Wildcats Hand Jackets Loss (12/1/06)
Box Score

NAMPA, ID – Getting a late start to the official season, the Montana State–Billings men’s basketball team was handed a 92-63 loss by No. 12 ranked Central Washington University Friday at the Shiloh Inn Classic hosted by Northwest Nazarene.  The win improves the Wildcats to 3-3 while the Yellowjackets open the season 0-1.

The Yellowjackets tied the game at two apiece before the Wildcats broke open a double-digit lead with 14 minutes remaining in the first half.  The Jackets battled back to get within nine on a jumper by Derek Taylor (Lewistown, MT), but the Wildcats' size advantage and experience showed as Central Washington sailed through the final 12 minutes of the first half taking a 24-point lead into the locker room.

After making some much needed adjustments during the break, the Yellowjackets battled back holding the Wildcats scoreless while the Jackets’ Jonathan Wiley (West Lake Village, CA), Tom D’Amore (Tucson, AZ), and Carl Johnson (Rapid City, SD) knocked down 10 points to trail Central Washington by 16 at the 13:52 mark.  That would be as close as the Jackets would get as the Wildcats kicked into cruise control winning with a 29-point margin.

“I’m very proud of the guys and their effort tonight,” said Yellowjacket head coach Craig Carse.  “It was a very physical game, and our depth just isn’t there yet.  It was a good experience for us tonight particularly for our freshmen.  Our young players came into the game and fought.  It was great to see.”

The Yellowjackets’ Wiley led all scorers with 20 points, 14 of which came in the second half.  He shot 6-of-11 from the field and was 7-of-8 from the line.  Wiley also grabbed seven boards and had four steals in the game.  D’Amore was 6-of-19 from the field and 2-of-12 from behind the arc for 16 points.  Johnson recorded career-highs with nine rebounds and three blocks.  Freshman teammate Jeff Miner (Gresham, OR) netted nine points.

“Jonathan (Wiley) played every position for us tonight and did a great job,” added Carse.  “As Jeff (Miner) and the rest of the team gains experience, we will come around and play quality basketball.  Again I am extremely proud of the team’s effort tonight.”

As a team the Yellowjackets were 21-of -64 from the field for 32.8 percent and shot just 15.4 percent from three point range going 4-of-26.  The team was 17-of-23 from the line for 73.9 percent with the Jackets out-rebounding the Wildcats 39-36.

Twenty-three Yellowjacket turnovers contributed to 30 of the Wildcats' points off their 14 steals in the game.  Central Washington shot 36-of-62 from the field and was 11-of-27 from behind the arc for 40.7 percent.  They were led by Tyler Monk with 17 points.  Monk was 7-of-10 from the field and 3-of-6 from three-point range.  Teammate Lance Den Boer netted 15 points followed by Bryan Freshwater and Bryce Daub’s 10 points.

The Yellowjackets play the host team Crusaders Saturday, December 2.  Tip off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. MST.  Following the road trip to Idaho, the Yellowjackets have a short turnaround in Billings before heading to Texas.  The Jackets will play Texas A&M – International December 6 followed by a game December 8 against Heartland Conference opponent St. Mary’s University.  Both games are non-conference with tip off set for 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. respectively.