Yellowjackets Hold on For Big Win Against No. 17 BYU-Hawaii (Feb. 10, 2004)
Box Score
BILLINGS, MT – Timely 3-pointers and solid
free throw shooting down the stretch lifted MSU Billings over 17th-ranked
BYU-Hawaii Tuesday night, 77-73. The win kept the Yellowjackets’
NCAA Tournament hopes alive, improving their overall record to
14-6 and their PacWest Conference mark to 5-4. The Seasiders, who
held a three game lead in the PacWest entering the night, are now
17-4 overall and 7-2 in the conference.
The Jackets shot 13 points below their season
3-point average, but came up with big shots at critical junctures
of the game. Buddy Windy Boy, Dave Carse and Cameron Munoz each
dropped in three 3-pointers as the Yellowjackets shot 9 of 30 from
behind the arc. Seven of the nine 3-pointers came in the second
half, helping MSUB pull away from a 31-24 halftime lead to build a
double-digit advantage.
The Seasiders’ ball control style of offense
held the scoring down in the first half, but also helped the
Yellowjackets remain fresh and out of foul trouble. MSUB suited
up just eight players for the game and the slower pace may have
played to the Jackets’ advantage.
Windy Boy, Carse and Munoz each knocked down
3-pointers in the first four minutes of the second half, with
Munoz’s first triple of the game giving the Jackets a 44-32 lead
at the 16:00 mark. Munoz pushed the lead to 15 two possessions
later with his second 3-pointer of the half.
The Seasiders rallied to cut the lead to five
with 10:55 to play behind the scoring of Jake Chrisman. The
junior big man scored a game-high 38 points, accounting for over
half of the Seasiders’ points. Michael Stowell was the only other
player to score double figures for BYU-Hawaii, finishing with 15.
The Yellowjackets answered the BYUH run with
five straight points from senior Jerett Skrifvars. Skrifvars
finished with a team-high 18 points and 13 rebounds. Windy Boy’s
3-pointer with 8:11 remaining extended the Jackets’ lead back to
11 at 58-47. Carse followed on the next possession with another
long ball, giving MSUB its second largest lead of the night at 14.
BYU-Hawaii rallied twice more, cutting the
lead to just eight points with 3:58 to play, and then trimming it
to just one with six seconds on the clock. The Seasiders almost
pulled off trading free throws for baskets in the final minutes,
making two 3-pointers in the final 29 seconds while the
Yellowjackets missed 3 of 6 free throws in the final 1:05. Windy
Boy connected on a pair at the line when it counted most, giving
MSU Billings a 76-73 lead with two ticks on the clock following
another Seasiders 3-pointer. Stowell’s full court pass was picked
off by Bill Day to end the Seasiders’ last chance at scoring. Day
was fouled on the steal and sank one of two free throws for the
final margin.
Carse and Munoz each scored 15 points in the
game, and Windy Boy added 13. Day finished with nine points and
was 7 of 8 from the foul line. Jonathan Wiley added six points
and three rebounds in 20 minutes of action off the bench.
The same teams meet again on Thursday,
tipping off at 7:00 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym. The game could have a
major impact on the race for NCAA Tournament qualification as the
Seasiders will be trying to hold on to their No. 2 West Region
ranking, and the Yellowjackets will be trying to climb from No. 10
back into the top eight.
Click HERE for photos of the
Yellowjackets vs. Brigham Young University-Hawaii |
