Yellowjackets End Season on a High Note, 71-66

Box Score

NAMPA, Idaho – Using a 9-0 run in the final four minutes propelled visiting Montana State Billings to a 71-66 come-from-behind victory over Northwest Nazarene Saturday evening.  With the victory, MSUB ends the season on a high note, snapping an eight game losing streak. 

For the first time since the 2005-06 season, the Yellowjackets swept a conference opponent.  MSUB came from a seven-point halftime deficit to outscore Northwest Nazarene 37-25 in the second half for the victory.  MSUB defeated Northwest Nazarene, 81-51, Jan. 24 in Billings. 

With the victory, MSUB finishes the season with a 10-17 record overall and a 5-11 record in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  NNU ends its season with a 14-13 record and a 5-11 record in conference play.  The 10 wins mark the first time since 2005-06 that MSUB had double-digit wins.

A 9-0 run late in the second half beginning with an Adam Weisz steal and fastbreak layup put the Yellowjackets up for good as they made five of eight free throws in the final minute to salt the game away.

The Yellowjackets were led by 15 points from Mario Burns and Derrick Wright chipped in 11 points as MSUB shot 51 percent from field for the game.  MSUB was 14 of 23 from the charity stripe, but really struggled from deep, going just 3 of 15.

NNU had four players in double figures led by Joel Ryman with 19 points as he was a game-high 7 of 11 from the field, including 4 of 8 from deep.  The Crusaders shot 43 percent from the field and were helped by converting 10 of 20 triples.  They also were 16 of 18 from the charity stripe. 

Both teams struggled to hold onto the ball as MSUB committed 20 turnovers, while NNU had 23 miscues.  The specialty stats were pretty even as well. MSUB dominated the glass, 34-25, including 10-4 on the offensive end. 

The game opened as Wright put the Yellowjackets up 3-2 early with a nice move and bucket in the paint.  NNU proceeded to go up 5-3 on a triple from Adam Shildmyer and built a 15-7 lead with a 10-4 run over the next four minutes. 

The Crusaders kept the margin between three and eight points for the rest of the half.  Every time MSUB got to within three points, NNU had the answer and swelled the lead. The Yellowjackets cut the defict to three points on six occasions in the half, but could get no closer and settled for a 41-34 deficit at the break.

After a quick bucket by NNU to open the second half, a 6-0 spurt by the Yellowjackets pulled the visitors within three on a layup by Brad Hodge with 16:14 left, 43-40.  Two free throws by Adam Weisz and a jumper by Tyler Hentzen pulled the Yellowjackets within one at 47-46 with 13:13 left.  Through the first seven minutes of the second half, MSUB outscored NNU 12-6.

MSUB took the lead for the first time in the half as Kirk Blaine scored inside moments later for a 48-47 lead.  The Crusaders regained the lead off an offensive rebound and jumper by Ryman.  NNU swelled the lead to six on a triple and a jumper from Anthony Golden moments later.

The Yellowjackets didn’t panic and Travis Bunker nailed a triple to cut the deficit in half with 8:40 left.  NNU regained the lead and built it back to four points on two occasions down the stretch, but a jumper by Burns and a steal and layup by Weisz tied the game with 4:26 left.

Golden knocked down his second triple of the game out of a NNU timeout to pull it within two at 63-61 with 1:24 left.

Brett Taylor nailed a 3-pointer, his first field goal of the game, moments later that put the Yellowjackets back up five with 50 seconds left.  NNU’s leading scorer, Kendall Gielow, hit just his second field goal of the game (2 of 11) and was fouled but could not convert the 3-point play cutting the deficit to 66-63.

A big rebound by Hentzen forced NNU to begin fouling and Weisz made two free throws and one free throw from Taylor for a 69-63 lead.

Ryman hit a triple give the Crusaders life, but two more free throws by Taylor pushed the lead back to five in favor of the Yellowjackets in the closing seconds, 71-66.