Yellowjackets Stay in the Hunt with PacWest Win over Chaminade (February 11, 2003)

BILLINGS, MT – The MSU Billings Yellowjackets won their sixth straight game, the fifth straight in conference play, downing Chaminade University 87-71 Tuesday night.  Cameron Munoz scored a game-high 23 to lead the Jackets as they improved to 12-6 overall and 5-4 in the PacWest.  The Silverswords fell to 9-11, 4-4.

The game had the feel of a heavyweight bout at points, with both teams fighting to stay in the Pacific West Conference title race.  In a physical opening half, the Silverswords held the lead for almost a ten-minute stretch, from 17:26 until 7:26 of the half.  Mike Donegan’s basket gave Chaminade its final lead of the game at the 7:26 mark.  He finished the game with 23 points.

The Yellowjackets went on a three-point barrage over the final seven minutes of the half to build a 36-33 halftime lead.  Cameron Munoz hit back-to-back threes, putting MSUB up 23-18 with 6:21 to play.  That was followed by three-pointers by Justin Hassell at 5:38, Buddy Windy Boy at 4:56 and Munoz again at 3:48. 

Chaminade outscored the Jackets 11-4 over the final three and a half minutes to cut the gap to three at the break.  Donald Rogers scored five points of those points for the Silverswords.  Rogers finished with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field.

The teams traded baskets over the first two minutes of the second half, but the Yellowjackets stretched the lead to double-digits at the 15:46 mark after Kyle Stirmlinger’s second straight basket in the paint.  Back-to-back three-pointers by Munoz and Dan Thompson pushed the lead to 14 at 12:48, and the Silverswords couldn’t get any closer than 11 for the remainder of the game.

Hassell scored with 21 points on 6-of-6 shooting from the field and 8-of-10 from the free throw line.  Thompson added 15 points, 13 of which came in the second half.  After making just 1-of-5 attempts from the field in the first half, Thompson connected on 5-of-8 in the second half.  Stirmlinger finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and six blocked shots.  The six blocks tied him for third in the Yellowjacket single-game record book.

The same teams square off again Thursday in a pivotal conference contest.  Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. at Alterowitz Gymnasium.  The game can be heard live on News Radio 970 AM and on the internet at www.msubillings.edu/athletics.