Yellowjackets Can’t Close the Door, Fall in Overtime 88-85 at Saint Martin’s

Box Score

LACEY, Wash. –  Montana State Billings held a 77-71 lead with 2:28 left in regulation, but host Saint Martin’s rallied, scoring 10 of the final 14 points to force overtime in which the Saints outscored the Yellowjackets 7-4 for a thrilling 88-85 victory Saturday evening.  With the loss, the Yellowjackets fall to 9-11 on the year and 4-5 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, while SMU improves to 17-6 and 5-4 in conference play.

Senior Travis Bunker led the Yellowjacket attack with 22 points and 12 rebounds in 44 minutes.  He was 8 of 13 from the field and 4 of 7 from beyond the arc.  Derrick Wright and Michael Hall each had 18 points, while Brad Hodge had a career-high 19 points off the bench.

SMU’s Jake Linton scored a game-high 38 points as he was 9 of 20 from the field, 5 of 11 from beyond the arc and 15 of 16 from the charity stripe.  Bill Richardson also had a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.

The Saints held an 81-79 lead with 20 seconds left, but Hall was fouled with one second on the clock by Richardson and made both free throws sending the game into overtime and the 11th tie of the game.

In the overtime period, Blake Poole scored four of the seven SMU points to preserve the victory.  Poole had 19 points for the game and was 11 of 13 from the line.

For the game, MSUB shot 43.9 percent from the floor on 29 of 66.  The Jackets were 7 of 18 from beyond the arc and 20 of 28 from the line.  SMU shot 45.8 percent on 27 of 59 and were 6 of 14 from downtown.  The Saints, who have made more free throws this season than their opponents have attempted, continued that trend tonight, knocking down 28 of 37 attempts.

The Jackets jumped out to an early 7-0 lead which was the largest lead either team had in the first half.  SMU clawed its way back and took a four point lead late in the half, but MSUB held the lead at intermission 36-35.

In the second half, the Saints held the lead for much of the first 10 minutes, but the Yellowjackets used a 13-4 run from the six minute mark to 2:28 for the 77-71 lead and was unable to close the door down the stretch. 

MSUB continues its four game road swing Feb. 12 at Alaska Anchorage and Feb. 14 at Alaska Fairbanks.  MSUB returns home looking to exact some revenge on Saint Martin’s, Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m. on Hall of Fame Night.