BILLINGS, Mont. – The cold weather in Montana certainly didn't slow Cameron Cranston down. Cranston posted 23 points alone in the first half and then added 12 more in the second half to finish with a career-high 35 points on Thursday night. In the process, Cranston also tied the school record with 9 three-pointers that was originally set by Dalven Brushier nearly two years ago to the day on Jan. 9, 2020. Montana State Billings was able to rally past the Western Oregon University men's basketball team over the final few minutes to claim the 77-71 Great Northwest Athletic Conference victory.
Cranston's previous career-high of 29 came during the 2019-20 season and was also against Montana State Billings. His 35 points is the fourth-most in the GNAC this season. Cranston's nine made three-pointers is the most in the GNAC this season as he finished 9-14 from downtown. The nine made three-pointers ranks seventh in GNAC history. Overall, Cranston went 12-20 from the field, while adding two rebounds, two steals and an assist in 37 minutes.
WOU (3-8, 2-1 GNAC) as a team connected on 16-39 (41) from three-point range which ties the season-high for the Wolves when they made 16 against Sonoma State. It's tied for the third-most three-pointers made in the GNAC this season.
While Cranston was putting together a big night, Yosani Clay and John Morrill-Keeler each scored in double-figures with Clay tallying 11 points and Morrill-Keeler with 10 points. Morrill-Keeler pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. Qiant Myers dished out a team-high seven assists, while Daisone Hughes added five. Hughes also had three steals.
Early on it was all Yellowjackets (6-7, 2-1 GNAC). Following two free throws by Clay, Montana State Billings reeled off the next nine points. After Tyreek Price hit a three-pointer to end the 9-0 run, the 'Jackets went on a 6-0 spurt to move ahead 15-5.
Cranston then started to get warmed up as his three-pointer at the 13:49 mark snapped the 6-0 run and started a stretch where he would make four three-pointers. Following his fourth long ball, WOU was back to within five near the midway point of the half.
Morrill-Keeler posted four straight points before Cranston took over again with back-to-back triples to move the Wolves to within a point. Over the final two minutes of the opening half, Cranston stepped inside the arc this time to hit a two-point jumper and then closed the half with a three that left WOU with a 37-35 halftime lead.
The break didn't slow down Cranston as he opened the second stanza with a three-pointer just over a minute in to push the lead to five. After the 'Jackets used a 6-0 run to regain the lead, WOU would counter to take the lead back and stretch the lead as high as six.
With the game tied at 49, Cranston stepped into another long ball and then Zach Moore dialed long distance to expand the WOU lead to 55-49 near the midway point of the second half.
MSUB made a push to regain the lead, but a three-pointer by Clay kept the lead at five with 7:30 to play. The 'Jackets then caught fire going on an 8-0 run to take a 65-62 lead with five minutes to play. WOU kept fighting back with Morrill-Keeler and Cranston hitting back-to-back layups to keep the deficit at one.
With just over two minutes to play, the Yellowjackets used a quick 8-0 run in just a minute to move ahead 75-66. The Wolves made one last push with Clay sinking a three-pointer and Cranston a jumper to trim the deficit back to four, but with just 20 seconds to play the 'Jackets were able to hit two from the line and control the rebound off a missed shot to secure the victory.
For the game, WOU went 24-61 (39.3) from the field and went 7-9 (77.8) from the foul line. The Wolves held the edge in points off turnovers (20-13), second chance points (15-14) and fastbreak points (11-10).
Carrington Wiggins led MSUB with 25 points and added six rebounds. Emmanuel Ajanaku posted a big double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Damen Thacker gave the 'Jackets three in double-figures with 15 points, along with seven assists and six rebounds. MSUB went 29-57 (50.9) from the field, 5-19 (26.3) from three and 14-17 (82.4) from the foul line.
With Saturday's game at Seattle Pacific postponed and rescheduled for Feb. 8, WOU will now return to action inside New PE Gym on Thursday, Jan. 13 against Simon Fraser starting at 7:30 p.m. The Wolves will also host Western Washington on Saturday, Jan. 15 beginning at 4:15 p.m.
