Yellowjackets Exact Revenge with 76-69 Victory Over Chadron State

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BILLINGS, Mont. – 23 points by Michael Hall, including 14 in the second half, helped spark the Montana State Billings men’s basketball team to a 76-69 victory Friday evening at Alterowitz Gymnasium.  The Yellowjackets avenge an early season loss at Chadron State and head into conference play at 5-6. 

In addition to Hall, Derrick Wright had 13 points, while Mario Burns and Brad Hodge each had 10.  Hodge was one rebound away from a double-double.  Tim McLaurin led the Eagles (4-6) with 25 points. 

Through the first 10 minutes of the game, both teams played pretty even as MSUB held a 14-12 lead.  Despite the lead, Chadron State opened the game 4 of 7 from the field for 57 percent, while the Yellowjackets were 4 of 13.  MSUB held the lead from making 6 of 8 from the charity stripe.

A 3-pointer by Travis Bunker opened a five point lead for the Yellowjackets with just over eight minutes left in the half at 21-16.  It was the first made 3-pointer for MSUB in the game as it started 0-5.  A nice put back by Brad Hodge put the Yellowjackets up 27-20 with 6:30 left in the half.  Moments later, a nice knifing drive to the bucket by Mario Burns followed by a layup from Hodge pushed the lead to 31-20.

An 8-0 run by the Eagles got the score to 31-28, but a long 3-pointer by Michael Hall pushed the lead to 34-28 with just over a minute left in the half.  CSC cut it to 34-30 at half.

Despite the Eagles shooting 60 percent from the field on 12 of 20, the Yellowjackets held the lead for much of the half and settled for a four point advantage at halftime.  MSUB led by as many as 11.  The Yellowjackets shot 44.8 percent for the half on 13 of 29 from the field.

Both teams struggled from downtown, going a combined 5 of 13 from deep.  MSUB was just 2 of 7 from long range, while Chadron State was 3 of 6.  Where the Yellowjackets had the advantage was inside as MSUB led 20-6 in points in the paint and was 6 of 9 from the charity stripe, compared to 3 of 8 for the Eagles.

At the half Tim McLaurin of Chadron State led all-scores with 13 points.  He was 6 of 7 from the field with five rebounds.  Hall paced the Yellowjackets with nine points on 2 of 6 from the field, but was 4 of 5 from the line.  No ‘Jacket was in double figures at halftime.

Through the first four minutes of the second half, MSUB swelled the lead back to seven points as it opened the half 3 of 6.  CSC began the half 4 of 7.  Both teams knocked down one 3-pointer in the opening four minutes of the half.

McLaurin took the game over from the line and got the Eagles back to within two points at 46-44 with 13:44 to play.

A deep 3-pointer by Hall, his third of the game, ended a scoreless drought of over three minutes for the Yellowjackets and pushed the lead to 52-48 with 7:53 left after the Eagles had gotten within one.  Moments later, a turnover by CSC and a nice layup and foul by Tyler Hentzen pushed the lead to 55-48.

With five minutes left in the game, MSUB held a 57-55 lead, the ‘Jackets also held a two point lead at Chadron State with five minutes to play, but was unable to close the deal.  A nice put back by Tautuaa Moala tied the game at 57, but Derrick Wright had the quick score and a nice block on McLaurin on the other end giving the Jackets the ball and a 59-57 lead with under four minutes left.

Back-to-back buckets by Hall, including a 3-pointer, pushed the Yellowjacket lead back to seven at 66-59 with two minutes left.  Two free throws by Hentzen increased the lead to 69-59 with just over a minute left.  A 3-pointer from Jordan Lisco, who just entered the game for the first time, cut the Yellowjacket lead to 70-64 with 49.3 seconds left.

The Yellowjackets salted the game away from the line as Bunker made two free throws followed by two throws from Hall for a 74-64 lead with 24 seconds left.  Burns made two free throws with five seconds left for a 76-66 lead.  McLaurin hit a 3-pointer right before the buzzer for a 76-69 score. 

For the game, the Yellowjackets shot 40 percent on 24 of 59 from the field and were 6 of 19 from downtown and 24 of 36 from the line.  Conversely, the Eagles were 51.1 percent from the field on 24 of 47.  The Eagles were 6 of 20 from long range and were 15 of 22 from the line.

The major differences in the game were in turnovers as CSC committed 21, compared to just 12 for the Yellowjackets that led to 23 points for MSUB.  Also, MSUB dominated the offensive glass with a 16-7 margin and a 15-5 lead in second chance points.

MSUB begins conference play Thursday at Western Washington and will return to Alterowitz Gymnasium to begin a five game home stand Jan. 15 versus Western Oregon at 7 p.m.