Yellowjackets Win Overtime Thriller, 70-67

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BILLINGS, Mont. – A deep 3-pointer by senior Michael Hall as the shot clock was winding down in overtime, helped spark the Montana State Billings men’s basketball team to a 70-67 victory over visiting University of Mary Wednesday evening at Alterowitz Gymnasium.  With the victory, the Yellowjackets improve to 2-1 on the year, while Mary falls to 0-4. 

“The most important thing about the game is that we won,” head coach George Pfeifer said.  “Take nothing away from Mary because they have a tendency to make you play their tempo and we played lethargic.  I thought for the most part we did a good job on Geoff West and that was a lot to do with Mario Burns because West was averaging 20 points a game coming in.”

Hall and Travis Bunker led the Yellowjackets with 17 points each and Bunker recorded his second consecutive double-double, pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds.  Derrick Wright chipped in 15 points, while Mario Burns just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine assists.  He has 17 assists in the past two games. 

For the second consecutive game, Bunker has played every minute.  Tonight, he played all 45 minutes and recorded his second double-double of the season. 

When asked about Bunker playing every minute in the last two games, Pfeifer quickly noted that “it had something to do with those rebounds.”

Mary was led by three players in double figures as Jason West had 15 points off the bench.  Geoff West and Jordan Engelhardt each had 11.  The Yellowjackets held Geoff West to nine points below his average of 20 for the season.

A jumper by Hall pulled the Yellowjackets within 58-57 with just over minute to play. The Marauders put up a shot at the end of the shot clock with 33 seconds left, but a good rebound by the Yellowjackets gave them one last possession.  Burns was fouled with six seconds left and went to the line for two shots. Burns missed the first shot, but made the second to tie the game.  Geoff West heaved a 3-pointer from about 35 feet away that clanked off the rim as time expired. 

Jason West made 1 of 2 at the line to give the Marauders a 61-60 lead with 2:25 left in the overtime period.  A turnaround jumper by Brad Hodge put the Jackets right back up 62-61 under two minutes left.  Travis Bunker scored his 17th point off a nice assist from Derrick Wright for a 64-62 lead with 55 seconds left.  A NBA-range 3-pointer by Hall as the shot clock was a four, gave the Yellowjackets a 67-62 lead with 20 seconds left.

“In the overtime there were probably three really big baskets made,” Pfeifer said.  “I thought Bunker executed really well as he came off a screen and hit an elbow jump shot and Michael Hall made a big team deep three and Brad Hodge caught a shot on the baseline and made it which were huge baskets for us during the run.”

After a quick score and timeout by Mary, Hall was fouled and made 1 of 2 at the line for a four point lead.  Mary missed its shot at the other end and the Jackets garnered the rebound with four seconds left.  Wright made two free throws for a 70-64 lead. 

Mary wasn’t done scoring yet as UT Udo hit a desperation, 3-pointer with 0.7 seconds left.  After a quick timeout by the Marauders, the Yellowjackets inbounded the ball and a tip by Bunker sealed the Yellowjacket 70-67 victory.  It was the first time since Feb. 19, 2007 that MSUB had won back-to-back games and it was the first time that the Yellowjackets have had a record over .500 since the end of the 2005-06 season.

For the game, the Yellowjackets shot 46 percent on 24 of 52 from the field.  The Jackets connected on 5 of 16 3-pointers and were 17 of 24 from the line.  For the second consecutive game, the Yellowjackets out-rebounded their opponent, 35-26 and 14-7 on the offensive end. 

“I thought we did a decent job on the glass,” Pfeifer added.  “I can’t say enough about Travis with another double-double.  Counting the Dickinson State game, he has had three double-figure rebounding games and at No. 10 Gonzaga (one of the tallest teams in Division I) he pulled down eight.”

Just as in the previous game and the exhibition game against Dickinson State, the Yellowjackets raced out to an early lead.  This time, the Jackets held a 21-13 lead with 10:23 to play in the half, but the Marauders wouldn’t go quietly as the ended the half with a 13-6 run for a 27-26 deficit.  In addition, after a Wright bucket at the 5:56 mark to give the Jackets a 25-15 lead, Mary closed the half with an 11-2 run. 

“I do think our play is very good coming out,” Pfeifer added.  “I also think that Mary was lethargic, but the thing that will come back to bite us is after we hit you and hit you, we don’t’ understand that we come back and play really good offense and get a high percentage shot and expand the lead.  What we do is take silly shots and let you crawl back into the game.  However, I felt that in the first half when our offense went away, our defense held down the fort.  For us to hold this team to 26 points in the half is a pretty good effort.”

A bucket by Bunker with 1:50 left quelled a 9-0 run to by the Marauders for the Yellowjackets’ final field goal of the half.

The Yellowjackets hit the road at Chadron State Saturday and will face Mary again in Bismarck on Monday, Dec. 1, before returning home Dec. 5 for the first of two games on back-to-back days against Colorado Christian. The tip on Dec. 5 is scheduled for 7 p.m.