Box Score
BILLINGS, MT – The Alaska Nanooks men's basketball team closed off their three game road trip on Wednesday night in Billings, MT with a 75-58 loss to Montana State Billings. Senior guard
Emmanuel Jenkins (Tacoma, WA) scored a team-high 15 points but it was not enough as Alaska dropped their third straight contest.
Alaska started out on fire, scoring 13 of the games first 15 points to take a commanding 13-2 lead before Montana State Billings knew what hit them. With the Nanooks up nine, 18-9, at the 10 minute mark, the Yellowjackets closed the half on a 25-11 run to gain control, and the lead, 34-29.
Alaska shot 39% (13-of-33) from the field in the first half and was led by Jenkins and his 11 points.
Nashorn Maynard (Saint Paul's, Saint Kitts) picked up six rebounds despite the Nanooks being out rebounded 22-14.
The Yellowjackets went into the break shooting 45% (13-of-29), which also included going 7-of-15 from behind the three-point line. Brett Taylor scored a game-high 14 points at the half on 5-of-6 shooting with Brad Hodge picking up seven rebounds and five points.
Montana State Billings picked up right where they left off in the first half and raced out of the gates with a 13-3 run to start the second half. The Yellowjackets continued their strong play and led by as many as 22 points, 63-41, with a little under nine minutes left in the game. Alaskan native
Mason King (King Salmon, AK) scored eight points in the half but Alaska could only get as close as 15 down the stretch.
Alaska finished the game shooting 41% (26-of-64) from the field, led by Jenkins' 15 points. Jenkins also dished out a game-high seven assists in 35 minutes of play. Maynard and King both scored eight points as Maynard picked up a team-high nine rebounds. Alaska also forced 21 Yellowjackets turnovers which resulted in 18 points for the visitors.
Montana State Billings shot a scorching 48% (26-of-54) from the field while adding 12 three-pointers. Taylor led the team with 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting, going 5-of-7 from downtown. Hodge finished the game with a double-double (12 points, 12 rebounds) as the Yellowjackets out rebounded the Nanooks 40-28.
The Nanooks will return to action on Saturday afternoon when they will host rival Alaska Anchorage at the Patty Center. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m. AKT.
