Cardinals Nip Yellowjacket Men (1/28/07)
Box Score
Game Photos

BILLINGS, MT – Incarnate Word downed Montana State-Billings for the second time in as many nights Sunday, holding on for a 72-66 non-conference win at Alterowitz Gym.  The win improved the Cardinals to 11-9 overall, dropping the Yellowjackets to 3-16.  UIW defeated MSUB by 20 on Saturday.

Bouncing back from Saturday’s blowout, the Yellowjackets led for large portions of the first half and early second half.  A Jeff Miner (Gresham, OR) 3-pointer in the final 20 seconds of the first half sent the Yellowjackets to halftime with a narrow 30-29 advantage.  The basket was the first of Miner’s five 3-pointers in the game.

“I thought we had good energy and executed the game plan,” said Yellowjacket head coach Craig Carse.  “Whenever you don’t win, it becomes contagious and it becomes difficult to develop confidence.  The guys are working hard, and I’m proud of their attitudes and their character.”

MSUB led for the first four and a half minutes of the second half, although never by more than five.  The Cardinals finally gained the lead with 15:26 to play on a Chris Smith jumper.  There were six ties and six lead changes after that point.  UIW didn’t take the lead for good until the 1:47 mark. 

A Cody Samuelson (Broadus, MT) free throw with 2:15 to play tied the game at 65-65.   It was the thirteenth tie of the game.  The Cardinals outscored the Yellowjackets 7-1 over the final two minutes with Mikyl Bradshaw’s only 3-pointer of the game providing the spark.

The Jackets shot just 29 percent from the field for the game, but 19 UIW turnovers helped keep MSU Billings in the game.  The Yellowjackets scored 13 points off Cardinal turnovers and another 20 on second chance points.  Nineteen of the Jackets’ 36 rebounds were on the offensive end.

Miner finished the night with 19 points, connecting on 5-of-11 from behind the arc.  Jonathan Wiley (Westlake Village, CA) added 15 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds.  Five of his boards were on the offensive glass.  Samuelson netted 11 points and picked up three steals.  Point guard Eric Cunningham (Phoenix, AZ) dropped in nine points to go with four assists without a turnover.

The Cardinals were paced by Paul Connolly’s 19 points.  He hit 4-of-5 from 3-point range.  As a team the Cardinals were 10-of-17.  Bradshaw finished with 13 points, and Antario Williams had 11.  Big man Jason Gant was limited to four points and seven rebounds after nearly posting a 20-20 performance on Saturday.  UIW shot 52 percent from the field and 59 percent from 3-point.

The Yellowjackets don’t play at home again until February 17.  They will play four road games before then, staring February 2 and 3 at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO.  Both games will be aired on AM 970 in Billings and on the internet at www.msubillings.edu/athletics.  Tip off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. MST each night.