Jackets Climb into Top Eight in Regional Poll, Lady Jackets Drop Out (Jan. 28, 2004)

BILLINGS, MT – After debuting at No. 10 in the first NCAA West Region poll of the season last week, the Montana State-Billings men’s basketball team moved up to No. 8 in this week’s poll.  The Yellowjackets were 3-0 last week, including two wins over then-No. 6 Hawaii-Hilo.  The Vulcans dropped out of the poll as a result of their four-game losing streak.

MSU Billings is in second place in the Pacific West Conference, two games behind BYU-Hawaii who is ranked second in the West Region.  The champions of the PacWest, the CCAA and the Great Northwest all receive automatic berths to the NCAA Tournament.  The remaining teams in the region’s top eight also qualify for the tournament.

The Yellowjackets continue PacWest play with two games at Western New Mexico this week.  They play at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and Saturday.  Both games can be heard live on AM 970 KBUL and on the internet at www.msubillings.edu/athletics.  MSU Billings returns home for a February 5 game against Great Falls before hosting BYU-Hawaii in a pair of important PacWest games on February 10 and 12.    

The Yellowjacket women's team dropped out of the poll after losing two games in Washington last week.  They were No. 9 in last week's poll, but are now 10-9 overall.  Only one team made the tournament last year with nine losses and no team with more than nine defeats qualified.  MSU Billings has eight games remaining on the schedule, with two in Florida next week and six at home to close the season.

NCAA Men's Basketball West Region Poll (through games of January 25, 2004)
1. Cal State San Bernardino (14-1)
2. Brigham Young-Hawaii (15-2)
3. Cal State Bakersfield (13-2)
4. Humboldt State (15-3)
5. Alaska Anchorage (14-4)
6. Cal Poly Pomona (11-4)
7. Alaska Fairbanks (11-5)
8. Montana State-Billings (12-4)
9. Western Washington (12-5)
10. Western Oregon (10-6)