Jackets Survive DBU Comeback (2/19/07)
Box Score
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BILLINGS, MT - Montana State-Billings withstood a feverish comeback attempt in the final minute to hold off Dallas Baptist University 77-74 Monday night on "Mike Harkins Night."  In doing so, the Yellowjackets prevented the Patriots from clinching the final remaining spot in the Heartland Conference Tournament and kept their own slim playoff chances alive.

The Yellowjackets trailed just once all night and led by as many as 13 in the second half, but the Patriots refused to quit even as the crowd was filing for the exits.  MSUB led by double digits as late as 41 seconds remaining, but the Patriots’ strategy of fouling to stop the clock paid dividends in the final two minutes.

Dallas Baptist fouled 10 times in the final 1:58, sending the Yellowjackets to the line for 20 free throws.  MSUB converted on 15-of-20, but the five misses almost proved disastrous.  The Patriots’ Nick Michels scored 14 of his game-high 35 points in the final 60 seconds, and had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds.

A lay-up by Michels with seven seconds left pulled the Patriots within a point at 75-74.  A quick foul sent the Jackets’ Eric Cunningham (Phoenix, AZ) to the line where he knocked down both free throws.  With no timeouts left, Michels raced up the floor but lost the handle in a crowd at the top of the key as time expired.

Cunningham and Jonathan Wiley (Westlake Village, CA) were the beneficiaries of the Patriots’ late-game strategy.  Cunningham hit 8-of-10 from the free throw line and finished with a career-high 17 points.  Wiley connected on 13-of-17 from the charity stripe, scoring 19 points in the game.  Russell Steplight (Olympia, WA) came off the bench to add 11 points.  Cody Samuelson (Broadus, MT) had eight points and seven rebounds before fouling out.

Michels was 11-of-17 from the field and 6-of-9 from 3-point range.  He was the only Patriot in double figures and hit six of the team’s nine 3-pointers.  Erik Villarreal added nine points.  Brandon Wash grabbed 14 rebounds.

With the win, the Yellowjackets improved to 4-7 in the Heartland, dropping the Patriots to 5-7.  The Patriots have wrapped up their conference schedule, and MSU Billings still has one game remaining at St. Edward’s University on February 24.  A Yellowjacket win at St. Ed’s would create a tie for fourth place at 5-7. 

Because of head-to-head tiebreaker rules, the Yellowjackets would be No. 4 if St. Edward’s were the regular season champion, and Dallas Baptist would be No. 4 if Incarnate Word were the regular season champion.  St. Edward’s won at St. Mary’s Monday to improve to 8-2.  The Hilltoppers have MSUB and Lincoln left on their schedule.  Incarnate Word is 8-3 and has one game left against Oklahoma Panhandle State.  OPSU could also get into the fourth place tie with wins against St. Mary’s and Incarnate Word.  Any loss by MSU Billings and Oklahoma Panhandle gives the Patriots the No. 4 seed.

MSU Billings and Dallas Baptist will meet again Tuesday night in a non-conference game.  It will be the final home game of the season and Senior Night for Wiley and Samuelson.  The duo will be honored following the game.