MSUB Drops Last Minute Heartbreaker Versus Montana Tech, 64-61

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BILLINGS, Mont. – A 3-pointer by Tony Trudnoski with 15.1 seconds left proved to be the difference as Montana Tech pulled out a 64-61 victory over Montana State Billings Thursday evening at Alterowitz Gymnasium.  The Yellowjackets fell to 3-5 on the year, while the Orediggers improved to 6-5.

A dunk, the first at home this season, put MSUB back up 61-60 with 1:06 left as Wright stuffed it home.  Josh Monagle made one of two free throws to tie the game at 60 with one minute left.  Out of a timeout by MSUB, the Yellowjackets missed a shot as the shotclock was winding down giving the ball back to Montana Tech with 24.1 seconds left.

After an Oredigger timeout, Trudnowski hit his 3-pointer to give Montana Tech a 64-61 lead with 15.1 seconds left.   Brett Taylor had a good look a 3-pointer that rimmed out giving the ball back to the Orediggers.  After a foul by MSUB, the Orediggers had a mental lapse and fouled giving the ball back to MSUB with one last chance.  Ryan Meehan had a look but it wouldn’t go down as Montana Tech survived for a 64-61 victory.

Travis Bunker led all scorers with 22 points and11 rebounds in the losing effort.  Wright had 18 points and eight rebounds as well to pace MSUB.  As a team, the Yellowjackets were 24 of 62 from the floor for 39 percent.  The Jackets were 5 of 19 from downtown and 8 of 10 from the line.

Dirk Anderson led three scorers in double figures for the Orediggers with 16 points and eight rebounds.  Monagle chipped in 14 points and Trudnowski added 12 points all on 3-pointers including the game winner.

As a team, the Orediggers shot just south of 50 percent for the game on 27 of 55 from the floor.  They were 6 of 17 from deep and 4 of 8 from the line. 

Despite the discrepancy in field goal percentage, the Yellowjackets almost pulled out the win due to a dominating performance on the glass – 38-32 and 17-10 on the offensive end.

The Jackets tied the game on a nice dish in the paint from Derrick Wright to Brad Hodge for a 13-13 score as points became hard to come by for both teams.  Bunker drained a long two to give the Jackets a 15-14 lead, their first of the game, followed by a 30-second timeout by Montana Tech at 8:27.  The Orediggers hadn’t scored a field goal since the 13:27 mark.

From the 11:40 mark, the game began to pick up as the Jackets, who started the game just 4 of 14, made 4 of 7 and from the field and held a 20-16 lead with 6:30 left.  From then on, the teams began trading buckets and the lead.  There were a total of eight lead changes in the half and one tie.

Montana Tech held a 29-28 lead at intermission.

For the half, the Yellowjackets were led by 14 points from Bunker on 6 of 10 from the field and 2 of 4 from beyond the arc.  Wright had six points at half on 3 of 10 from the field with five rebounds.  Bunker led the team with six rebounds.  As a team, MSUB shots 12 of 33 from the field for 37 percent.  The Jackets were 2 of 9 from beyond the arc and 2 of 2 from the line.

Josh Monagle led the way for the Orediggers with seven points on 3 of 6 from the field.  Dirk Anderson had six points and six rebounds to lead the team.  The Orediggers were 13 of 28 from the field for 46 percent and were 2 of 6 from beyond the arc.  MTU was just 1 of 4 from the line. 

The Yellowjackets held a 21-17 lead in rebounds, including a 9-5 lead in offensive rebounds.  20 of the 28 Oredigger points came from inside, as they held a 20-12 lead in points in the paint.

Montana Tech opened the second half with a 12-6 run build a 40-34 lead with 15:07 left as it began the half making 5 of its first 9 shots.  The Jackets made 3 of 7 to begin the half.

Off a nice set out-of-bounds piece, Brett Taylor came off a screen and nailed a 3-pointer to cut the Oredigger lead to 42-37.  Moments later, Bunker hit a 3-pointer for a 42-40 score with under 13 minutes left.  The field goal by Taylor ended a drought of four minutes for the Yellowjackets.

The Yellowjackets were able to cut the Oredigger lead to two or one points on numerous occasions in the second half, but were unable to get the lead as on three occasions with the chance for the lead, offensive fouls were called on MSUB. 

A nice look inside from Wright to Bunker gave the Yellowjackets their first lead since the first half at 59-58 with under three minutes left.  Two free throws by Anderson put the Orediggers back up 60-59 with 2:30 left.