The Doug Lange Network 

January 18, 2019 

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BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University men’s basketball team led by as many as 16 points in the second half, but couldn’t hold off a strong comeback by Montana State Billings in an 81-72 loss in overtime Thursday night in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on WECU Court in Carver Gym.

 

WWU finished a tough four-game stretch over an eight-day period by going 2-2, and are now 10-8 overall and 4-4 in GNAC play. WWU is now 0-2 in overtime games this season, both in GNAC play, also falling to Western Oregon 96-88 in double overtime on December 1. MSUB improved to 9-6 overall and 4-3 in conference play.

 

Junior forward Trevor Jasinsky (Camas, WA) led all players with 24 points, and tallied his second double-double of the season with a game-high 13 rebounds. The junior was 9-for-18 shooting from the field, and scored 15 of his 24 points in the first half.

 

Sophomore forward Luke Lovelady (Tacoma, WA/Life Christian Academy/Point Loma) added at 14-point, 5-rebound, 4-block performance and redshirt junior guard Leif Anderson (Bellingham, WA/Sehome/Whatcom CC) had 15 points on 5-for-10 shooting (4-for-6 3FG).

 

The Yellowjackets had four players reach double-figures in scoring, led by 19 points from guard Tyler Green (7-for-16 FG, 5-for-10 3FG) and a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double off the bench from Brendan Howard.

 

YELLOWJACKETS STORM BACK IN SECOND HALF

The Vikings held a 16-point lead at the 15:46 mark in the game and led by 14 points 59-45 following a 3-pointer by Leif Anderson with just under 10 minutes remaining in regulation. The Yellowjackets answered with a 17-2 run over nearly a five-minute stretch to take a one-point lead at 62-61 with 4:03 remaining.

 

Trevor Jasinsky scored the next five points on a 3-pointer and two free throws to pull WWU back ahead 66-62. MSUB got a pair of buckets down the stretch, and held the Vikings scoreless over the final two minutes to tie the game 66-66 to force overtime. Zharon Richmond hit a short-range jump shot to tie the game with 14 seconds remaining. Tyler Payne had his potential game-winner rim out and Trevor Jasinsky’s follow up shot was good, but just after the buzzer sounded. 

 

IN OVERTIME

MSUB came out in the overtime period on a 9-4 run to start the overtime period to build a 75-70 lead at the 2:29 mark. The Vikings pulled to within three points at 75-72 following a Tyler Payne jump shot, but the Yellowjackets ended the game on a 6-0 run to record the 9-point victory. Brendan Howard and Zharon Richmond both had 6 points, as MSUB out-scored WWU 15-6 in the five-minute overtime period.

 

THE SHOOTING TOTALS

WWU shot 41.3% from the field for the game (26-for-63), but were held to 11-for-33 (33.3%) in the second half and overtime. MSUB bounced back from a 30.6% shooting performance in the first half, shooting 47.5% in the second half and overtime (19-for-40). The Yellowjackets finished at 39.5% for the game (30-for-76), but were 4-for-5 in the deciding overtime period.

 

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS

The Vikings held a 39-28 lead at the half, building the 11-point lead with a pair of 7-2 runs in the first 20 minutes of the game. Trevor Jasinsky led the way with a first-half high 15 points, connecting on 6-of-8 shots and going 3-for-4 from beyond the arc. Luke Lovelady added 7 points on 2-for-2 shooting (3-for-3 FT), as the Vikings shot 50.0% (15-for-30) from the field and were 6-for-16 from 3-point range (37.5%). MSUB was led by 8 points from Zack Rollins and Tyler Green. The Yellowjackets shot 30.6% from the field (11-for-36) and were 4-for-15 from 3-point range.

 

JASINSKY KEEPS POURING IT IN

Trevor Jasinsky recorded his 10th 20-point game of the season, leading all GNAC players…Jasinsky has now scored in double-digits in 12 consecutive games and 17 of 18 contests in 2018-19…most 20-point games by a Viking since Jeffrey Parker (10) and Taylor Stafford (20) in 2016-17…Jasinsky is averaging 19.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

 

ALL-TIME SERIES

WWU leads the all-time series vs. the Yellowjackets 23-7…Vikings are now 13-2 all-time vs. MSUB in Bellingham, 10-4 in Billings and 0-1 at a neutral site…WWU had its 3-game win streak vs. MSUB snapped, but have still won 6 of 9 in the series.

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UP NEXT

The Vikings will take this weekend off after completing a stretch of four games in eight days, and return to the court next Thursday hosting Alaska Fairbanks at 7:30 pm. WWU then entertains Alaska Anchorage on Saturday (Jan. 26) at 3 pm in Carver Gym.

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-- @WWUHoops --