MSUB Men defeat Rocky 85-82 in exhibition Wednesday on Throwback Night

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Wednesday, November 18, 2015 MSUB men defeat Rocky 85-82 in exhibition Wednesday on Throwback Night

MSUB finishes strong down the stretch and picks up an 85-82 exhibition victory over Rocky Mountain College on Wednesday on Eastern Montana College Throwback Night.

BILLINGS, Mont. – Four Yellowjackets scored in double figures and the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team gritted out a victory, finishing the game with five players in an 85-82 exhibition triumph over Rocky Mountain College on Wednesday evening at Alterowitz Gym on Eastern Montana College Throwback Night.

Freshman Preston Beverly had 16 points, eight rebounds, and the biggest block of the game inside of one minute to play to help the ‘Jackets hold on down the stretch.

Jace Anderson led all players with 21 points and added a team-best five assists, and Marc Matthews (17) and Christian Evans (10) were also in double figures in scoring.

The Yellowjackets led 45-40 at the break, but RMC worked its way back into the game and took a 77-76 lead. The Yellowjackets responded immediately however, reestablishing control and fighting off the Bears’ comeback attempt.

The Bears opened the game on a 12-3 run, but a feed from Beverly to Evans helped cut the score to 17-14 with seven minutes before the break. “They jumped on us early in the first half, but we responded well and got to halftime with a lead,” commented MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “We had been up in both games in California, but we didn’t finish and didn’t play second halves very well. It was good to see the guys respond and play a solid second half.”

A layup by Cade Alcorn three minutes later evened the score at 17-17, and Evans followed with a bucket of his own on the next possession to give MSUB its first lead of the game. Alcorn’s presence defensively was key throughout the night, as the senior was responsible for several offensive foul calls against the Bears.

A three by Marc Matthews and a layup by Anderson finished off a 9-0 run by the ‘Jackets, as MSUB held a 24-17 late in the first. Evans also contributed during the stretch, standing tall and taking a charge inside to help prolong the run as MSUB built its lead.

“Charges will definitely change the game for us, and I think Cade took three or four tonight,” commented Beverly.

“Christian had two, and we had a bunch of guys step up and take charges. That’s what we need because it’s a gamechanger.”

Evans and Anderson connected on back-to-back threes with time winding down to give MSUB its largest lead of the game to that point, 35-25. The Bears rallied in the final few minutes however, and a three by Joe Stulc with 35 seconds left brought RMC within three, 43-40.

The Bears kept it close to start the second, but consecutive threes by Anderson and Emmanuel Johnson stretched the MSUB lead out to five.

After the Bears briefly took a one-point advantage, MSUB never relinquished the lead and completed the victory despite finishing the game with no players left on the bench. With just more than a minute remaining, Beverly burst to the wing and swatted a three attempt by the Bears’ Derek Graves well into the stands as he summoned a roar from the crowd.

The denial helped keep momentum on MSUB’s side over the final minute of play.

For the Bears, Taylor Longo matched Anderson with 21 points, and Jelani Hardaway had 15. The ‘Jackets limited Rob Nyby, the Bears’ star who scored 28 in RMC’s first exhibition victory over the ‘Jackets on Oct. 28 at the Fortin Center, to 11 points.

Ben Moerkerke led the way with eight rebounds, and the teams finished even overall in that department 31-31.

MSUB shot a solid 42 percent from the floor (29-for-69), 73.9 percent from the foul line (17-for-23), and 25.9 percent from long distance (7-for-27). The Bears shot well from the floor at 47.6 percent (30-for-63), but were hampered by making just 13 of 19 from the line (68.4 percent). From 3-point range, RMC shot 36.4 percent (12-for-33).

THE BUZZ: Beverly earned St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game honors…sophomore point guard Kendall Denham left the game on crutches after a foot injury in the first half…MSUB’s record remained at 0-2 on the season as the exhibition game didn’t count on the schedule…Rocky remained at 5-0.

NEXT UP: The Yellowjackets resume regular-season play this weekend with a pair of road contests at Black Hills State University and the University of Mary. MSUB will take on BHSU on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. in Spearfish, S.D., before challenging Mary on Monday in a 6 p.m. Mountain time game in Bismarck, N.D. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--