Yellowjackets Race Past Argos, 88-61

Box Score

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BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings men’s basketball team began 2010 in winning fashion with an 88-61 victory over the University of Great Falls, Saturday evening at Alterowitz Gymnasium.  The Yellowjackets were led by 17 points and eight rebounds from Derrick Wright to lead four MSUB players in double figures.

DeAndre Chambers had 15 points and six assists, while DaVell Jackson added 12 points and Brett Taylor had 13 points off the bench in the winning effort.  The Argos were led by 14 points from Marko Lakic and JayTee Tarpley had 10 points off the bench.

As a team, the Yellowjackets shot 50 percent for the game on 27 of 53 from the floor.  MSUB was 8 of 22 from deep and 26 of 35 from the charity stripe.  Conversely, UGF was 24 of 55 from the field and 5 of 16 from 3-point land and only 10 of 21 from the line which was a big discrepancy in the score.

The game started as UGF raced out to an early 10-6 lead just five minutes in.  A 20-7 run by the Yellowjackets over the next six minutes pushed the Yellowjacket lead to 26-17 with 8:53 left on a pair of charity tosses from Brad Hodge.

Moreover, MSUB used a 39-15 run since the early 10-6 deficit to close the half for a 45-25 lead.

At the half, MSUB shot 54 percent on 13 of 24 from the field and was just 3 of 8 from downtown, but benefitted from a 16 of 21 performance at the line.  UGF was just 9 of 23 from the field (39 percent) and were just 2 of 7 from downtown to go along with a dismal 5 of 12 from the charity stripe. 

MSUB opened the second half with an 8-2 run for a 53-27 lead with 17:44 left courtesy of two Chambers free tosses.  The Argos would cut the deficit to 15 with a run of 18-7 over the next seven minutes, but three triples from Taylor and a dunk from Wright swelled the lead back to 26 at 71-45 with 8:51 left.

UGF would cut the deficit back to the teens once more (74-56), but the Yellowjackets closed the game with a 14-5 run for the 88-61 victory.

MSUB improved to 6-3 on the year and now stands at 999 career victories in school history.  UGF is 4-9 on the year, but this was an exhibition game for the NAIA school. 

The Yellowjackets go for win 1,000 next week at Alaska Fairbanks and Alaska Anchorage, Thursday and Saturday, respectively.  MSUB then returns home Jan. 16 to battle Saint Martin’s at 7 p.m.