Yellowjackets Top Defending West Region Champion Cal
State-San Bernardino in Defensive Battle (November 23, 2002)
BILLINGS, MT – The Montana
State University-Billings Yellowjackets opened the
2002-2003 season Saturday night by defeating the
defending West Region champions from Cal State-San
Bernardino, 61-60. Trailing 60-59 with under 30
seconds to play, the Yellowjackets played for the
final shot, and senior Jerett Skrifvars hit a driving leaner for the game winning shot.
The game was an important West
Region match-up between two teams that qualified for
the NCAA Tournament a year ago. A mixed crew of
officials was brought in for the game. The crew was
made up of one official each from the Pacific West
Conference, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference,
and the California Collegiate Athletic Association,
the three conferences that comprise the West Region.
Both teams struggled at the
offensive end throughout the game, combining for 34
turnovers. In the end, a balanced offensive attack
from the Yellowjackets prevailed as MSUB shot
42.9-percent from the field compared to the Coyotes’
31.7-percent. Only two CSUSB players scored more
than one field goal in the game, led by Bobby
Burries who netted a game-high 25 points. Ray Lance
scored 21 for the Coyotes, but no other player
scored over five.
MSU Billings
built a 33-27 halftime lead after holding the
Coyotes to 25.8-percent shooting from the floor in
the first half. The Yellowjackets were sparked
by Cameron Munoz's
two 3-pointers off the bench in the opening half and
led by as many as 13 before intermission.
After CSUSB
came back to lead the game by five, senior Willy Davison made two huge plays to put the Jackets in position
to win. First, with MSUB trailing 59-56, he
hit his second 3-pointer of the night to tie the
game with less than two minutes remaining.
Then, after Skrifvars' basket with 10.2 seconds on
the clock put the Yellowjackets ahead, Davison made
the defensive stop of the game. CSUSB's
Jonathan Levy was driving to the basket with time
running down, but Davison stepped in to take the
charge and seal the victory for MSU Billings.
The Yellowjackets were led by
Skrifvars’ 22 points and six rebounds. For the game
he made 8-of-9 free throw attempts and 7-of-14 field
goal attempts, including the game-winner. Senior
forward Kyle Stirmlinger finished with 12 points despite being saddled with
foul trouble early.
MSU Billings will travel to
Lacey Washington to take on St. Martin’s College on
Wednesday in another West Region match-up. The
Yellowjackets will return home on the Saturday after
Thanksgiving to host Minot State University. |
