Yellowjackets Host Chadron State Saturday Night (November 6, 2002)

BILLINGS, MT – The MSU Billings men’s basketball team will look to extend its NCAA DII-best 35-game home winning streak Saturday night when the Yellowjackets host Chadron State College from Chadron, Nebraska.  Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. at Alterowitz Gymnasium.

The Yellowjackets are off to a 3-0 start and are ranked No. 22 in the nation.  After leading the nation in scoring last season, MSU Billings has been winning with defense this year.  The Jackets are holding opponents to 72 points per game while averaging 82.7.  Last Saturday’s 101-79 win over Minot State was the first 100-point game of the season.

Despite the more defensive-minded style of play, the results have been the same for Coach Carse’s squad in terms of wins and losses.  With home wins over Cal State-San Bernardino and Minot State, the Yellowjackets have extended their home winning streak to 35 games, which is the best in NCAA Division II.  Kentucky Wesleyan previously had the nation’s longest home winning streak at 41 games until the Panthers were upended at home Thursday by Northern Kentucky, 74-73.

Senior guard Jerett Skrifvars has been close to unstoppable in the first three games for the Yellowjackts, averaging 22.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.  Joining Skrifvars as double-digit scorers are junior Justin Hassell (11 ppg) and senior Kyle Stirmlinger (10.7 ppg).  Stirmlinger is also averaging 2.0 blocked shots per game, and the Yellowjackets as a team are posting 4.3 blocks per game.

Even though MSUB has been displaying a more deliberate approach offensively than in years past, the offense showed signs of clicking in last week’s game when the Jackets dropped in 14 three-pointers.  They are averaging eight 3-pointers a game, with senior Willy Davison and freshman Cameron Munoz both connecting on seven.  Davison made five and Munoz four against Minot.

Chadron State brings a 4-2 record into Alterowitz after defeating Colorado College 80-75 last week.  The Eagles are averaging 72.5 points per game while holding their opponents to 71.3.  Four players average double-figures for CSC, led by Jeremy Wissing’s 15.2 ppg.  Wissing poured in 35 against the Yellowjackets last year in a 98-87 MSUB win.  Deon David, Elijah Collins, and Aaron Dickerson each average about 12 points per game.