Yellowjackets Blow Past Northwest Nazarene, 81-51

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BILLINGS, Mont. – Shooting 70.4 percent in the second half and out-scoring Northwest Nazarene 52-21 in the final half, propelled Montana State Billings to an 81-51 victory Saturday evening at Alterowitz Gymnasium.  With the victory, MSUB improves to 8-9 on the year and 3-3 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  NNU falls to 10-6 overall and 2-4 in conference play.  The Yellowjackets were led by a game-high 20 points from Michael Hall, 19 of which came in the second half to lead four scorers in double figures.

Along with Hall, the Yellowjackets blistered the nets in the second half shooting 19 of 27 in the half and a season-high 58.9 percent for the game on 33 of 56 from the field.  Brad Hodge had 15 points off the bench on a career-best 7 of 9 from the field.  Travis Bunker had 13 points and seven rebounds, while Derrick Wright chipped in 10 points and six boards. 

It was the largest margin of victory for MSUB since a 111-61 victory over Texas-Permian Basin, Feb. 17, 2007.

MSUB began the game shooting just 6 of 20 from the field, but ended the first half 14 of 29 as it went 8 of 9 from the field the rest of the half for 48.3 percent.  The Jackets didn’t make a 3-pointer in the first half (0 for 2) but knocked down six in the second half, four by Hall.

NNU had two players in double figures led by 11 points from Brian Barkdoll and 10 points from Joel Ryman.  Crusader Kendall Gielow was held to just five points, all in the first half.

MSUB came out in the second half on fire as Michael Hall knocked down two triples, his first two of the game as he started 0 for 5 from range and helped lead the Yellowjackets to a 39-32 lead and a timeout by NNU with 17:45 left.  The Jackets began the half 4 of 4 from the field.  Moments later, Hall was fouled on a made 3-pointer and converted the free throw for a 42-32 lead increasing the run to 13-2 to start the half.

“We got stops and made shots,” Pfeifer added.  “Our defense tonight created scoring opportunities for us.”

Since the 7:49 mark in the first half, the ‘Jackets went 14 of 16 from the field and held a 44-36 lead with 15:17 left regulation for an .875 shooting percentage during that span and outscored the Crusaders 32-18 during that stretch. 

“Our guys decided to become more assertive and aggressive,” head coach George Pfeifer said.  “During the time out (7:49 1st half), we told them to be more assertive.  We made the plays simple and they executed.”

After NNU went on a 6-0 run to bring it within 44-36, Hodge scored on a nice spin move in the lane and converted the 3-point play for a 47-36 lead with 13 minutes left.  Hall knocked down a long jumper for a 49-38 lead moments later.

A steal and dunk by Hodge pushed the Yellowjacket lead to 58-40 with 9:47 left in the half as MSUB built its biggest lead of the game and a 12-4 run since the 14:51 mark and NNU was on a field goal drought since the 14:30 mark. 

Two free throws by Barkdoll ended a drought of over eight minutes.  NNU’s last field goal was at 14:30 until a steal and layup by Joel Ryman ended a 10-minute drought with 4:39 left in regulation and the score 72-45. 

Northwest Nazarene built a 24-17 lead, but after a timeout by the Yellowjackets, MSUB rattled off six of the next eight points to pull within 26-23 with 3:46 left in the half.  MSUB started the game just 6 of 20, but since the 7:49 mark, shot 4 of 6 and upped its percentage to 42.  NNU continued to shot above 50 percent on 10 of 19 through 16:15.

Bunker continued his hot hand as he nailed a long jumper as the shot clock was winding down to tie the game at 29 with one minute left in the half.  NNU held a 30-29 lead at halftime. 

For the half, MSUB shot 48.3 percent from the floor on 14 of 29 from the field.  Since the 7:49 mark, the Jackets finished the half 8 of 9.  Bunker led the team with eight points in the half.  MSUB was just 0 for 2 from beyond the arc in the half and 1 of 2 from the line.  All eight players who played in the half scored.

NNU shot an even 50 percent from the floor on 11 of 22.  The Crusaders were 4 of 6 from deep and 4 of 5 from the line.  Barkdoll led the team with six points.  MSUB held a 15-12 lead in rebounds, including a 5-2 lead on the offensive end.  The ‘Jackets also held an 18-10 lead in points in the paint, too.

The Yellowjackets conclude their five-game home stand Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. versus Alaska Anchorage at Alterowitz Gymnasium.