Yellowjackets Steal Win from Chadron State (Dec. 6, 2003)
Box Score

BILLINGS, MT – A Cameron Munoz play was instrumental in the Yellowjackets’ 85-81 win over Chadron State on Saturday, but it wasn’t a 3-pointer.  The sophomore guard from Chino, California poked the ball away from Eagles guard Brandon Doke with 28 seconds remaining and the Jackets trailing 82-81. 

The carom from Munoz’s steal landed in Trae Fortier’s (Jr., Los Angeles, CA) hands at half court and Fortier immediately fed Munoz under the basket for an uncontested layup and the lead.  The Eagles’ Jeremy Wissing missed two 3-point attempts over the final 21 seconds and Chadron was forced to send the Yellowjackets to the free throw line.

Jerett Skrifvars (Sr., Brea, CA) made a pair of foul shots with 19 seconds remaining to put the Jackets ahead 84-81.  After Wissing’s second miss with seven seconds on the clock, Munoz grabbed the rebound and was fouled with just two seconds remaining.  He made the first and missed the second.  With the Eagles out of timeouts, the clock expired on Chadron’s rebound of Munoz’s miss.

Although the Yellowjackets led by as many as nine points in the second half, there were five ties and five lead changes in the final 20 minutes.  The first tie of the second half came just a half minute into the period when Munoz’s jumper erased Chadron’s 39-37 halftime advantage. 

Dave Carse (Sr., Billings, MT) and Buddy Windy Boy (So., Lodge Grass, MT) combined for 18 first half points to keep the Yellowjackets close.  Carse scored ten of his 16 points in the opening stanza while Windy Boy netted eight of his ten points in the opening half.  Windy Boy was 3-of-3 from the field and 2-of-2 from 3-point range.

Five Yellowjackets finished in double figures, led by Munoz’s 18.  Munoz had three 3-pointers, four rebounds and two steals.  He led the team and the PacWest Conference with 96 3-pointers last season.  Skrifvars scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half and was 13-of-15 from the free throw line in the game.  Fortier added 11 points and eight boards.

Nine of the ten Yellowjackets who saw action in the game scored.  Alex Galloway (Jr., Berkeley, CA) had seven points in 12 minutes of play while Bill Day (Sr., Boise, ID) Derek Taylor (Fr., Lewistown, MT) and Justin Hynes (Fr., Upland, CA) each scored two points.

Chadron State was led by 22 points from Jeremy Wissing who was 4-of-8 from 3-point range.  Elijah Collins added 19 points and seven rebounds before fouling out.

MSU Billings will take to the road for their West Region openers next week, playing at No. 1-ranked Humboldt State on December 13 and at Western Oregon on December 16. 

Note: Senior guard Justin Hassell (Brooklyn, NY) will miss the remainder of the season due to season-ending surgery.  He will be eligible for a medical redshirt should he want to play another season, although he is on schedule to graduate in May.

Click HERE to view photos of the Jackets vs. Chadron State