SEATTLE, Wash. — The Montana State University Billings men's basketball team battled to the final second Saturday, but came up just short in the season finale, falling in an 87-85 heartbreaker to Seattle Pacific in the Royal Brougham Pavilion.
 
The Yellowjackets (20-11, 9-9 GNAC) finish the regular season in a four-way tie for sixth in the conference with Seattle Pacific, Central Washington, and Alaska Fairbanks, ultimately missing out on postseason play due to tiebreakers.
 
Despite the loss, the 20-win season marks the program's fourth consecutive 20-win campaign, the most consecutive 20-win seasons in MSUB history. Head coach Luke Fennelly, who led the Yellowjackets to three of those four seasons, now boasts a career record of 61-33.
 
On the night, the Yellowjackets connected on 14 three-pointers and shot 45.1 percent from the field while winning the rebounding battle 36-32 and outscoring the Falcons 52-47 in the second half. MSUB also generated 17 points off turnovers and received 52 points from its bench unit, but Seattle Pacific's 57.7 percent shooting overall — including 11-of-20 from beyond the arc — proved to be the difference in a tightly contested conference matchup that featured eight lead changes and seven ties.
 
Miles Gurske delivered one of his strongest performances of the season, pouring in a career high 34 points on 11-of-18 shooting and an impressive 8-of-11 from three-point range while adding three rebounds and two assists in his 33 minutes of work. Brandon Tchouya finished with 11 points and four assists while contributing on both ends of the floor.
 
Ty Cox scored 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting with two assists, and Croix Cox added eight points and four rebounds in an efficient 4-of-5 outing. Jakob Milling pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds to go with nine points, and Mason Landdeck contributed eight points, nine assists, and six rebounds while playing all 40 minutes.
 
Game Flow
Seattle Pacific struck first, scoring the game's opening eight points and forcing MSUB to chase the tempo early. The Yellowjackets gradually settled in behind defensive rebounds from Milling and Landdeck, and a pair of three-pointers from Ty Cox ignited the offense, pulling MSUB even at 12-12 midway through the half. Croix Cox added energy off the bench with a fast-break dunk and a putback finish that briefly gave MSUB its first lead at 18-17.
 
The Falcons answered with timely perimeter shooting, but Gurske began to find his rhythm late in the half. A transition three-pointer and a tough finish in the lane helped the 'Jackets reclaim a 33-30 advantage with just over three minutes remaining. However, Seattle Pacific closed the half on a decisive 10-0 run, capitalizing on turnovers and converting in transition to take a 40-33 lead into the locker room.
 
MSUB shot 38.2 percent in the first half and went 5-of-15 from three-point range but stayed within reach thanks to second-chance opportunities and balanced scoring. The Falcons, meanwhile, shot nearly 59 percent in the opening 20 minutes.
 
The second half opened with Tchouya attacking the paint for consecutive finishes, keeping the deficit manageable. After Seattle Pacific stretched its lead to double digits at 51-41 following back-to-back three-pointers, Gurske responded in emphatic fashion. The junior guard drilled three straight triples during a pivotal stretch, slicing the margin to 54-49 and forcing a defensive adjustment from the Falcons.
 
MSUB continued to chip away. Another Gurske three at the 9:25 mark trimmed the deficit to 55-64, and moments later Jakob Milling knocked down a triple to bring the 'Jackets within six. Gurske's tip-in and mid-range jumper cut the margin to four at 70-74 with under four minutes to play, setting the stage for a frantic finish.
 
Trailing 77-74 inside the final two minutes, Gurske calmly stepped into another three-pointer to make it a one-point contest. After a defensive stop, Tchouya converted a layup off a steal to keep MSUB within striking distance at 80-79. The Falcons countered at the free-throw line, but Landdeck buried a clutch three-pointer with 16 seconds remaining to pull the 'Jackets within two at 84-82.
 
Seattle Pacific again extended the lead at the stripe, and after a missed opportunity from distance, Gurske delivered one final spark — connecting on a transition three-pointer with one second left to cut the deficit to 87-85. Milling immediately forced a turnover on the inbounds pass, but time expired before MSUB could attempt a final shot.
 
STAT LEADERS
PTS: Miles Gurske (34)
REB: Jakob Milling (10)
AST: Mason Landdeck (9)
STL: Three players tied (2)
BLK: Jakob Milling (1)
 
THE BUZZ: Miles Gurske was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting a career-high 34 points on an impressive shooting performance of 11-18 from the field, 8-11 from beyond the arc, and 4-4 from the line.
 
UP NEXT: That concludes the 2025-26 season, the Yellowjacket Administration and Staff would like to thank all the players, coaches, family, and supporters for another incredible Yellowjacket men's basketball season.