Yellowjackets Win Seventh Straight Conference Game (Feb. 12, 2005)
Box Score

BILLINGS, MT – Montana State-Billings has always liked to shoot the 3-pointer.  With Thursday’s loss of forward Lucas Walker (broken hand), the Yellowjackets may fire up more threes in the next few weeks than they do already.

The Jackets, who are ranked fourth in Division II for 3-point field goals per game, dropped in 16 Saturday night in a 102-95 Pacific West Conference win over visiting Chaminade.  It was the second win this week over the Silverswords (14-10, 7-6 in the PacWest) and the seventh-straight PacWest Conference win after starting the conference season with four losses.  MSU Billings (15-6, 7-4) moved up to third place in the PacWest standings after three wins this week.

“That was a good win against a good team,” said Yellowjacket coach Craig Carse.  “Cody (Samuelson) had a very good game, and our veterans stepped up when we needed them to.”

The Yellowjackets wasted little time opening a double-digit lead.  Cameron Munoz and Carlin Hughes combined for three 3-pointers in the first five minutes as MSU Billings built a 17-7 lead.  Munoz finished the night with seven 3-pointers and a game-high 31 points. 

The Silverswords were able to pull to within six points in the final six minutes of the first half after a pair of Corey Campbell free throws made the score 29-23.  Campbell scored 14 of his 22 points in the opening half, keeping Chaminade in the game.

MSU Billings threatened to run away with the game again in the final minutes of the half.  Samuelson scored a layup and a 3-pointer to push the lead back to 15, but Chaminade was able to withstand the charge, settling for a 48-38 halftime score.  Samuelson and Munoz combined for 25 of the Jackets’ first half points and five of their nine first half 3-pointers.  Samuelson’s pair of threes were a career high, as were his 14 points in the game.

“The guys made a great adjustment on Thursday when we lost Lucas,” said Carse.  “Tonight Jonathan Wiley went out and they adjusted to that as well.  It’s nice to have guys step in and play well.  Drew Arnold did some good things, Cody played well, and Cameron hit some big shots.”

The Yellowjackets opened the second half with a 10-3 run capped by a Justin Hassell dunk that opened a 58-41 lead.  MSU Billings led by as many as 19 in the second half, but the Swords were able to cut the deficit below 10 following each Jacket run.

Seven of Chaminade’s nine 3-pointers came in the second half and the Silverswords outscored the Yellowjackets 57-54 in the final 20 minutes.  The Swords’ last serious charge came with just over five minutes to play.  After Chris Reaves hit one of two free throws to trim the lead back to 10, Zack Whiting hit a three from the top of the key to get Chaminade within 82-75 with five and a half minutes left.

As they did all night, the Yellowjackets answered.  A pair of Hassell free throws and a Munoz 3-pointer pushed the lead to 87-75.  MSU Billings answered basket for basket after that point, maintaining the double-digit lead as the teams combined for 35 points in the final five minutes.  Reaves’s 3-pointers as time was running out provided the final seven point margin.

Hassell finished with 25 points and six rebounds.  He was 6-of-10 from the field and 12-of-15 from the free throw line.  Buddy Windy Boy added 14 points and four 3-pointers. 

Arnold came off the bench to score six points and grab six rebounds in 14 minutes of action.  The six rebounds were a season high for the freshman.  Hughes added seven points to go with a career-high nine assists.  Kerington Youmans finished with five points in seven minutes off the bench.

Whiting led Chaminade with 23 points, hitting 4-of-6 from beyond the arc.  He was also 5-of-6 from the line and grabbed seven rebounds.  Reaves finished with 17 points and five boards, and Scott Metcalf had 10 points and six rebounds. 

The Jackets don’t get any rest as they fly to Hawaii on Sunday for a three game set in the islands.  They play at Hawaii Pacific on Tuesday and then at BYU-Hawaii on Thursday and Saturday. 

“We will use tonight and tomorrow as preparation,” said Carse of the upcoming trip.  “Our trainer will be with us and will work with our guys who have some injuries.  We’ll go down there and do what we can.”

Click HERE for photos of the Yellowjackets vs. Chaminade