Yellowjackets Begin PacWest Title Defense Saturday at Chaminade (January 3, 2003)

BILLINGS, MT – The cast of characters has changed, but the mission remains the same for the MSU Billings men’s basketball team this year.  The Yellowjackets begin defense of their Pacific West Conference championship Saturday night when they face Chaminade University in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The Yellowjackets finished their non-conference schedule with a 6-2 mark after back-to-back losses in California to end the calendar year.  After building a 6-0 record and the No. 16 ranking in the nation, MSUB fell at Cal State-Los Angeles and Cal Poly Pomona at the end of December.

MSU Billings will try to right the ship Saturday against Chaminade (5-7), a team the Jackets beat two out of three times last year.  The two teams split wins at Chaminade early in the season, and the Jackets prevailed at Alterowitz later in the year.  The win at Chaminade on a last-second 3-pointer ultimately clinched the PacWest title for the Yellowjackets.

The Yellowjackets will be without leading scorer Jerett Skirfvars for the rest of the season due to a hand injury suffered in the fifth game of the season.  Skrifvars, a senior from Brea, California, will take a medical redshirt and play again next season.  MSUB will also be without junior guard Dave Carse for at least Saturday’s game against Chaminade.  Carse suffered a shoulder injury at CSULA and could be out indefinitely. 

That leaves seniors Dan Thompson, Kyle Stirmlinger and Willy Davison to lead a cast of newcomers into the PacWest race.  Thompson and Stirmlinger both average double-figures in scoring, with Thomson at 11.9 ppg and Stirmlinger at 10.8 ppg.  The two also combine for 12 rebounds per game.  Davison is averaging 6.5 points per game and is second on the team for assists.

Junior transfer Justin Hassell has started to take on the role filled by Skrifvars.  Hassell is scoring 12.3 points per game and is tied with Davison for second on the team in assists.  Joining Hassell as key newcomers are junior Bill Day and freshmen Cameron Munoz and Buddy Windy Boy.  Day has been a strong defensive presence in the paint and is averaging almost six rebounds per game.  Munoz leads the team with 18 three-pointers and averages eight points per game.  Windy Boy, who is finally healthy and seeing more minutes, averages nearly five points per game.

The game at Chaminade will be broadcast live on AM 970 KBUL in Billings.  The Yellowjackets will travel to Hilo, Hawaii after the Chaminade game to take on the University of Hawaii-Hilo on January 6 and 8.