Upset-Minded Yellowjackets Fall in Conference Opener, 72-67

Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Host Western Washington overcame a final five minute scoring drought and opened the 2009 Great Northwest Athletic Conference slate with a 72-67 victory over visiting Montana State Billings Thursday evening.  MSUB was led by a game-high 23 points from senior Michael Hall, while Calin Schell led the Vikings with 17 points.  MSUB’s Derrick Wright chipped in 19 points and Travis Bunker added 11 points in the losing effort as the Yellowjackets fell to 5-7 on the year and 0-1 in conference play.

MSUB opened the game with the lead as Bunker knocked down a 3-pointer for a 15-10 lead with 15:11 to play in the half.  Two free throws by Morris Anderson gave WWU its first lead of the game with 12:23 to play at 18-17.  Junior forward Brad Hodge hit a jumper that put MSUB back in front, but it was the last lead the Yellowjackets would have in the half at 19-18 with 11:49 left.  WWU went on a 24-19 run to end the half, included by a 15-4 run during that span.

At halftime, the Yellowjackets were led by 13 points from Wright on 5 of 10 from the field and 3 of 4 from the line.  Hall had 11 points on 4 of 7 from the field, including 3 of 6 from downtown.  Steve Alford paced the Vikings with 11 points off the bench on a perfect 4 of 4 from the field and 2 of 2 from long range.
Despite Western Washington (8-2, 1-0 GNAC) shooting 55.2 percent from the field in the first half, the Yellowjackets hung tough and were down just four at the midway point connecting on 15 of 35 shots and 5 of 12 from 3-point land and owning a 20-14 lead in rebounds, as well as a 10-3 lead in second chance points.

Two free throws by Alford pushed the lead to 16 with 14:33 to play in the game as WWU opened the second half with a 16-4 run to being the second half.  A layup later by Schell pushed the lead back to 16, but a 21-4 run by the Yellowjackets capped with a 3-pointer by Hall with 44 seconds to play cut the Viking lead to one point.  Anderson made four crucial free throws in the final 44 seconds to preserve the victory.  The Yellowjackets held WWU without a field goal in the final 5:11 of the game. 

For the game, MSUB shot 38.3 percent from the field on 23 of 60.  The ‘Jackets connected on 10 of 25 from downtown and were 11 of 13 from the line.  Both teams pulled down 35 rebounds.  The difference was at the charity stripe as WWU was 18 of 25.  The Vikings sure cooled down in the second half to just 9 of 26 from the field for 34 percent and were 25 of 55 for 45 percent for the game.  The Yellowjackets held WWU’s leading scorer, Ira Graham to just eight points on 3 of 12 from the field. 

One other difference in the game was bench points as Alford and David Brittinen had 15 and 13 points, respectively as WWU held a 31-9 lead in bench points. 

The Yellowjackets continue the road trip Saturday at Seattle Pacific before returning home for five-straight games next week.