Jackets’ Miner Posts Big Showing (12/2/06)
Box Score

NAMPA, ID – The Montana State – Billings men’s basketball team fell to host team Northwest Nazarene 88-74 Saturday at the Shiloh Inn Classic held in Nampa, Idaho.  The loss drops the Jackets to 0-2 while the win improves the Crusaders to 2-4.

The Yellowjackets jumped out to the quick 3-0 lead on a three-pointer by Jonathan Wiley (West Lake Village, CA) that was followed by threes from both Jeff Miner (Gresham, OR) and Derek Taylor (Lewistown, MT).  The Crusaders answered back with three 3-pointers of their own, and a jumper by Kendall Gielow gave Northwest Nazarene a two-point lead.  The Yellowjackets kept the Crusaders within reach most of the first half, but the Crusaders’ offense punched through the Jackets’ defense to carry a 12-point advantage going into the second half.

Tom D’Amore (Tucson, AZ) knocked down one of his five three-pointers in the game just five seconds into the second half.  At the 14:48 mark the Jackets were three possessions behind the Crusaders.  For the second night in a row, the Jackets stumbled down the stretch as the Crusaders pulled away, leading by as many as 26.  The Jackets went on a 9-0 run in the final two minutes of regulation with Ammar Harknell (Stockholm, Sweden) and Miner contributing to the effort.  The Jackets were able to close within 14 points before time expired.

“We are a young, inexperienced team that is working to improve one game at a time,” said Yellowjacket head coach Craig Carse.  “We have three outstanding freshmen that work hard when they step out on the court, and I think we can build our future around them.  I am proud to coach the players on this team and it will be exciting to watch them grow.”

Miner led all players with 28 points on 10-of-20 shooting from the field and 5-of-8 from three-point range.  D’Amore netted 15 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the field and matched Miner’s five threes.  The two players combined for 10 of the team’s 12 three-pointers in the game.

The Yellowjackets look to improve their game one step at a time and they did that proving they could shoot the long ball with consistency going 12-of-22 for 54.5 percent.  The Jackets were 26-of-55 from the field for 47.3 percent and out-rebounded the Crusaders 35-22.

The Crusaders had five players score in double figures and were led by Gielow with 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the field.  Casey Fisher netted 15 points and was 3-of-3 from three-point range.  Teammate Marcus Clift added 13 and was one of three Crusaders to hit three three-pointers in the game. 

The Crusaders scored 32 points off Yellowjacket turnovers but only had two steals in the game.  They were 33-of-56 from the field for 58.9 percent and 13-of-24 from behind the arc for 54.2 percent.