BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Western Washington University sophomore guard Aidan Rice scored a game-high 37 points with six three-pointers, but the Vikings dropped its Saturday home GNAC contest against Montana State Billings 94-92 in front of 1,003 fans on WECU Court in Carver Gym.

WWU held a 43-38 lead at the half, but Billings came back with a  56-point second half to earn the narrow two-point victory. The Vikings tied the game 92-92 on an off-balance three-pointer by Rice with 11 seconds remaining, but on the next possession MSUB drew a foul in the pain and Brandon Tchouya hit a pair of free throws to give the Yellowjackets the victory.

The Vikings dropped to 8-9 overall and 2-4 in GNAC play, with MSUB improving to 14-4 overall and 3-2 in conference games. The Yellowjackets were ranked No. 23 in the nation a week ago, but entered tonight's match-up in Bellingham with consecutive losses.

Rice tied his single-game career-high with the game-high 37 points, connecting on 9-of-19 shots from the field, including six three-pointers, and went 13-for14 from the free throw line. Rice also scored 37 points in a GNAC game vs. NNU earlier this season.

Junior guard Nehemiah Pollard added 22 points on 5-for-9 shooting and was perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line. Senior forward Garrett Levesque contributed a season-high 15 points and secured a double-double with 11 rebounds. Sophomore forward Bennett Olujic rounded out a solid week on the hardwood with 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting in 29 minutes.

MSUB was led by 20 points, six assists and five rebounds by Miles Gurske, 19 points and seven rebounds by Tchouya and 18 points by Jakob Milling. The Yellowjackets featured five players scoring in double digits.

The Vikings (8-9, 2-4 GNAC) return to the road next week traveling south to take on nationally ranked Saint Martin's on Thursday in Lacey (7 pm) and Western Oregon in Monmouth on Saturday (4:15 pm). The complete 2025-26 WWU men's basketball schedule is available online at WWUVikings.com, complete with links to follow the team on the road, updated statistics and team information.

Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and Montana State Billings:

The Vikings dropped the first regular-season meeting against MSUB this season, with the return trip to Billings scheduled for February 5. WWU swept the regular-season series vs. the Yellowjackets in 2024-25, winning 94-74 in Carver Gym on February 6 and 84-70 in Billings on January 11. Endured a heartbreaking season-ending loss in the GNAC quarterfinal round on a buzzer-beater three-pointer in a 79-78 defeat. WWU leads the all-time series 27-16 with a 16-6 record in home games (15-5 in Carver Gym). MSUB has won four of the last five meetings in Bellingham.

Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2025-26 season:

Here is a look at the GNAC standings and schedule through play on Saturday to close the third week of the conference slate. Updated conference statistics and postseason information can be viewed online at GNACSports.com. The top six teams in the conference standings at the end of the regular season will qualify for the GNAC Championships held March 5-7 in Carver Gym in Bellingham.