December 17, 2007
 
Bears Rally from Behind, Overtake Jackets

Box Score
MSUB Season Stats

BILLINGS, Mont. –Chase Sukut’s 26 points led Rocky Mountain College to a come-from-behind 88-79 win over the Montana State Billings men’s basketball team Monday night at Alterowitz Gym. The Yellowjackets remain winless on the season falling to 0-8 while the Battlin’ Bears improved to 10-3.

In typical Yellowjacket fashion, MSUB set a fast tempo as Kyle Palmer (Baton Rouge, La.) drained the first of 15 Yellowjacket three-pointers of the night just 21 seconds into the contest. Palmer returned to the Jackets’ line up after missing the last seven games due to a hand injury.

MSUB held a seven-point lead over the Bears with just 3:10 left in the half, but a 6-0 run capped off by Rocky’s Elijah Swan’s long range bucket brought the lead to within one. Chawn Johnson scored a traditional three-point play giving RMC a two-point advantage heading into the locker room.

The second half was a battle of wills as the lead exchanged hands four times through 12 minutes of play. Following a three-pointer by the Jackets’ Brett Taylor (Billings) at the 8:09 mark, Rocky took the permanent lead after Sukut hit a pair from the charity stripe.

The Jackets’ Aaron Terry (Moreno Valley, Calif.) led MSUB with 17 points. Terry was 7-of-18 from the floor and pulled down nine boards. Troy Ruff (Custer) matched his career-high netting 16 points before fouling out while Taylor and Palmer added 12 points a piece.

As a team the Jackets were 28-of-79 from the field for 35 percent. The team connected on 15-of-42 attempts from behind the arc for 36 percent and the team shot 73 percent from the line.

“I was proud of the guy’s effort,” said Yellowjacket head coach Craig Carse.  “They are getting better each day.  As freshmen and sophomores I expect good games with effort and some nights it will be more difficult.  That is my experience with young and inexperienced players.  I will not waiver in my belief that we are developing a team that will be very dominant someday.”
Sukut’s 26 points came from 7-of-15 shooting from the floor and 4-of-7 form long range. Devin Uskoski netted 18 points with Swan and Alvis Dowiels chipping is 13 each.

The Jackets are set to host the University of Nebraska-Omaha on December 22 and 23. Both games will tip off at 1:00 p.m. at Alterowitz Gymnasium. Live video streaming, free live stats, and free internet broadcast can be accessed online.