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Scoreboard

Montana State University Billings Athletics

Composite Calendar
gurske
Photo By: Thomas Damone
82
Mont. St. Billings MSUB 13-4,2-2 Great Northwest
87
Winner Simon Fraser SF 5-10,2-3 Great Northwest
Mont. St. Billings MSUB
13-4,2-2 Great Northwest
82
Final
87
Simon Fraser SF
5-10,2-3 Great Northwest
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Mont. St. Billings MSUB 29 53 82
Simon Fraser SF 43 44 87

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

Yellowjackets Rally from 24 Down but Fall 87-82 at Simon Fraser

BURNABY, B.C.- The Montana State University Billings men's basketball team (13-4, 2-2 GNAC) delivered one of its most resilient performances of the season Thursday night, mounting a furious second-half comeback after trailing by as many as 24 points before ultimately falling 87-82 to Simon Fraser University in Burnaby.
 
Simon Fraser (5-10, 2-3 GNAC) controlled the opening half behind a torrid shooting display, connecting on nine three-pointers while shooting 60 percent from long range. The Red Leafs also dominated the boards early, holding a 22-13 rebounding edge in the first half and using multiple extended runs to build a commanding lead that reached 24 points. Despite the early struggles, MSUB refused to fold, scoring 53 second half points and briefly taking a 61-60 advantage at the 8:17 mark but were ultimately unable to pull out the win.
 
"I loved the fact that we battled back and had a chance to win at the end," said Coach Bruce Chavka. "We came out slow with a shaky start but were able to turn it around in the second half to give ourselves a chance which is all we could ask for."
 
Tying his career high, Miles Gurske led the floor with 24 points on an impressive 9-14 from the field with five rebounds, three assists, and three steals to earn himself Intermountain Health Player of the Game honors. Following was Brandon Tchouya with 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds, Jonas La Tour with 12 points, three assists, and two steals, and Jakob Milling matching his number with 11 points and four boards.
 
With starting point guard Mason Landdeck sidelined, it was junior guard Gurske who set the tone early for the Yellowjackets, opening the scoring with a three-pointer. Simon Fraser responded emphatically, draining four consecutive triples to grab a 12-3 lead, then continuing its hot shooting to push the advantage past 20 after its seventh three-pointer of the half. MSUB found its footing midway through the period as Jonas La Tour converted an and-one three-point play and Brandon Tchouya added a strong finish in the paint. The Yellowjackets closed the final eight minutes on a 12-3 run, cutting the deficit to 43-29 at halftime. Gurske paced MSUB in the opening half with 14 points on efficient 5-of-7 shooting.
 
The momentum carried into the second half as MSUB immediately applied pressure, opening with an 8-3 run behind baskets from Gurske and Milling to cut the lead to single digits in the first three minutes. The teams traded scores until the 12:15 mark, when Gurske ignited the comeback with an and-one three-point play for his 21st point of the night, trimming the margin to 57-49. That basket sparked a surge as Tchouya followed with back-to-back layups, and Croix Cox added a hook shot in the lane to pull the Yellowjackets within two.
 
MSUB continued to chip away, completing a 15-3 run to trail just 60-58 with nine minutes remaining. Moments later, a corner three from La Tour gave the Yellowjackets their first lead since the opening minutes of the game. Simon Fraser quickly answered with a six-point response, but MSUB remained relentless, pulling within 74-71 with 4:30 left and making it a one-possession game several times in the closing minutes. Despite multiple late stops and SFU missed free throws, the Yellowjackets were unable to complete the comeback as the Red Leaf's held on for the 87-82 victory.
 
STAT LEADERS
Points: Miles Gurske (24)
Rebounds: Brandon Tchouya (9)
Assists: Miles Gurske (3); Jonas La Tour (3)
Steals: Miles Gurske (3)
Blocks: Brandon Tchouya (1); Croix Cox (1)
 
THE BUZZ: Miles Gurske was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting 24 points on 9-15 from the field with five rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
 
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings men's basketball team heads back across the border to Bellingham, WA to face off against Western Washington on January 10th at 6:00 PM in Sam Carver Gymnasium.
 
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