Yellowjackets Drop Exhibition Opener (11/6/06)

BILLINGS, MT – Despite a big second half comeback, the Montana State-Billings men’s basketball team dropped its first exhibition game of the season Monday night, 99-94 at Rocky Mountain College.  The Yellowjackets trailed 51-39 at halftime, but poured in 55 second half points to rally and lead for large parts of the second half.

Freshman Jeff Miner (Gresham, OR) scored 24 of his 28 points in the second half to spark the Yellowjacket comeback.  Miner knocked down a game-high seven 3-pointers, including six in the final 20 minutes.  Senior Jonathan Wiley (Westlake Village, CA) joined Miner in carrying the Yellowjacket offense.  He netted 30 points, 18 in the second half, to lead all players.  Wiley was 14-of-17 at the free throw line in a game that saw 68 fouls called.  The Jackets were 22-of-29 at the line.

The Jackets’ offense dropped off after Miner and Wiley, who accounted for roughly 62 percent of the team’s scoring.  Russell Steplight (Olympia, WA) was 4-of-8 from the field for 11 points.  Drew Arnold (Tempe, AZ) added eight points and 10 rebounds before fouling out.  Five different Yellowjackets fouled out of the game.

The Bears had five players in double figures led by Cooper Warren’s 22 points.  Warren scored a dozen of his points at the charity stripe.  Chris Nickolei had 20 points and 10 rebounds.  He was 14-of-18 from the free throw line.  Chris Townly added 15 points, Devin Uskoski finished with 14, and Elijah had 11.  The Bears were 42-of-61 from the free throw line, accounting for 42 percent of their points.

The Yellowjackets will continue their exhibition season on Saturday with an alumni game at 7:00 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym.  MSUB will host Rocky in another exhibition game on November 14.  The Jackets don’t open the regular season until December 1 and 2 when they play at a tournament in Nampa, ID.