Box Score ELLENSBURG, Wash. — The Chico State men's basketball team lost to Montana State Billings 62-56 on Saturday's day two of Central Washington's D2 Tip-Off Classic at Nicholson Arena.
Turnovers became the statistical factor in the game as the Wildcats committed 29 takeaways and the Yellowjackets turned them into 24 points.
The Wildcats (0-2) matched the Yellowjackets (1-1) with 30 points in the paint and nine second-chance points while holding a 35-32 rebounding edge. Chico State committed 29 turnovers to the Yellowjackets' 20, and Montana State Billings finished with 24 points off turnovers compared with 14 for the 'Cats. The Wildcats also put together an 11-0 run that bridged the halves, but Montana State Billings had a 17-11 advantage in steals and an 18-10 edge in fast-break points.
Robel Zemmo scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting and added three rebounds. Cortevious Taylor finished with 10 points, five rebounds and no turnovers. Michael Wilson tallied nine points, four rebounds and three steals. Tommy Williams added three steals and made both of his free throws.
Braydon Olson scored a team-high 15 points and recorded four steals for the Yellowjackets. Zakai Owens added 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Croix Cox finished with seven points, six rebounds, four steals and a block. Fischer Brown posted seven points, five rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
In the first half, Chico State shot 8-for-20 but went 1-for-9 from 3-point range and committed 16 turnovers, which the Yellowjackets turned into a 15-6 edge in points off turnovers. Montana State Billings also had eight offensive rebounds and a 7-0 advantage in second-chance points, outscoring the Wildcats 29-25 in a half that included seven ties and 10 lead changes.
The 'Cats were outscored 33-31 in the second half. The Yellowjackets created a larger free-throw volume by going 13-for-18 while Chico State went 6-for-7. The Wildcats held a 21-15 rebounding edge, including eight offensive boards and a 9-2 advantage in second-chance points, but committed 13 turnovers as the Yellowjackets recorded nine steals.
Up next, Chico State meets Western Washington in a neutral-site game on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, at 7 p.m. at Nicholson Arena in Ellensburg, Wash.
