Short Roster Falls Short for Yellowjackets (Feb. 19, 2004)
Box Score

HONOLULU, HI – With just six players in uniform Thursday night, Montana State-Billings ran out of gas few minutes too early in an 82-78 loss at Chaminade.  Five of the six scored in double figures, and sixth man Matt Desin had a potential game-tying 3-pointer rim out with under 20 seconds to play.

Injuries and disciplinary actions depleted the Jackets’ roster to just three of the usual starters.  Sophomore guard Cameron Munoz, the nation’s leading 3-point shooter and the PacWest’s fourth-leading scorer, did not make the trip to Hawaii due to an ankle injury suffered in last Tuesday’s win against BYU-Hawaii.  Juniors Trae Fortier and Alex Galloway were sent home early for disciplinary reasons, leaving the Yellowjackets with just Desin on the bench.  Desin, who plays on the Yellowjacket golf team, was added to the roster in December as an emergency backup. 

Despite missing players who average a combined 48 points a game, the Yellowjackets broke from a 22-22 tie midway through the first half to take a 42-36 lead at the half.  Freshman Jonathan Wiley scored nine points in the final eight minutes of the half, and Buddy Windy Boy added two 3-pointers.  Jerett Skrifvars hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Jackets a six point halftime lead.  Wiley scored 12 first-half points, besting his previous career high by four points before intermission.  He finished with 16 points on 6 of 9 shooting from the field in his best outing as a Yellowjacket.

The Yellowjackets led by as many as eight in the second half when two Wiley free throws followed a Dave Carse 3-pointer to give MSUB a 65-57 lead.  The Silverswords rallied to tie the game at 65-65 with 7:30 to play.  The teams traded scores with the tenth tie of the game coming on two Jason Walters free throws for the Silverswords with 4:22 remaining.  Walters went to the line after Yellowjacket senior forward Bill Day fouled out.

The 5-foot-10 Desin replaced the 6-9 Day in the lineup for the final four and a half minutes.  Trailing 81-79 following a Windy Boy layup, the Yellowjacket defense forced a shot clock violation with 22 ticks on the clock.  Desin found himself open in the right corner on the ensuing possession, but his 3-point attempt swirled in and out.  The Silverswords grabbed the rebound and Walters made one of two free throws with three seconds left to seal the win.

Windy Boy scored a career-high 25 points with five 3-pointers in the game.  Senior Jerett Skrifvars notched his ninth double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds.  Day added 12 points and Carse finished with 10 and five assists.  Desin had two points with a rebound and an assist in eight minutes of action.

Dustin Mittelsteadt led Chaminade with 15 points and seven rebounds.  Walters added 12 points.

The Yellowjackets will travel to the Big Island for a Saturday match up with Hawaii-Hilo, who defeated Western New Mexico twice this week to take over second place in the conference.  MSU Billings dropped to 15-9 overall and 6-7 in the PacWest with the two losses at Chaminade.  The Silverswords improved to 8-12 overall and 5-5 in the PacWest.