Yellowjackets Blast Johnson & Wales in Season Opener (11/21/05)
Box Score
Game Photos

BILLINGS, MT – If Monday’s men’s basketball game had been a fight, it would have ended in a first-round TKO.  Montana State-Billings scored early and often to blitz Johnson & Wales 120-67 in the Yellowjackets’ regular season opener. 

The Yellowjackets knocked down 17 3-pointers in the game, led by 11 from senior captain Cameron Munoz (Chino, CA).  Munoz matched his career high with 39 points and connected on 11-of-19 from behind the arc. 

“I thought Cameron played very comfortable and very experienced,” said Yellowjacket head coach Craig Carse.  “A lot of guys got a lot of experience and learned some things tonight.  We were able to get a convincing victory and were blessed that everyone was able to stay healthy.”

With the 11 triples in the season opener, Munoz jump started his chase for the school 3-point record.  He now has 315 career 3-pointers, leaving him within 56 of Markus Hallgrimson’s 371.  Monday’s game marked the third time in his career that Munoz has made at least 10 3-pointers in a game.

The Wildcats never threatened.  MSU Billings opened the game with an 11-0 run with a pair of Munoz 3-pointers, a Lucas Walker (So., Launceston, Australia) dunk, and three free throws from Buddy Windy Boy (Sr., Lodge Grass, MT).  Johnson & Wales finally broke into the scoring column with a Jeremy Jones layup at 16:49 to get within 11-2, but that was the last time the Wildcats trailed by fewer than 10 points.

MSU Billings led by as many as 21 in the first half before cooling off and settling for a 48-33 halftime advantage.  It took just the first five minutes of the second half to double that lead.  A Windy Boy 3-pointer gave the Yellowjackets a 67-37 lead with 15 minutes to play.  The Wildcats weren’t able to get within 30 for the rest of the night.

Along with Munoz’s 39, four other Yellowjackets scored in double figures.  Walker battled foul trouble to finish with a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds.  Senior Moritz Wohlers (Wolfenbuttel, Germany) also doubled up with a dozen points and 11 boards. 

Windy Boy finished with 14 points and two blocked shots.  Sophomore Drew Arnold (Tempe, AZ) recorded a career-high 11 points in just 13 minutes of action off the bench.  He also grabbed eight rebounds and blocked a shot.  The Yellowjackets had five blocked shots as a team.

Jonathan Wiley (Jr., Westlake Village, CA) and Cody Samuelson (Jr., Broadus, MT) added eight points and four rebounds apiece off the bench.  Point guard Carlin Hughes (So., Perth, Australia) narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and 12 assists.  Freshman Carl Johnson (Rapid City, SD) netted six points on 3-of-3 shooting in his first collegiate game.  Redshirt freshman Brett Weese (Wilkie, Saskatchewan) also made his collegiate debut, handing out three assists.

Timothy Wright led the Wildcats with 24 points, hitting 13-of-14 at the free throw line.  Eric Daniels added 13 points and a team-high three 3-pointers.  Jones finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. 

The Yellowjackets will finish their opening week by hosting Minot State on Saturday afternoon.  Tip off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym.