Montana State University Billings Athletics

SEATTLE – Preston Beverly turned in a 26-point, 13-rebound double-double and the Montana State University Billings men's basketball team held off Northwest University in an 85-83 victory Saturday evening at the Oak Harbor Freight Lines Classic hosted by Seattle Pacific University.
 
MSUB held off a last-second shot by Michael Dupree, who finished the game with 30 points in 34 minutes. The victory lifted MSUB to 4-6 overall on the season, while NU fell to 5-8 with the loss.
 
Jace Anderson was a major contributor for the 'Jackets, scoring 20 points and adding three assists and a pair of steals in 23 minutes. Freshman Christian Evans scored a dozen points and added seven rebounds, while Jordan Perry had 10 points, three rebounds, and four assists.
 
"That was a very good team, and they shot the ball extremely well in the second half," said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. "I was proud of our guys, and we finally found that lineup that got us going there around the nine-minute mark. Jordan made their point guard work for everything, Preston had a monster game, and Jace hit some big shots."
 
The 'Jackets started the game on an 11-2 run, building an early lead on five points from Beverly.
 
A three by Dak Shagren was followed by a free throw by Dupree, as NU cut the deficit to 21-17 with eight minutes before the break. The Eagles shot well overall in the game, making 28 of 63 shots (44.4 percent), but the 'Jackets were slightly better at 29-for-58 (50 percent). NU upped its game in the second half, hitting 16 of 28 shots (57.1 percent) and 8 of 13 from downtown (61.5 percent) over the final 20 minutes.
 

The teams traded buckets moving into the halftime break, as MSUB kept a handle on a narrow 35-31 lead entering the locker room.
 
A corner three by Dupree came during a 14-7 swing by the Eagles to open the second half, as NU took its first lead of the game 43-42 with 16 minutes to play.
 
Beverly hit a three from the wing and Evans added a pair of free throws as the 'Jackets pulled within a single possession down 52-50 midway through the second.
 
Anderson and Perry took turns burying threes, but another triple from Shagren helped keep NU ahead 60-58 inside of nine minutes to play.
 
Anderson scored five straight points for MSUB with time winding down however, and the 'Jackets managed to hold a one-possession lead the rest of the way. Perry hit 3 of 4 free throws in the final minute, helping protect his team's advantage and secure the win.
 
MSUB won the battle on the boards 39-29, and made 10 of 24 shots from 3-point range (41.7 percent). The 'Jackets also made 17 of 21 foul shots (81 percent), and received 36 points off of their bench. Despite committing 18 turnovers, MSUB had 19 assists on its 29 made shots.
 
"It was a total team effort, and all nine guys got in," Stevens said. "All nine guys contributed, and we are looking forward to finals week and getting ready for Carroll."
 
Emmanuel Johnson had seven points, and Marc Matthews finished with eight for the 'Jackets. Sophomore point guard Kendall Denham led all players with seven assists, and also grabbed three boards.
 
For the Eagles, Shagren finished with 18 points, and Ben Tucakovic had 17 points and seven rebounds.
 
THE BUZZ: The double-double was the second of the season for Beverly, who had 19 points and 13 rebounds in MSUB's loss at Western Oregon on Dec. 5…Anderson was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…Emmanuel Olufemi added two more blocks after six in his season debut on Friday, and also grabbed nine rebounds for MSUB.
 
NEXT UP: The Yellowjackets head to Helena, Mont., to challenge Carroll College in an exhibition game on Wednesday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in MSUB's final game before the holiday break.