GRAND JUNCTION, COLO. – MSU-Billings drained 18 3-pointers in an 83-68 win over Colorado Mesa University in the Holiday Inn – Airport Thanksgiving Classic Friday (Nov. 25).

The Yellowjackets made more threes (18) than field goals they attempted inside the arc (16).

MSUB had three players combine to score 64 of its 83 points. Jace Anderson finished with a career-high 22 points while Preston Beverly and Marc Matthews each scored 21.

Nate Hawley led the Mavericks with 17 points, shooting five-of-seven from deep.

Eimer Lopez scored 14, while CJ Davis and Tanner Riley each finished with 12 points.

Billings shot-51-percent (17-33) from the field in the first and held Mesa to 35-percent (9-26) to lead 45-32 at the half.

Mesa would claw back in the second half thanks to 10 turnovers by Billings.

The Mavericks cut the Yellowjacket led to five, 64-59, with 6:34 left in the game, but three free throws and a pair of 3-pointers saw the MSUB lead jump back to 12, 73-61, with five minutes remaining.

CMU also made 18 free throws in the game compared to just nine by MSUB, with all nine coming in the second half.

MSUB out-rebounded CMU 43-26.

Colorado Mesa (1-4) will face No. 20 Midwestern State Saturday (Nov. 26).