ELLENSBURG, Wash. – With a game-high 19 points, Joey Roppo led a quintet of double-digit scorers for Central Washington University, which defeated the Montana State University Billings men's basketball team 87-75 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game at Nicholson Pavilion Saturday night.
 
The 'Jackets also had five players score in double figures on the evening including a team-best of 17 from junior Marc Matthews, but could not catch up with the 'Cats down the stretch in the team's second straight loss.

"I am pleased with how we kept fighting tonight," said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. "The guys stayed resilient throughout the game. We just couldn't string together enough made shots tonight."
 
A pair of free throws by Emmanuel Johnson got MSUB within six points at 76-70 with 2:25 left in the game. The 'Jackets kept the deficit within single digits for the next two minutes, but the Wildcats closed the game by making 5 of 6 foul shots to ensure the win.
 
With the loss the 'Jackets fell to 6-8 on the season and are now even at 3-3 in GNAC games. The Wildcats won their fifth straight contest, improving to 8-2 overall and 3-2 in conference games.
 
Matthews made 5 of 13 shots including 3 of 8 from long range, and also had four rebounds and a pair of assists. Freshman Preston Beverly netted 13 points and four rebounds, and Kendall Denham and Johnson each finished with 11 points. Jordan Perry rounded out MSUB's top scorers with 10 points, while freshman Sven Jeuschede led the team with eight rebounds.
 
For the 'Cats, Joseph Stroud completed a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Gary Jacobs was close behind with 16 points on 10 of 12 from the foul line and nine boards. Devin Matthews (14 points) and Drake Rademacher (12 points) also scored in double figures.
 
A four-minute absence of scoring by MSUB early on in the first half helped the Wildcats initially build a 12-point advantage with a 21-9 edge seven minutes in. MSUB got to within four points on two occasions midway through the first half, but both offenses stalled with only 13 total points being scored in the final six minutes of the half. The Wildcats carried a 39-32 edge into the locker room.
 
Over the first seven minutes of the second period, CWU built its largest lead of the game to that point at 58-42 on a three from Naim Ladd. The Wildcats' lead peaked at 64-44 with 10:40 to play, before MSUB made a final attempt at a comeback.
 
An 11-1 run by the 'Jackets inside of 10 minutes to go brought the deficit into single digits, as CWU's lead shrank to 67-58. Four different Yellowjackets scored during the push, including four points from Beverly and a dunk from Perry as MSUB showed signs of life.
 
Jacobs hit four free throws and Stroud scored four points over the next five minutes however, as CWU stretched its lead back out to 16 points and ultimately sealed the victory.
 
The Wildcats benefitted from 13 second-chance points and won the battle on the boards 38-34 in the game. Despite committing more turnovers than MSUB (13-11), the Wildcats capitalized more efficiently than the 'Jackets on points off of turnovers (14-11). CWU shot 49.1 percent (28-for-57) overall from the field, and made 8 of 19 3-pointers (42.1 percent). From the foul line, CWU connected on 23 of 30 shots (76.7 percent).
 
The Yellowjackets were hurt by a sub-40 shooting percentage on the game, making 26 of 66 shots from the field (39.4 percent) and just 8 of 29 from long distance (27.6 percent). The 'Jackets shot well from the foul line, making 15 of 20 free throws.
 
Denham led all players with five assists in the game, while Emmanuel Olufemi had a game-best four blocks in 21 minutes. The junior added eight points, six rebounds, and a steal as he made 4 of 6 shots from the field in his best offensive effort of the season. Johnson added five rebounds and a pair of blocks to his 11 points as he was efficient in 22 minutes.
 
THE BUZZ: Olufemi earned St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game honors with the well-balanced effort...Beverly has made 18 of his last 22 free throws…Matthews has scored in double figures in eight of MSUB's games this year and is leading the team with 14.4 points per game…Olufemi has had at least one block in each of the six games he has played in and leads the team with 19 on the season (3.8 per game).
 
COMING UP: MSUB faces a quick turn around with a Tuesday evening game next week against Alaska Anchorage. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. Mountain time at the Alaska Airlines Center, and the 'Jackets will continue on to Fairbanks to play the Nanooks next Thursday at the same start time.