Yellowjackets Down Cold-Shooting Alaska Anchorage, 69-60

Box Score
Photo Gallery

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings men’s basketball team ended its five-game home stand in thrilling fashion as it defeated Alaska Anchorage Wednesday night in front of a season-high 1,413 fans for a 69-60 victory.  With the victory, the fourth in the last five for MSUB, the Jackets improve to 9-9 on the year and 4-3 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  UAA, a final four team last season, drops to 9-10 on the year and 3-3 in conference play.

“Tonight we beat a very good Alaska Anchorage team,” head coach George Pfeifer said.  “UAA shot the cover off the ball in the first half and this was big win for our program where we are right now.”

For the game, four Yellowjackets were in double figures led by a team-high 18 points from Mario Burns who was 4 of 10 from the field and 10 of 14 from the line, which was more free throw made and attempted than UAA attempted as a team.  Derrick Wright had 17 points, while Travis Bunker and Michael Hall each had 10.  Kirk Blaine led the team with nine rebounds.

UAA was led by 20 points from Jeremiah Trueman and Kenny Barker added 17.   

Through the first 10 minutes the game was back-and-forth as MSUB held the lead for most of the team and had a 19-14 lead, but a 10-0 run by the Seawolves gave them a 24-19 capped by a 3-pointer from Kenny Barker with 8:57 left in the half.  After a timeout by MSUB, Kirk Blaine pulled down an offensive rebound and was fouled ending the run with one throw, 24-20.

Both team really shot well to begin the game as the Jackets were an even 50 percent on 8 of 16, while UAA was a scorching 62.5 percent, knocking down 10 of its first 16 shots through 12 minutes.  The ‘Jackets shooting over 50 percent has been a trend since conference play has begun. 

Two free throws by Mario Burns tied the game at 30 with just over two minutes left in the half as MSUB winnowed the five-point deficit back to even.  A big 3-pointer by Bunker, his second gave the lead back to MSUB with 90 seconds left in the half, 33-32.  Steve White buried a 3-pointer as the shot clock was under five to put the Seawolves back in front with 45 seconds left in the first half, 35-33.

Alaska Anchorage held a 37-33 lead at intermission capped by a midrange jumper from Barker with 15 seconds left in the half for a four-point advantage. 

For the first half, both teams kept up the shooting as UAA was 14 of 22 from the field, including 6 of 8 from beyond the arc for 63.6 percent overall.  MSUB kept at an even 50 percent on 12 of 24 from the field, but it was just 2 of 7 from deep.  The Yellowjackets made up some of the discrepancy by going 7 of 8 from the line, while the Seawolves were 3 of 5. 

A 3-pointer by Michael Hall with 16:40 ended a field goal drought for the Yellowjackets of over four minutes dating back to the first half and pulled them to within 39-37.  A nice put back from Brad Hodge put the Yellowjackets back in front 42-41 with 13:30 left.  It was the first lead for MSUB since late in the first half.

The “and one” on a layup by Derrick Wright pushed the lead to 45-43 for MSUB, followed by a coast-to-coast layup by Burns for a 47-43 lead with 11 minutes left.  Wright later scored on a turnaround jumper in the lane for a 50-46 Yellowjacket advantage.

“Wright was very patient tonight and Mario (Burns) was really good for us as well,” Pfeifer added.  “Hall hit some big shots and Kirk (Blaine) was money with five offensive rebounds for us.”

Two free throws by Wright on a huge rebound from out of nowhere gave the Yellowjackets their biggest lead of the game at 52-46 with just over eight minutes left.  Hall followed moments later with a big 3-pointer pushing the lead to 55-48 with just under seven minutes left.

After the initial bucket by UAA, MSUB went on a decisive 14-4 run.

For all of the hot shooting in the first half, both teams cooled down in the second as MSUB started the second half 6 of 15 (40 percent), while UAA was just 4 of 17 for 23.5 percent with 6:30 left. 

A long 3-pointer by Barker ended a drought of over four minutes for the Seawolves to bring them to within 57-51.  Hodge made two free throws to extend the Yellowjacket lead to nine at 60-51 with two minutes left. 

The Yellowjackets sealed the game with free throws in the final two minutes for a 69-60 victory.

For the game, MSUB shot 21 of 46 for 45.7 percent from the field.  The Jackets were just 4 of 16 from deep, but made up for it going 23 of 31 from the charity stripe, including 16 of 23 in the second half alone. 

UAA shot 48 percent for the game, but just 35.7 percent in the second half as the team really struggled in the final stanza.  The Seawolves were 8 of 19 from beyond the arc, but were just 2 of 11 in the second half and were 4 of 7 for the game from the line. 

The Yellowjackets begin a crucial four game road swing a week from Thursday at Western Oregon.  The Jackets defeated the Wolves in Billings, 91-83 Jan. 15.  MSUB returns home Feb. 21 on Hall of Fame Weekend in the second game of a doubleheader versus Saint Martin’s with the tip at approximately 7:30 p.m.