HONOLULU, Hawai`i—Montana State Billings hit nine of eleven three-point shots in the second half to pull away from Hawai`i Hilo at the Hoops in Hawai`i Holiday Classic, 81-63.

The Yellowjackets improved to 8-4 on the season with the win at the Hawai`i Convention Center, while the Vulcans fell to 3-6.

Montana State-Billings, who had just three treys in the opening half, hardly missed after the break as six different players connected from long range.

The Vulcans played the game without sharp shooting senior guard Ryley Callaghan, who was out with an injury. UH Hilo missed him, shooting just 14 percent from three-point range (2-for-14).

"With Ryley out, we are missing a lot of points," said head coach GE Coleman of his guard that averages 17 points a game. "But we have to figure things out. We haven't played well either of the last two nights and we have one more chance to turn things around before the (Christmas) break."

The Yellowjackets, a former Pacific West Conference member now playing in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, broke a 6-6 tie early in the game with a 9-0 run and they never trailed after that. UH Hilo had a difficult time getting open looks on the offensive end and ended up shooting just 37 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes.

MSUB led 36-26 at intermission, and then buried three-pointers on their first three possessions of the second half, two of them by Zack Rollins. The Vulcans would get to within six points at 15:48 on a lay-in by Denhym Brooke, and later they would pull within eight again, but each time the Yellowjackets would answer with a three.

MSUB would lead by as many as 22 points before settling for the final 18-point margin.

Brooke led the Vulcans with 18 points, hitting 7-of-9 shots from the field. He also blocked three shots and had six rebounds. Devin Johnson added 11 points and eight boards, while Trey Ingram and Randan Berinobis contributed nine points each.

Kendalll Denham led five 'Jackets in double figures with 17 points. Rollins had a near double-double with 15 points and eight boards. Montana State-Billings outrebounded the Vulcans, 34-25.

The Vulcans will play their third game in three nights on Monday, taking on the University of Tampa at the Hawai`i Convention Center. Start time is 8 p.m.