FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Thursday, January 14, 2016 Career-high 22 from Johnson not enough in 69-58 loss at Alaska
Emmanuel Johnson scores a career-high 22 points, but MSUB loses its fourth straight game in a 69-58 setback at Alaska on Thursday. FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Emmanuel Johnson matched his jersey number with a career-high 22 points, but it wasn’t enough to lift the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team Thursday night in a 69-58 loss to Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent University of Alaska at Alaska Airlines Court. Johnson made 7 of 14 shots from the field and 8 of 9 free throws in his best game in his two years at MSUB, and also had five rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 32 minutes. The Yellowjackets couldn’t catch up with the Nanooks down the stretch however, and lost their fourth straight to fall to 6-10 on the season and 3-5 in conference play. “We had a lot of chances in this game, but we needed to play better,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “Our shooting was bad, and I think those missed shots affected our defensive effort especially in the last eight minutes.” Three Nanooks scored in double digits, as 18 points from Travante Williams, 15 from Almir Hadzisehovic, and 11 from Bangaly Kaba helped the home team stay in second place in the GNAC standings. Alaska is now 12-3 overall on the season and tied with Western Oregon at 6-1 in conference play.
Leading 9-5 midway through the first, MSUB outpaced the Nanooks to a 12-point 25-13 lead over the next five minutes in the first half. A three by Kendall Denham completed the run, which featured eight points from Johnson as the ‘Jackets established command. Over the final eight minutes of the half however, Alaska burst out to a 13-2 run that brought the score to 27-26 in favor of MSUB at the break. The Nanooks were 0-for-10 from 3-point range in the opening half, and made 10 of 30 shots overall in the slow start. Though Alaska carried momentum into the second half, it never led by more than five points over the first 14 minutes as the ‘Jackets kept pace and stayed within striking distance. Johnson completed a 3-point play to make it 54-49, but Hadzisehovic scored four quick points and the Nanooks kept the run going after an offensive foul on the ‘Jackets. MSUB continued to score inside of three minutes to play, but Alaska found consistent answers to maintain a 65-58 lead with 2:30 to go. A reverse layup from Williams was backed up by another layup from Hadzisehovic, and Alaska sealed the win with an 11-point lead inside of two minutes to play. Marc Matthews joined Johnson in double figures with a dozen points, and Preston Beverly was close behind with nine. Emmanuel Olufemi had his best rebounding performance of the season with 12, and also had a pair of blocks to bring his season total to a GNAC-third best 21 in just eight games. Kendall Denham drives to the hoop against Alaska’s Almir Hadsizehovic during last season’s meeting at Alterowitz Gym, won by MSUB 83-78 in overtime.
The Yellowjackets suffered from a shooting percentage of 31.7 (20for-63) from the field, and a mark of 28.0 percent (7-for-25) from 3-point range including just 2-for-11 in the first half. MSUB outrebounded Alaska 44-38, but gave up 15 points on 14 turnovers while only generating 11 defensively.
For the Nanooks, Williams was also the top rebounder with seven, and six different players had multiple assists in the balanced effort. Alaska shot 47.5 percent (28-for-59) overall on the game, but made just 1 of 14 3-pointers and 12 of 21 free throws. Jordan Perry was effective defensively with seven rebounds in 30 minutes, while Cade Alcorn scored four points and had four boards in 13 minutes for MSUB. THE BUZZ: Johnson was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…his previous career high of 20 points came last season at home against Northwest Nazarene University…Johnson is averaging 15.2 points over his last five games and is a shade below double figures at 9.8 on the season…MSUB is now in seventh place in the GNAC standings with 10 games left on the regular-season schedule…Alaska has now won six of the last seven meetings, and MSUB is now 11-19 all-time in games played in Fairbanks.
NEXT UP: MSUB returns home next week to host Seattle Pacific University and Saint Martin’s University. The ‘Jackets will welcome the Falcons next Thursday, and the Saints next Saturday, with both games tipping off at 7:30 p.m. in doubleheaders with the Yellowjacket women. The two games will also sandwich MSUB’s 27th annual Hall of Fame and Distinction Induction Ceremony, which is set for Friday, Jan. 22 at the Hilton Garden Inn. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--