By: Evan O'Kelly, Associate Commissioner for Communications

Photography by: Shi Robison

PORTLAND, Ore. – On Jan. 18 the Montana State Billings men’s basketball team endured an 82-69 loss to Central Washington on the road, pushing the team’s losing skid to five games and its conference record to 2-5.
 
As the conference season turned to the second half of the schedule, the Yellowjackets faced a significant hole to dig themselves out of to get back into the push towards the 2025 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships. Seven wins in their last eight games have pulled the Yellowjackets back to life as they enter the week tied for fourth in the standings at 18-10 overall and 9-6 in GNAC play. MSUB defended its home court last week, picking up a payback, 79-66 win over Central Washington Thursday and a 77-73 triumph over Northwest Nazarene Saturday to earn GNAC Team of the Week honors.
 
“They are tough teams to play on the road, but we thought we were a couple possessions away from competing for a win at their places,” said second-year Yellowjacket head coach Luke Fennelly on the losses to the Wildcats and Nighthawks the first time through the schedule. “We wanted to come out (last week) with big time energy and effort, and we thought if we took care of the little things we’d have a chance to win. We knew we had to put a full game together against two of the top teams in the conference. Our guys were able to do that all week.”
 
Starting their week against the conference-leading Wildcats (17-7, 11-3 GNAC), MSUB jumped out to a 37-28 halftime advantage before finishing even stronger with a 42-point second half to secure the win. MSUB newcomer Kael Robinson couldn’t be stopped, making 13 of 17 shots including 4 of 5 threes on his way to 34 points, six rebounds and three blocks to fuel the win. Brendon Johnson added 19 points, eight boards and seven assists, and the Yellowjackets shot an efficient 45.2% (28-for-62) overall in the game.
 
“We knew we had to mix it up defensively, because they get into such a good rhythm offensively,” Fennelly said on the team’s approach to facing the Wildcats. “Our guys executed that gameplan very well. They are also a good defensive team, so we knew we had to move the ball effectively. We had a lot of assists, and Kael was performing at a high level which took us over the top. The guys accepted the challenge and executed the gameplan.”
 
The ‘Jackets had a similarly strong start on Saturday against NNU (16-6, 9-5), jumping out to a 40-32 halftime lead. The Nighthawks battled back from a deficit that was as large as 15 points early in the second half however, pulling within one point with 6:58 to go in the game. The Yellowjackets held tough, never surrendering the lead as they narrowly out-paced their foe down the stretch to claim the win.
 
Reigning GNAC Player of the Year Jalen Tot had a team-leading 21 points against NNU, while Robinson delivered 19 points and seven rebounds. Jajuan Tot and Johnson each added a dozen points, and Cooper Dewitt also reached double digits with 11 points while adding four assists, four rebounds and three steals.
 
“We always approach things having a 1-0 mindset,” Fennelly said. “The games this time of year are of high importance, and it’s just a dogfight. NNU being a good defensive team is going to try to pressure you. We knew in the second half they would put a run together, and I give our guys credit for staying to the plan, sticking together and making game-winning plays.”
 
A leading candidate for the GNAC Newcomer of the Year award, Robinson currently ranks second in the conference with 16.9 points per game and fifth with 6.7 rebounds per game. Tot is ninth in the GNAC in scoring at 15.9 points per game, and ranks third in the league with 1.9 steals per game. Johnson chips in 13.4 points per game and ranks fifth in the league in 3-point shooting at 45.1%.
 
Fennelly made history in his first season in charge of MSUB in 2023-24, leading the ‘Jackets to their first-ever GNAC regular-season title going 20-10 overall and 14-4 in conference games. Success has followed the former Yellowjacket assistant coach early in his head coaching career, as he holds a mark of 38-20 (.655) overall and is 23-10 (.697) in league games.
 
With three games left in the regular season, the Yellowjackets are in the driver’s seat to wrap up a spot in the conference tournament. A road trip to Alaska awaits the team this week, as the ‘Jackets will face Alaska Anchorage (11-16, 4-10) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (AK) and Alaska Fairbanks (10-13, 6-8) on Saturday at 3:15 p.m. (AK). “The only thing that is important right now is our prep on Monday and Tuesday, and we just need to be focused and locked in,” Fennelly said. “Anchorage is a tough place to play, and they are going to be well coached and well prepared. We have to do whatever we can to go 1-0 on Thursday, and then we will worry about Fairbanks on Friday. We are just focused on the day-to-day process, being mentally and physically tough and having discipline on both sides of the ball.”