The Retort

Yellowjackets Return to the Road at Saint Martin’s and Western Oregon

February 19th, 2010 by MSUB Athletics For The Retort

The Montana State Billings men’s basketball team headed on the road for two games at conference rivals Saint Martin’s and Western Oregon. The Yellowjackets entered the week with a 10-7 record overall and a 4-4 mark in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. SMU entered with an 11-9 record and a 1-8 mark in the GNAC. WOU came in with an 11-9 record on the year and 4-5 in conference play.

The Yellowjackets were led by DeAndre Chambers who leads the team averaging 14.8 points per game. He led the team with 88 made field goals on the year and 38 made 3-pointers. The junior guard was second on the team in rebounding at 4.5 per game. Second on the team in scoring was DaVell Jackson who was averaging 12.0 points per game. He was second on the team in made free throws with 48 and leads the team with 96 assist and 35 steals. Derrick Wright was third on the team in scoring (11.8) and led the team averaging 5.3 rebounds per game. Wright also led the team in field goal shooting at a .555 clip. He also led the team in made free throws with 61. Lasha Parghalava also averages double figures at 10.6 points per game. Parghalava was second on the team in 3-pointers with 31 and was second in steals with 14.

As a team, the Yellowjackets were shooting 46 percent on the year. They were shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc and 72 percent from the charity stripe. MSUB was pulling down 33.6 rebounds per game, while allowing 32.2 boards. The Jackets were averaging 73.1 points per game and allowing 71.4 points.

The Jackets tied last year’s win total with a 75-58 victory over Alaska Fairbanks on February 3, in Alterowitz Gymnasium. MSUB finished the 2008-09 season with a 10-17 mark overall and a 5-11 mark in the GNAC in head coach George Pfeifer’s first year at the helm.

Against the Nanooks, the Yellowjackets ended a three game skid and exploded in the second half after a slow start. MSUB started the game just 1 for 7 from the field, but shot 52 percent in the second half and stretch a 34-29 led at intermission to as many as 22 points midway through the second half. MSUB was led by Brett Taylor who had 17 points off the bench, including five 3-pointers on 6 of 8 shooting from the field. Brad Hodge tallied a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. In addition, MSUB was 11 of 16 from the free throw line, while UAF was just 1 of 1.

Saint Martin’s entered the week looking to snap an eight-game losing skid. The last win for the Saints came in a 94-86 triple overtime victory over nationally ranked Western Washington in the conference opener on January 7. Leading the way for the Saints this season was Blake Poole who leads the team averaging 20.3 points per game. He also led the team with 143 made field goals and a .616 shooting average. Poole also led the team averaging 12.3 rebounds per game and led with 65 assist, 17 blocks and 36 steals. Jeremy Green was second in scoring at 13.0 points per game. He had 109 made field goals on the year which was good for second on the team. Jared Howard was third in scoring at 11.9 points and Galen Squiers was fourth at 11.2 points and led the team with 36 made three-pointers.

As a team, the Saints were shooting 42 percent from the field, 28 percent from beyond the arc and 68 percent from the line. SMU was averaging 37.8 rebounds per game and 72.8 points per contest. In contrast, it was allowing 35.7 rebounds and 69.8 points per game.

In the first meeting this season, MSUB shot 70 percent in the second half and outscored the Saints 47-29 in the final half for a 74-67 victory on January 16 in Alterowitz Gymnasium, snapping a four game skid versus SMU. Mike McCrary had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Parghalava tallied 18 points and seven rebounds in the victory.

The Jackets held SMU to just 26 percent shooting in the second half and 33 percent for the game, which was a major help in the comeback.

Western Oregon was led by Matt Schmidt who led the team averaging 13.4 points per game. He also led the team with 99 made field goals, second in 3-pointers with 27 and third in made free throws with 43 (.827). Blair Wheadon was second in scoring at 12.4 points per game. He was third in made field goals with 81 and leads the team from deep with 41 triples. Wheadon also led the team with 68 assists and 49 steals. Reigning GNAC Player of the Week, Rico Myles, was third in scoring at 11.9 points and led the team averaging 8.1 rebounds per game. Myles led the team with 94 made field goals and 50 made free throws.

As a team, the Wolves were shooting 45 percent from the field, 35 percent from beyond the ar and 72 percent from the line. WOU was averaging 35.5 rebounds per game and 74.2 points per game. Conversely, the Wolves were allowing 33.4 rebounds and 77.4 points per contest.

The Yellowjackets then returned home for the final home stand of the season next week with Northwest Nazarene on February 18, followed by the Hall of Fame and 1,000th Win ceremony against Seattle Pacific on February 20.