Jacket Shooters Catch Fire in Win over Saint Leo (Dec. 20, 2004)
Box Score

BILLINGS, MT – After two games of scoring in the 60s, the Montana State-Billings Yellowjackets found their shooting touches in a 107-99 win over Saint Leo Monday night.  Junior guard Cameron Munoz (Chino, CA) scored a game-high 32 points with seven 3-pointers to help the Jackets improve to 6-1.  Saint Leo fell to 5-5.  The same teams meet again at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday at Alterowitz Gym.

“Because of our system, we have to make baskets,” said Yellowjacket head coach Craig Carse.  “I thought Cameron was spectacular tonight.  He did a great job of bouncing back from two tough games.”

The game started as though it was going to be another defensive battle, with Saint Leo leading 12-11 at the first media timeout five minutes into the game.  The Lions’ Scott Seifert knocked down a 3-pointer out of that timeout and the race was on.  The teams combined for 84 points over the remainder of the half with the Yellowjackets rallying to take a 54-53 halftime advantage. 

The Lions led by as many as nine in the first half, but the Jackets’ 3-point shooters were able to erase the lead over the final seven minutes.  Munoz and Buddy Windy Boy (Jr., Lodge Grass, MT) each had three 3-pointers in the opening half and MSU Billings hit nine as a team.

The second half became a battle as the teams’ similar styles of play collided.  Both teams played aggressive full court defense and fired 3-pointers at each turn.  The final result was a total of 61 fouls—33 for Saint Leo and 28 for MSU Billings—and 92 free throws.  For the game, Saint Leo was 31-of-43 from the line, and MSU Billings was 33-of-48.

The difference in the game was the Jackets’ 3-point shooting.  They were 16-of-36 from downtown while the Lions connected on 8-of-23.  Along with Munoz’s seven 3-pointers, Windy Boy added four before fouling out and Justin Hassell (Sr., Brooklyn, NY) had two.  Lucas Walker (Fr., Launceston, Australia), Carlin Hughes (Fr., Perth, Australia) and Cody Samuelson (So., Broadus, MT) each made one 3-pointer.

Five Yellowjackets scored in double figures with double-double performances from Hassell and Samuelson.  Hassell finished with 17 points and a career-high 12 rebounds before fouling out.  Samuelson recorded career highs for both points and rebounds with 10 and 15 respectively.  Walker added 18 points before he fouled out, and Windy Boy finished with 12. 

The Lions were led by Seifert’s double-double of 29 points and 12 boards.  He was 4-of-11 from 3-point range and 11-of-13 from the free throw line.  Larry Henderson finished with 24 points, connecting on 8-of-11 from the field and 8-of-10 from the charity stripe.  Marquis McCullough added 13 points.  Narada Caldwell handed out a game-high seven assists.