December 1, 2007
 
Woes Continue for Yellowjacket Men

Box Score
MSUB Season Stats

NAMPA, Idaho – The Montana State Billings men’s basketball team stumbled for the second night in a row falling 103-69 to Colorado Christian University Saturday at the Shiloh Inn & Suites Classic hosted by Northwest Nazarene. The Yellowjackets are 0-7 overall, while the Cougars improve to 2-3.

Trailing through most of the first half of play, the Yellowjackets’ John Brooks (Perris, Calif.) hit one of his four three-pointers of the night at the seven-minute mark to put the Jackets ahead by one. The Cougars then went on a 14-0 run to take a 15-point lead into the locker room.

Combined with CCU’s first half run, the Cougars scored 30 unanswered points before Cameron Khoury (Alta Loma, Calif.) drilled a three-pointer midway through the second half. Colorado Christian led by as many as 41 before settling for the 34-point win.

Brooks led the Yellowjackets’ scoring netting 18 points off 7-of-17 shooting from the floor. Brooks was 4-of-10 from long range. Brett Taylor (Billings) chipped in 16 points for MSUB with Kirk Blaine (Gillette,Wyo.) and Khoury contributing 12 and 11 points respectively. Mike Barton (Havre) grabbed a team and career-high eight rebounds.

As a team the Jackets shot 28-of-63 from the field for 44 percent and were 10-of-34 from the perimeter for 29 percent. MSUB connected on just 3-of-7 attempts at the charity stripe for a chilly 43 percent. The Jackets were narrowly edged by the Cougars in rebounds (36-30).

Five Cougars scored in double figures and were led by Brendan Puckett’s 17 points. Puckett dropped in a game-high five three-pointers and was 6-of-10 from the floor. Jordan Long, Rory Morgan, Brian Stamer, and Peter Bailey each added 14 points to the Cougars’ cause. Long handed out a game-high 11 assists.

As a team Colorado Christian shot 38-of-66 from the floor for 58 percent and dropped in 18 threes for a 45 percent efficiency rate. The Cougars were 9-of-11 from the free throw line for 82 percent.

The Yellowjackets are set to host Rocky Mountain College on Monday, December 17th to open the season at home. The game is the first of a four-game home stand. Tip off is slated for 7:00 p.m. at Alterowitz Gymnasium.