SPEARFISH, S.D. – For the second time in as many games the Black Hills State University men's basketball team fell on a shot in the final ticks of the clock on their home court as Montana State Billings banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to defeat the Yellow Jackets 73-70 on Thursday night. Another tight battle featured ten lead changes in the final nine minutes of playing time as neither team led by more than two points, and after Caelin Hearne tied the game with just five seconds to go, Jalen Tot capped a career-high of 35 points with his sixth 3-pointer of the night as he banked in the shot at the buzzer for MSUB.
 
QUICK DETAILS
Score: Black Hills State 70, Montana State Billings 73
Team Records: Black Hills State 2-3, Montana State Billings 5-2
Attendance: 2,219
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• As the teams went back-and-forth in the opening minutes of the match-up, Black Hills State gained a 9-7 advantage entering the under 16 media timeout after Cam Lowe collected a steal on the defensive end of the court and proceeded to knock down a 3-pointer from the left wing on the fastbreak with 15:43 to play in the half.
• Neither team held an advantage of more than four points until the 9:50 mark of the first half when an offensive rebound was tipped out to the perimeter and Brendon Johnson passed the ball over to the left wing for Jajuan Tot to hit a 3-pointer to give Montana State Billings a 22-15 lead. MSUB later extended their lead to ten points on two occasions in the closing minutes of the first half on a driving right handed layup by Jalen Tot to make it 30-20 with 4:57 left on the clock and then a few possessions later when Tot hit a pair of free throws to make it 32-22 with 3:41 remaining in the half.
• Following the Yellow Jackets use it or lose it timeout in the closing seconds of the first half, Dawson Mohr checked in and connected on a right corner 3-pointer with a hand in his face off the assist from Lowe, cutting the deficit to 37-31 at the break.
• After a right wing 3-pointer by Famous Lefthand off the assist by Johnson, MSUB led by a score of 40-31, however Black Hills State made an immediate response with an 11-3 scoring run sparked by a deep right wing 3-pointer by Lowe and capped by a free throw by Jaeton Hackley to cut the MSU Billings lead to one (43-42) with 15:18 to play in the game.
• Montana State Billings held onto the lead up until the 9:05 mark of the second half when John Shanklin cashed in on steal and assist by Deegan Williams as he was given credit for a layup after a defensive goaltending call gave BHSU the 55-54 advantage. Following that point in the match-up, neither team held a lead of more than two points until the final buzzer.
• MSUB had the opportunity to push their lead to two possessions at the charity stipe in the final 24 seconds of action, however the Yellowjackets missed on three consecutive free throw attempts.
• Down two (70-68) with 12 seconds remaining coming out of a timeout, the ball ended up in Caelin Hearne's hands once again when they needed a big shot and he delivered, taking the ball strong to the rim and finishing on the left side to even the game at 70 apiece with five seconds left. Unfortunately, there was just enough time left for MSU Billings to make a play as they quickly got the ball in play and Jalen Tot raced down the right side of the court and put up a shot from the A2 Arena logo, banking in the shot and giving MSUB the 73-70 win as time expired. 

BLACK HILLS STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
Cam Lowe: 18 points, 8-of-9 field goals, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Jaeton Hackley: 16 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
John Shanklin: 11 points, 5-of-8 field goals, 5 rebounds, 1 steal
 
UP NEXT
Black Hills State will have one day off before they return to the A2 Arena court on Saturday, November 23, as they battle Sioux Falls in a 6 p.m. tip-off.
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