Yellowjackets Suffer Setback at University of Mary, 76-62

Box Score

BISMARCK, ND – A huge second half surge by the University of Mary sparked the Marauders to a home victory over Montana State Billings Wednesday evening, 76-62, in the final game of 2009 for both teams.  With the loss, the Yellowjackets fell to 5-3 on the year and 0-3 on the road, while Mary improved to 5-5 on the young season. 

The Yellowjackets were led by a game-high 19 points from Lasha Parghalava, while Derrick Wright had 14 points and DeAndre Chambers tallied 12 points in his first start of his MSUB career as he tallied his eighth-straight double-digit scoring performance.

The Marauders had all five starters in double figures led by 17 points from Anthony Moody, 14 from Jordan Wilhelm and 13 from Eric Erdmann. 

In a game that saw a number of huge runs, the Yellowjackets closed the first half on a 12-0 run over the final 3:35 of the first half courtesy of 10 of the 12 points from Parghalava and the final score for a 32-27 lead at intermission from Chambers.

The Yellowjackets built the early 13-7 lead with 14 minutes left in the half, but a 7-0 run by the Marauders tied the game at 16 with 10:50 left.  Since the 13-7 lead by MSUB, Mary used an 18-5 run to take a 25-18 lead with 5:36 left.  The teams traded buckets before the Yellowjackets closed the half with the big run.

For the half, MSUB shot 45.8 percent from the field on 11 of 24.  MSUB was 4 of 12 from deep and 6 of 6 from the line.  Mary countered with an 11 of 22 performance from the field, 2 of 7 from downtown and 3 of 6 from the line.

The second half was the difference as the Marauders shot a blazing 64 percent from the field in the second half alone on 16 of 25 from the field and were 15 of 17 from the charity stripe.  MSUB was 12 of 26 from the field, but struggled from downtown going 0 of 6 in the half and went to the line just nine times making six.

The Marauders outscored the Yellowjackets 49-30 in the second half for the 14-point victory.

Things started well for the Jackets to opening the second half as Parghalava, who had 13 points at halftime, scored three quick buckets for 19 points with just under 17 minutes left.

The Marauders cut the deficit to one point on four separate occasions over the next four minutes, but could never get over the hump during that stretch. 

A triple from Danny Sandvig tied the game at 52 with 11:05 left.  From that point, the Marauders went on a 24-10 run to end the game as MSUB made just three field goals during the final 11 minutes with its last field goal coming at the 7:03 mark.

The Yellowjackets will look to rebound at home versus the University of Great Falls Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gymnasium.  It is $1 admission night. 

MSUB stands at 998 career wins and the quest for 1,000 wins could possibly come as early as the first week of conference play.  MSUB opens the Great Northwest Athletic Conference slate Jan. 7 at Alaska Fairbanks and Jan. 9 at Alaska Anchorage if the Yellowjackets defeat the University of Great Falls Saturday.