Rattlers Hold Down Jacket Men (1/24/07)
Box Score
Game Photos

BILLINGS, MT - St. Mary's shut down Montana State-Billings in the second half to win 67-51 Wednesday night at Alterowitz Gym.  The Rattlers held the Yellowjackets to just 18 second half points, improving to 10-8 overall and 3-2 in the Heartland Conference.  The Yellowjackets dropped to 3-14 overall and 3-3 in the conference.

“I’m very happy with the kids’ effort,” said Yellowjacket head coach Craig Carse.  “They played within the system, but we were 5-for-22 from threes.  That just doesn’t get it done.  We only got to the free throw line nine times, and we put them on the free throw line 24 times.  We’re giving people a 15 point difference (at the line), and when you shoot like that, that’s the difference in the game.  You have to put the ball in the basket to win.”

The Yellowjackets ground their way to a 33-32 halftime lead courtesy of a dozen first half turnovers by the Rattlers.  Jeff Miner (Gresham, OR), Russell Steplight (Olympia, WA), and Tom D’Amore (Tucson, AZ) each scored six points in the first half.  The Yellowjackets were 4-of-9 from 3-point range in the opening stanza with Miner knocking down 2-of-4. 

The second half started as an offensive struggle for both sides with the teams combining for five points in the first five and a half minutes.  A Miner 3-pointer with 14:26 to play broke a tie and gave the Jackets a 38-35 edge.  That long ball would turn out to be MSUB’s only 3-pointer of the second half with the Jackets finishing the half 1-of-13 from behind the arc.

The Rattlers’ Roderick Bellard answered Miner’s 3-pointer on the next possession, and St. Mary’s never trailed again.  A pair of Jarvis Lee free throws with eight minutes to play gave the Rattlers their first double-digit lead of the game, and MSUB couldn’t get any closer than eight down the stretch.

The Rattlers’ Latez Williams notched a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds.  He was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field and 5-of-9 from the line.  Lee finished the night with 21 points, hitting 4-of-9 from 3-point range.  He was 3-of-4 from behind the arc in the second half.  The Rattlers shot 47 percent from the field and were 14-of-24 from the line.

No Yellowjacket scored in double figures, with Miner and Jonathan Wiley (Westlake Village, CA) netting nine apiece.  D’Amore and Steplight each finished with six points after being held scoreless in the second half.  Troy Ruff (Custer, MT) came off the bench to score five points.  Eric Cunningham (Phoenix, AZ), Cody Samuelson (Broadus, MT), Carl Johnson (Rapid City, SD), and Mike Barton (Havre, MT) scored four points apiece.  Johnson finished with eight rebounds, and Samuelson had seven.

The Jackets continue their current home stand on Saturday when they host University of the Incarnate Word (8-9, 3-2) at 7:30 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym.  The Yellowjackets and Cardinals will also play a non-conference game on Sunday.