Yellowjackets Open with Win Over Minot State (Nov. 20, 2004)
Box Score

BILLINGS, MT – Despite a distinct disadvantage in game experience, the Montana State-Billings men’s basketball team defeated Minot State 107-93 Saturday night.  The Yellowjackets (1-0) had six players who were seeing their first action in a Yellowjacket uniform, but the five MSUB starters carried the night against the Beavers (4-2) who were playing for the sixth time already this season.

“Any time you go through a whole preseason, the best thing to reinforce what you’re teaching is to win,” said Yellowjacket head coach Craig Carse after the game.  “Minot State is a great opponent and they played well tonight.  I thought our kids responded to their charge, and tonight’s game was a great reinforcement to a long preseason.”

The Yellowjackets appeared to deliver the knockout blow early, jumping to a commanding 13-2 lead just over three minutes into the contest.  A pair of Cameron Munoz (Jr., Chino, CA) 3-pointers sparked the run to start the game.

MSU Billings opened its lead to as much as 17 midway through the half.  Back-to-back baskets from Munoz gave the Jackets a 35-18 lead with 7:41 remaining.  Minot was able to trim the lead to 10 before the Yellowjackets’ Kerington Youmans (So., Atlanta, GA) dropped in a 3-pointer with five seconds left to send MSU Billings into the locker room with a 54-41 lead.

Minot State made the charge that Carse talked about at the start of the second half, almost erasing the Jackets’ lead in the first three minutes.  Courtney Haley scored six of his nine points between 18:58 and 17:41 of the second half to spark the Beavers’ run.  A pair of free throws by Lance Allerdings at 17:17 drew the Beavers to within four, 57-53.

MSU Billings was able to open a double-digit lead just once over the following 11 minutes.  Buddy Windy Boy’s (Jr., Lodge Grass, MT) 3-pointer at 12:52 gave the Yellowjackets a 71-60 advantage, but Minot battled back to within striking distance again.

The Beavers pulled to within three with ten minutes to play when an Allerdings basket made the score 74-71.  The Yellowjackets quietly pulled away over the next four minutes to regain a 13-point advantage.  Lucas Walker’s (Fr., Launceston, Australia) dunk at 5:52 capped an 18-8 run from which Minot was unable to recover.

Solid free throw shooting down the stretch extended the Yellowjackets’ lead in the final four and a half minutes.  Jonathan Wiley (So., Westlake Village, CA) connected on 6-of-6 from the charity stripe during that span to put the game away.

All five Yellowjacket starters scored in double figures, led by Munoz’s 27.  He was 6-of-15 from 3-point range and 5-of-5 from the line

Wiley had the biggest game of his young career with 21 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.  All three were career highs.  He was 15-of-19 from the line.

Senior Justin Hassell (Brooklyn, NY) added 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the field.  He also posted a double-double with 10 rebounds and dished out five assists. 

Walker made his college debut with 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting.  He was 5-of-7 from the line and added six rebounds.  Windy Boy finished the night with 15 points, all coming from behind the arc where he was an efficient 5-of-7.  Youmans was the only non-starter to score for the Jackets, netting three points.

The Beavers were paced by 21 points apiece from Allerdings and Charles Rourk.  Rourk was 4-of-8 from 3-point and handed out seven assists.  Drew Hysjulien finished with 16 points, and Jorsua Chambers added 13.

The Yellowjackets remain at home for a pair of games next Friday and Saturday against Ohio Valley College (WV).  Tip off for both games is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym. 

Click HERE for photos of the Yellowjackets vs. Minot State Beavers.