Yellowjackets Sting Western Oregon for First GNAC Victory, 91-83

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BILLINGS, Mont. –   In the highest scoring game of the season, the Montana State Billings men’s basketball team built a 19-point first half lead and downed visiting Western Oregon 91-83 Thursday evening at Alterowitz Gymnasium.  With the victory, the Yellowjackets snap a 14-game Great Northwest Athletic Conference losing streak and improved to 6-8 overall and 1-2 in conference play.

“I thought we played the best in the first half that we have played all season,” head coach George Pfeifer said.  “I thought we executed on the offensive end and we had 33 baskets and 26 assists tonight.  We shared the ball well tonight and everyone who played scored.  This was a very good Western Oregon team that defeated No. 13 Saint Martin’s its last time out.”

MSUB’s lone GNAC victory came Jan. 24, 2008, as the Yellowjackets defeated Alaska Fairbanks 65-55.

Yellowjacket senior Michael Hall led the team with 27 points on 9 of 19 from the field, 3 of 10 from beyond the arc and 6 of 8 from the line.  Blair Wheadon paced the Wolves with a game-high 29.

A hoop and harm foul on Western Oregon (7-6, 1-1) pulled the Yellowjackets even with Western Oregon with 15 minutes left and then a steal and layup followed by a nice move to the basket by Michael put the Yellowjackets up 12-8 with just under 14 minutes left in the first half.  MSUB extended the lead to 16-8 with another hoop and harm foul as Mario Burns converted the old fashion 3-point play for a 17-8 lead and an 11-0 run by the Yellowjackets. 

What really helped the Yellowjackets in the run was the dominance on the glass as MSUB outrebounded WOU 13-7, including 7-1 on the offensive end through the first nine minutes.  A 3-pointer by WOU’s Blair Wheadon under 12 minutes left in the half ended a 12-0 and a scoring drought by the Wolves since the 17:12 mark.

Travis Bunker knocked down the first 3-pointer of the game for the Yellowjackets with 10:06 left for a 23-11 lead.  Back-to-back layups by Kyle Palmer increased the Yellowjackets’ lead to 27-11 as WOU called its second timeout of the half with just over nine minutes left in the half.

WOU only scored five points since the 17:12 mark and were 2 for 8 from the field during that span.  MSUB continued to pound the glass for a 19-8 lead in rebounds with 6:13 left in the half. 

A nice clear out by Mario Burns to a wide-open Brett Taylor pushed the Yellowjacket lead to 38-21 with 2:45 left in the half.  MSUB got a big rebound at the end of the half and a nice dish from Palmer to an open Brad Hodge just before the buzzer pushed the lead to 44-25 at intermission.

For the half, the Yellowjackets had one of the best halves of the season as they shot 54.5 percent from the field on 18 of 33.  The ‘Jackets were 2 of 8 from range and 6 of 8 from the line.  MSUB outrebounded the Wolves, 25-13 in the first half. 

WOU was ice cold in the first half, shooting 32.3 percent on 10 of 31 from the field and were 3 of 14 from downtown and 2 of 3 from the line.  Each team had seven turnovers, but one major difference in the score was points in the paint as MSUB held a 26-6 lead in that area and points off turnovers as MSUB held a 14-5 lead. 

After being outscored in bench points in the opening two games of the conference season, MSUB dominated the bench points in the first half, 20-2. 

Eight of the nine Yellowjackets that played in the half scored, led by eight points from Hall.  Travis Kuhns, the leading scorer for WOU, had eight points in the half with two 3-pointers.

A bucket by Derrick Wright pushed the Yellowjacket lead to the largest of the game at 53-33 with just over 16 minutes left, but two quick 3-pointers by WOU cut the deficit to 14 at 53-39 with 15:57 left.

WOU began to shoot better in the second half, making 6 of its first 10 shots, courtesy of four 3-pointers in the half. MSUB struggled to begin the half, shooting 2 of 8 as WOU cut the deficit to 57-43 with 13 minutes left.

“We were the aggressor in the first half and not as much in the second against a WOU team that made a ton of shots in the second half,” Pfeifer added.  “WOU is a good, veteran team that has been down six times this year and found a way to come back.”

I thought our two seniors made plays in the second half that helped keep our lead as WOU made a run at us,” Pfeifer added.

A hoop and harm foul on Stanley Ratcliff brought WOU within 11 points, followed by a 3-pointer by Wheadon for a 10-point game with 11:51 left.  The Wolves outscored the Yellowjackets 24-15 to start the half.

Two free throws by Wheadon with 7:30 left cut the Yellowjacket lead to nine and the first time the MSUB had been under 10 points since the first half.  Wheadon picked up the loose ball off an offensive rebound and cut the deficit to seven at 67-60 moments later.

Out of a timeout by MSUB, Bunker was left wide-open in the corner for a 3-pointer to push the lead back to 10 points.  Moments later, a nice look underneath from Wright to Bunker swelled the lead back to 10 after two free throws by WOU. 

Hall hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put the ‘Jackets back up 12 points as WOU had cut it to six with 2:44 to play. 

For the game, MSUB was 33 of 59 from the field for 55.9 percent.  The Yellowjackets were 7 of 17 from long range and 18 of 27 from the charity stripe.  MSUB won the battle of the boards, 36-30.  Also in double figures for the ‘Jackets was Bunker with 15 points and Wright with 13.

WOU shot a blazing 65.6 percent in the second half on 21 of 32 and were 31 of 63 from the field for 49.2 percent after the dismal start.  The Wolves got back into the game in the second half with the long ball as the team was 11 of 29 from deep and 10 of 17 from the line.  Kuhns and Mike McLaughlin each had 16 points and Ratcliff chipped in 13 for the Wolves.

MSUB continues its five-game home stand Saturday at 7 p.m. as part of a day-night doubleheader.  The women battle Western Oregon at 2 p.m. followed by the men versus Alaska Fairbanks at 7 p.m.