Jackets Skin Rattlers, Clinch Playoff Game (2/17/06)
Box Score             Game Photos

BILLINGS, MT – The Montana State-Billings men downed St. Mary’s University 94-87 Friday night, clinching a Heartland Conference home playoff game in the process.  The Yellowjackets improved to 9-1 in the league and 18-4 overall.  The nine conference wins guarantee the Jackets one of the top two seeds in the conference playoffs.  The playoffs start March 1 with the No. 4 seed playing at the No. 1 seed and the No. 3 seed playing at the No. 2 seed.  The winners will meet at the home of the higher remaining seed.

There were eight lead changes and two ties in the first half.  St. Mary’s led by as many as five and as late as the 2:33 mark.  A Lucas Walker (So., Launceston, Australia) jumper gave the Yellowjackets a 37-36 lead, and MSU Billings built a 44-38 lead by the break.  The Jackets shot 54 percent from the field in the half, hitting 5-of-11 3-pointers.

MSU Billings raced out of the gates in the second half, building the lead to a dozen in the first 1:50.  One of Cameron Munoz’s (Sr., Chino, CA) seven 3-pointers gave the Jackets a 52-40 advantage and the Rattlers never cut the lead to closer than six the rest of the way.

“I’m very proud of the guys,” said Yellowjacket head coach Craig Carse.  “They found a way to win against a very good team that had a five-game winning streak.  What this did tonight is it secured that our fans will get to watch a home playoff game.  We’re just so excited for our fans because we have as good support as anybody we play.  We’re very appreciative of that.”

Munoz led all scorers with 27 points on 8-of-13 shooting.  He was 7-of-11 from behind the arc, pushing his career 3-point total to 428.  The all-time NCAA Division II record for 3-pointers is 443.  Munoz will have four regular season games and at least one conference playoff game to collect the 15 threes he needs to become the NCAA II career leader.

Carlin Hughes (So., Perth, Australia) finished with 25 points and 11 assists for his eleventh double-double of the season.  He was 3-of-5 from 3-point range and 10-of-11 from the free throw line.  He was 5-of-6 from the line in the final three and a half minutes.  Hughes also had a game-high four steals.

Mortiz Wohlers (Sr., Woflenbuttel, Germany) added 21 points and six rebounds.  Buddy Windy Boy (Sr., Lodge Grass, MT) chipped in 13 points, five boards, and three assists.  Walker finished with eight points as the Yellowjacket starters combined for all 94 of the team’s points.

The Rattlers (13-12, 6-5) were led by Jarvis Lee’s 19 points.  He hit 5-of-9 from 3-point range before fouling out.  Joe Allen added 17 points and seven rebounds.  Steve Goff came off the bench to score 15 and grab a game-high eight rebounds.

The same teams will meet Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym.  It will be a non-conference regional game.  Saturday will also be senior night for Munoz, Wohlers, and Windy Boy.  All three will be honored following the game.  At halftime five new Yellowjacket Hall of Fame and Distinction members, who will be inducted at a brunch at 10:00 a.m., will be introduced.

Following Saturday’s game, the final regular season home game, the Yellowjackets will close out the season on the road at Oklahoma Panhandle State and Western New Mexico.