Yellowjackets Run Past Haskell, 103-81 (Dec. 31, 2004)
Box Score

BILLINGS, MT – Buddy Windy Boy dropped in eight 3-pointers to lead MSU Billings to a 103-81 New Year’s Eve win over Haskell Indian Nations University.  The junior from Lodge Grass scored a game-high 29 points as the Yellowjackets improved to 8-1.

After a slow start, the Yellowjackets raced from an 8-7 lead to a double digit advantage in the span of two minutes.  Windy Boy made back-to-back 3-pointers during that stretch.  MSU Billings built a 54-40 halftime lead after leading by as much as 22.

Haskell quickly cut the Jackets’ lead at the start of the second half.  The Fightin’ Indians used a 10-2 run to start the half, cutting the Yellowjackets’ lead to 56-50.  Three MSU Billings turnovers in the first five minutes assisted the Fightin’ Indians, who got as close as five on two different occasions.  Lonnie Favel’s layup at 15:17 pulled Haskell to within 61-56.

The Yellowjackets took control of the game in the second five minutes of the second half.  Back-to-back 3-pointers from Windy Boy and Jay Jamieson (Fr., Big Sandy, MT) with just less than 10 minutes to play gave MSU Billings a double digit lead that it would not relinquish.  Senior Justin Hassell (Brooklyn, NY) was 5-of-6 from the free throw line in the final three minutes to seal the win.

Windy Boy was 8-of-15 from behind the arc and now leads the Yellowjackets with 42 made 3-pointers this season.  He also dished out four assists with just one turnover while playing all 40 minutes.

Hassell was one of two Yellowjackets to post a double-double.  He finished with 26 points and matched his career high with 12 rebounds.  He was 16-of-18 from the free throw line.  Jonathan Wiley (So., Westlake Village, CA) added 11 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. 

Lucas Walker (Fr., Launceston, Australia) added 22 points and eight rebounds.  He was 8-of-14 from the field.  Jamieson scored an important six points, hitting 2-of-2 from long range.  Carlin Hughes (Fr., Perth, Western Australia) handed out a career-high eight assists.

Haskell was led by Topah Spoonhunter’s 15 points.  Brandon Yellowbird-Stevens added 12 points with seven boards and seven assists.  Jamison King finished with 11 points, and Justin Pendleton had 10.

“We’ve played our nine preseason games, and now we’ll add it up and see what it does to take us into conference play,” said Yellowjacket head coach Craig Carse.  “We’ll be taking a young team on our first conference road trip.  We’ll see what this experience does for us.  I was proud of how the kids played with poise in the second half tonight.  Jonathan came down with 14 key rebounds.  Justin was solid at the line.  And what can you say about Buddy?  He played great.”

The Yellowjackets begin Pacific West Conference play next week with three games in Hawaii.  They will take on Chaminade on January 4 before playing at Hawaii-Hilo on January 6 and 8.  All three games can be heard on AM 970 KBUL.