BILLINGS, Mont. – The Alaska Nanooks men's basketball team lost to Montana State Billings on Saturday, Jan. 29. With the loss, the Nanooks now find themselves 4-10, 1-7 GNAC on the season. 
 
The Nanooks shot the rock well, but three more makes and six more made free throws was what MSUB needed to pull away late from the Nanooks. The Yellow Jackets used a 35-28 halftime lead to hold off a late push from the Nanooks, winning the first matchup of the season, 73-64. 
 
To start the game, Koby Huerta opened up the scoring with a three-pointer giving the Nanooks an early three-point lead. MSUB responded with five-straight of their own, proving this game was going to be filled with lots of quick responses. After Alaska pulled within one at 11-10 on another Huerta three, MSUB quickly extended the lead to 15-12. Out of a media timeout, Shadeed Shabazz quickly tied it with a three, making it 15-15. Billings then scored the next six points, pulling ahead 21-15. They stretched their lead out to eight before taking a seven-point lead into halftime at 35-28. Neither side scored in the final 2:15 of the first half as Alaska hit a dry-spell, going 0-for-4 in the final 3:33. 
 
At the break, Huerta and Shabazz led the way with nine points apiece. 
 
Heading into the second half, the Nanooks stuck quick as Quin Barnard hit one of his five three-pointers to quickly pull the 'Nooks within four. After making it a four-point game, the deficit quickly grew to 12 on three-straight MSUB buckets. Barnard responded on his own, however. After Abdullahi Mohamed made one free throw, Barnard hit two more threes and made a fast break layup making it 45-41 MSUB. Huerta connected on another three a minute later, bringing the deficit down to three with less than 15 minutes remaining. Billings extended their lead and held on to it until the 5:33 marker in the second. 
 
Coleman Sparling hit a three-pointer making it 61-58 Jackets, pulling the 'Nooks within one-possession. After it became four, Mohamed pulled it within one on an and-one layup before Huerta connected from deep, once again, giving Alaska a two-point lead with 3:09 left. Unfortunately, that was the 'Nooks lone-lead of the half as MSUB quickly tied it back up and took the lead back, extending it to nine, and winning it 73-64. 
 
The Nanooks were led by Huerta and Barnard. Huerta posted 20 points on 7-12 FG and 6-9 3PT shooting. Barnard ended with 17 points on 6-11 FG and 5-9 3PT, adding two assists and one steal. 
 
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks men's basketball team, follow @NanooksMBB on Twitter, @AlaskaMensBasketball on Instagram, or like the Alaska Nanooks athletics page on Facebook.