Yellowjackets Roll Past Great Falls (February 6, 2003)

BILLINGS, MT – Dan Thompson’s career-high 34 points led the MSU Billings Yellowjackets to a 102-61 non-conference win over the University of Great Falls on Thursday night.  Thompson connected on 6-of-9 three point attempts and 13-of-17 overall from the field.

A week after scoring a school record 146 points, the Jackets (11-6) came out of the blocks slowly.  They trailed 19-16 at the 10:12 mark after the Argos’ (6-18) Bo Scott landed a 3-pointer.  Scott finished with five points.  On the next trip down the floor, Thompson was true on his first attempt of the game from behind the arc, tying the game at 19-19.  That was as close as Great Falls would come for the rest of the game. 

MSU Billings went on a 7-0 run to take a 26-19 lead after Willy Davison found Kyle Stirmlinger in the paint for the basket with 7:04 remaining in the half.  John Paul Geniesse’s pair of free throws at 6:51 stopped the Yellowjackets run, but only briefly.  MSUB used an 18-9 run to close the first half and take a 44-30 lead into the break.

Thompson led all scorers with 19 at halftime after making all four of his 3-point attempts in the half.  He was 7-of-8 from the field.  Kyle Stirmlinger had 11 points and six rebounds at the half.  He finished the game with a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds.

The Yellowjackets broke the game open early in the second half.  Thompson’s triple with 16:47 left gave MSUB a 19-point lead at 54-35.  A basket by Cameron Munoz just a half minute later put the Jackets up 21 and they cruised from there.

Five different Yellowjackets finished in double-figure scoring.  Munoz, Buddy Windy Boy, and Bill Day each added 10 points to Thompson and Stirmlinger’s totals.  Davison recorded his third-straight game of at least nine assists.  As a team, MSU Billings made 10-of 24 from 3-point range and 18-of-23 from the free throw line.

The Argos were paced by Danny Ball’s team-high 28.  He made 7-of-21 from the field and 4-of-10 from behind the arc.  He also sank all ten of his free throw attempts as UGF made 18-of-22 from the line.  Andre Gilchrist added 11 points.

The Yellowjackets resume PacWest Conference play next Tuesday when they host Chaminade University.  They will take on the Silverswords again on Thursday, and Hawaii-Hilo on Saturday.