BILLINGS, Mont. – Two final free-throws from sophomore Jace Anderson pushed his career-high point total to 27 and simultaneously sealed a dramatic 83-78 overtime victory for the Montana State University Billings men's basketball team over visiting Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent Alaska Fairbanks Thursday night at Alterowitz Gym.
 
In a game that featured 21 lead changes and 13 ties, it was a four-point play by Anderson to open overtime that gave the final lead to MSUB. "That first possession in overtime was huge, to get that big four-point play," said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. "That was probably the play that propelled us to that win."
 
Anderson, who entered the game as the GNAC's leader in 3-point field-goal percentage at 48.5, connected on 5 of 10 shots from beyond the arc, 8 of 14 overall from the field and 6 of 7 from the foul line. "These guys were really looking for me," Anderson said regarding the open looks he had from long range. "I felt like every time I got open the ball was right there for me."
 
"Jace shot it well tonight because he practices hard and plays hard, and when we run actions for him he cuts really hard and sets things up," Stevens said regarding the sophomore guard. "Tonight he was huge."
 
MSUB (4-13, 2-5 GNAC) held a one-point lead and possession of the ball with less than 15 seconds left in regulation when Almir Hadzisehovic blocked a shot and created a turnover for the Nanooks. The junior forward finished a layup on the other end with three seconds left to make the score 67-66.
 
Sprinting the length of the court with the ball, freshman point guard Kendall Denham managed to fling up a shot and draw a foul with 1.1 on the clock, and after missing the first free-throw he knocked down the second to send the game to the extra period.
 
"I knew I had to bounce back and make that last free-throw," Denham said. "I was happy I was able to make it and do that for the guys to send the game to OT."
 
Denham finished with a season-high 16 points and added four rebounds, two assists and a steal. The Malta, Mont., native was 3-for-6 from 3-point range, as he and Anderson combined to make eight of MSUB's 10 treys on the evening.
 
For the Nanooks (5-9, 2-4 GNAC), Ashton Edwards led all players with 22 points and Hadzisehovic netted 20. Anthony Reese was also in double figures with a dozen points for UAF, and Alex Duncan led his team in rebounds with six.
 
UAF entered the game as the GNAC's No. 2 team in 3-point field goal percentage (37.2) while the 'Jackets were ranked No. 1 in 3-point field goal defense (32.5). Holding the Nanooks below their average at 7-for-20 (35.0 percent) contributed to the victory for the 'Jackets as well.
 
Antoine Hosley gave the 'Jackets an early 8-7 lead, coming up with a steal and driving hard to the basket for a tough layup. Marc Matthews netted a three out of a timeout, helping MSUB complete a 7-0 run and make the score 11-7.
 
Inside of two minutes until the halftime break, a three by Edwards extended UAF's lead out to 25-20. Anderson responded with a long-ball of his own, keeping the game within a single possession. Another strong take by Jordan Perry after a Yellowjacket steal evened the game at 25-25.
 
Reese knocked down a triple for UAF, and Hosley finished a layup for MSUB as the teams traded buckets to the tune of 37-37 to open the second half.
 
After a 4-0 run by each team, Momir Gataric generated a turnover that led to a three by Denham to make the score 44-41 with 10 minutes left.
 
Another triple by Denham was sandwiched by two-straight threes by UAF's Eric Fongue, as the Nanooks nudged ahead 49-47.
 
Anderson's third three of the game put the lead back in MSUB's hands 62-61 with less than three minutes remaining. After a pair of made free-throws by Tyler Nelson, Anderson hit a long jumper from the corner and MSUB clung to a 66-63 advantage inside of one minute.
 
Anderson opened overtime with a four-point play, converting a free-throw after being fouled on a 3-pointer. The fifth of the game by the sophomore midway through the 5-minute extra period helped MSUB distance itself, and a pair of Denham free-throws gave MSUB its largest lead of the night at 76-71 with 2:25 left.
 
On the game the 'Jackets shot 42.6 percent from the field, 32.3 percent from beyond the arc and 80.8 percent (21-for-26) from the foul line. MSUB held a 35-28 edge in rebounding including a mark of 10-5 on offensive boards. Hosley (12), Gataric (11) and Perry (10) also scored in double figures for MSUB, and Nelson led the team with 10 rebounds.
 
Anderson was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game for his career performance.
 
The Nanooks shot 51.7 percent from the field and outscored MSUB in the paint 44-28. UAF made 9 of 13 free-throws (69.2 percent) and had 15 assists compared with MSUB's 11.
 
"Our focus now is Anchorage on Saturday night, and if we can take care of business then we are back in good shape to get into the top-six," Stevens said. "Now we have a couple of wins under our belt and our attitude going forward has to be for us to make something special happen over our next 11 games."
 
COMING UP: In another doubleheader with the MSUB women's team on Saturday, the 'Jackets welcome Alaska Anchorage for another GNAC contest. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym, following the women's game against Northwest Nazarene.