Box Score

BILLINGS, Mont. - The Western Washington University Vikings had a few late chances to tie the game or take the lead, but came up short in a 77-75 loss against Montana State Billings Saturday evening in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference Men's Basketball contest.

The Vikings, who were playing for the first time since December 18, fall to 8-5 overall and 2-2 in GNAC play. MSUB improves to 6-6 overall and 3-1 in GNAC play.

WWU trailed 77-72 with 1:22 remaining, but a 3-point play by redshirt freshman Trey Drechsel (Woodinville, WA/Cedar Park Christian) pulled the Vikings to within a basket at 77-75 with 39-seconds remaining. Senior point guard Ricardo Maxwell (Cincinnati, OH/Withrow/Edmonds CC) had a pair of contested layups rim out that would have tied the game.

Drechsel scored 10 points and added a team-high 7 points in his collegiate debut. Senior forward Colby Mitchell (Chugiak, AK/Mount Hood CC) tied his career-high with 14 points coming off the bench for the first time this season. Senior guard Kyle Impero (Everson, WA/Nooksack Valley/Whatcom CC) added 14 points and Maxwell scored 13 points.

The Vikings shot 42.9% from the field (30-for-70), including just 5-for-19 (26.3%) from 3-point range.

Freshman forward Preston Beverly led the Yellowjackets with a game-high 26 points, scoring 20 points in the second half. Beverly was 8-for-11 from the field and 9-for-9 from the free throw line. Junior guard Jace Anderson added 18 points, connecting on four 3-pointers.

The Vikings trailed by 6 points at the half 37-31. After being tied at 23-23, the Yellowjackets went on a 14-8 run to end the half. MSUB shot 44.8% from the field (13-for-29), compared to Western's 41.7% (15-for-36), including 4-for-10 from 3-point range. Impero led the Vikings with 10 points, followed closely by Mitchell with 9 points. WWU was 0-for-7 from 3-point range. The Yellowjackets were led by 10 points from Anderson.

WWU opened the second half on a 7-0 run to take a 38-37 lead and went back-and-forth with the Yellowjackets for the remainder of the game. The Vikings held a 7-point lead at 58-51 with 10 minutes remaining, but couldn't hold on down the stretch. Maxwell scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half and Drechsel had 8 of his 10 points. Preston scored 20 of his game-high 26 points in the second half.

The Vikings (8-5, 2-2 GNAC) continue their stretch of road games next week facing Alaska on Thursday (7:30 pm AK/8:30 pm PT) and Alaska Anchorage on Saturday (2:15 pm AK/3:15 pm PT).