Jackets Trim Cardinals, Regain League Lead (2/15/06)
Box Score

BILLINGS, MT – Incarnate Word controlled the tempo, but the Montana State-Billings men’s basketball team found enough points to win their eighth conference game of the year Friday night, 70-65.  The Yellowjackets improved to 17-4 overall and 8-1 in the Heartland Conference.  The Cardinals fell to 8-17, 0-10.

By virtue Oklahoma Panhandle State’s 61-60 win over St. Edward’s and the Yellowjackets’ win over UIW, MSU Billings took a one-game lead in the Heartland Conference standings.  MSU Billings and St. Ed’s entered the night tied for first in the conference at 7-1.  The winner of the Heartland Conference regular season will earn the No. 1 seed in the conference playoffs.

“The kids found a way to win,” said Yellowjacket head coach Craig Carse.  “We didn’t shoot the ball well tonight.  We played sluggish, but compliments to Incarnate Word.  They played wonderful ball.  They just did a great job and took advantage of every possession.  They played better basketball tonight than we did, and we were just fortunate to hit some free throws down the line.  It’s good to find a way to win, and I’m really proud of the kids.”

The Cardinals were able to impose their tempo in the first half, taking a 30-28 lead at the break.  Neither team led by more than four points in the first half.  With 10 minutes gone in the opening half, the game was tied at 14-14, and the teams combined for just 24 made field goals in the first 20 minutes.

The game was tied twice in the first minute of the second half before the Yellowjackets broke away.  A Moritz Wohlers (Sr., Wolfenbuttel, Germany) lay-up with 18:51 to play gave MSU Billings a 34-32 edge that they never relinquished.  The Jackets built a lead as big as 10 midway through the second half and weathered a late Cardinals run.

Wohlers scored a game-high 28 points, hitting 9-of-15 from the field and 10-of-14 from the foul line.  Cameron Munoz (Sr., Chino, CA) scored 18, connecting on 5-of-12 from 3-point range.  With five regular season games remaining plus the conference playoffs, Munoz has 421 career 3-pointers, 22 shy of the all-time NCAA Division II record.  The Yellowjackets outscored the Cardinals by six from 3-point range and by five at the free throw line.

Lucas Walker (So., Launceston, Australia) added 13 points and matched Wohlers with a game-high eight rebounds.  Carlin Hughes (So., Perth, Australia) chipped in seven points and eight assists.

Incarnate Word was led by Mikyl Bradshaw’s 18 points off the bench, 15 of which came in the second half as he led the Cardinals’ late push.  Paul Connolly added 15 points and five assists.

The Yellowjackets, ranked No. 5 in Wednesday’s NCAA South Central Region poll, will host St. Mary’s University on Friday and Saturday, 8:00 p.m. both nights at Alterowitz Gym.  Friday’s game will be a Heartland Conference counter while Saturday’s will be a non-conference regional game.  Saturday will also be Hall of Fame Night and Senior Night.

The Rattlers won at Lincoln University on Tuesday to improve to 13-11 overall and 6-4 in the league.  St. Mary’s is the defending Heartland Conference champion and will bring a five-game winning streak to Billings.