Men’s basketball

University of Maine transfer Jonathan Mesghna scored 24 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in a 66-50 Montana State-Billings win over Saint Martin’s at Marcus Pavilion on Thursday night. Riley Carel scored 12 points to lead the way for the Saints.

The two teams played a relatively even game in a couple of aspects. Montana State-Billings went 19-for-56 (33.9%) from the field and 6-for-23 from behind the three point arc while Saint Martin’s went 17-for-54 (31.5%) and an identical 6-for-23 from three.

However, the biggest difference was free throw shooting. The Saints made just 10-of-23 from the line  including just 1-of-7 in the first half while the Yellowjackets went 22-for-27 including 19 of their 34 second half points.

Matt Dodson racked up six blocks for the Saints and Ryan Rogers chipped in ten points.

SMU fell to 1-2 in the GNAC and will next face #11 Seattle Pacific at 7:30 on Saturday night.

Austin Bonds poured in 20 points and Slanblaytee Kaye scored 17 points with seven boards and four assists in South Puget Sound won their first game of the season in their 65-59 shorthanded, league opener win at Lower Columbia in Longview.

The Clippers played just six players and Bonds, Kaye, Keegan Liebelt and Brandon McGurkin all played all 40 minutes. Liebelt scored 11 points including three three pointers and McGurkin chipped in 10 points.

SPSCC is 1-0 in the NWACC West Division and 1-8 overall.

Women’s basketball

Dramikha Skaar and Ashley Stancil each scored 13 points and LaKeisha Anger chipped in 12 for South Puget Sound but Lower Columbia was too much for the Clippers in the second half and pulled away for an 82-64 win in Longview.