Yellowjackets Fall at Alaska Anchorage, 80-72

Box Score

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – 48 points from DaVell Jackson and DeAndre Chambers combined were not enough as the Montana State Billings men’s basketball team dropped an 80-72 Great Northwest Athletic Conference matchup at Alaska Anchorage Saturday.  With the loss, the Yellowjackets fell to 7-4 on the year and 1-1 in the conference, while UAA improved to 10-2 on the year and 1-0 in conference play.

Jackson had a game-high 28 points on an MSUB career-best 11 of 19 from the field with six assists, no turnovers and two steals.  Chambers tallied a career-best 20 points off the bench on 7 of 13 from the field, 2 of 6 from beyond the arc and 4 of 5 from the line.  He had seven assists and a team-high eight rebounds.  Lasha Parghalava chipped in 10 points and three triples. 

The Seawolves had four players in double figures led by 19 points and 14 rebounds off the bench from Nick Pacitti.  Brandon Walker also had 19 points, all in the second half.  Donnie Lao had 16 points and Kevin White chipped in 14.

In a tale of two halves, the Yellowjackets shoot poorly in the first half on just 9 of 29 from the field (31 percent), while UAA was 11 o of 26 for 42 percent.  The Seawolves drained seven triples in the first stanza alone to just one for the Yellowjackets for a 31-25 lead at halftime.

The Seawolves had a commanding 29-14 lead with 3:07 left in the first half, but the Yellowjackets made a furious rally, using an 11-2 run to close the half.

The second half was a different story as both teams blistered the nets and accounted for a combined 96 points and 32 field goals made in the half.  The Seawolves opened the half going ahead 39-27, but MSUB cut the deficit back to 40-37 courtesy of a couple of free throws by Brad Hodge, a triple from Chambers and a bucket from Jackson.

UAA built a seven point cushion with 10:50 left on a layup from Walker, but MSUB wouldn’t go away as it cut the deficit back to three at 52-49 with 9:23 left.  Chambers nailed a jumper with 7:25 left for a 59-56 score, but MSUB would get no closer as the Seawolves built the lead back to 10 points on three occasions for the 80-72 finish.

The Yellowjackets finished the game shooting 42 percent on 25 of 59 from the field and were 7 of 18 from downtown.  MSUB was 15 of 19 from the line.  UAA shot 54 percent from the floor on 27 of 50 and was 10 of 24 from deep and 16 of 23 from the charity stripe.
UAA won the battle of the boards 36-25, but MSUB committed a season-low six turnovers leading to 14 points for the Yellowjackets, while forcing 14 UAA turnovers. 

MSUB returns home to host Saint Martin’s in the conference home opener, Sat., Jan. 16, at 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gymnasium.  Ken Adelblue will have the call on the internet at www.msubillings.edu/athletics.