Yellowjackets Fall at Central Washington, 87-71

Box Score

ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington used a big second half run to pull away from visiting Montana State Billings Thursday evening, 87-71.  With the loss, MSUB falls to 9-17 on the year and 4-11 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  CWU improved to 18-5 overall and 12-3 in conference play.

The Yellowjackets had five players in double figures led by 18 points off the bench from Brad Hodge.  Hodge was 7 of 9 from the field and 4 of 5 from the charity stripe.  Derrick Wright chipped in 14 points on 6 of 7 from the field, while Mario Burns had 13 points and six assists and Brett Taylor and Travis Bunker each had 12 points.

The Wildcats had six players in double figures led by a game-high 19 points from Matt Penoncello.  Chris Sprinker had 12 points off the bench as CWU outscored the Yellowjackets 34-20 in bench points, including 11 points from Colton Monti and Giovonne Woods. 

MSUB shot just under 70 percent from the field in the first half on 16 of 23 from the field, 5 of 8 from deep and 4 of 4 from the line.  The Yellowjackets were down 46-41 at intermission and were down twice in the half by nine points, but rallied each time.  Monti hit a triple at the buzzer for the five-point advantage.

Central Washington opened the decisive half with a 21-9 run over the first seven minutes.  MSUB cooled off its shooting in the second half as it was 11 of 25 from the floor and 1 of 7 from deep in the half.  The Wildcats made seven more field goals in the second half as well.

One of the major differences in the game was turnovers as MSUB committed 19 miscues to just nine by CWU.  The Wildcats owns a 28-8 lead in points off turnovers and a 12-4 lead in second chance points as they dominated the offensive glass, 11-2 and 30-23 in total rebounds.

For the game, MSUB shot 56 percent from the floor on 27 of 48.  The Yellowjackets were 6 of 15 from downtown and 11 of 14 from the line.  CWU shot 52 percent from the field on 35 of 67 and was 9 of 24 from 3-point range.  The Wildcats were 8 of 11 from the line.

MSUB will conclude the regular season Saturday at Northwest Nazarene.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.