and close out the road win with an 84-74 victory.
"WOU is a well-coached team coming off a huge win over SPU, so we knew it was going to be another dogfight," Fennelly said. "Ready for a couple home games as we continue to get healthy but Go 'Jackets!"
STAT LEADERS
Points:
Mason Landdeck (23)
Assists:
Mason Landdeck (5)
Rebounds:
Croix Cox (9)
Steals:
Mason Landdeck (2);
Brandon Tchouya (2)
Blocks:
Croix Cox (1);
Miles Gurske (1)
THE BUZZ: Brandon Tchouya was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting 15 points on 5-6 from the field with two rebounds and two steals.
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets return to Alterowitz Gym next week for a key GNAC homestand, hosting Western Washington on Thursday, February 5
th at 5:15 pm before welcoming Simon Fraser on Saturday, February 7
th at 1:00 pm.
