Yellowjackets Open Conference Slate on the Road

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings men’s basketball team begins the 2009 Great Northwest Athletic Conference slate Thursday at Western Washington at 7 p.m. Pacific time.  The Yellowjackets are playing their first road game since Dec. 1 and just the fourth road game of the season.

MSUB enters the week with a 5-6 record and winners of two straight after dropping five of six prior.  The Yellowjackets defeated Great Falls, 74-58 on Dec. 31 and exacted revenge for an earlier season loss to Chadron State on Jan. 2 with a thrilling 76-69 victory.

For his efforts against Great Falls an Chadron State, senior guard Travis Bunker was named Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week as he averaged 14.5 points, nine rebounds and 5.5 assists with two steals.  Bunker played 79 minutes in both games and had just two turnovers to 11 assists.  Against Great Falls, Bunker had 20 points and nine rebounds.

It was the second conference Player of the Week honor for the Yellowjackets this season as fellow senior Michael Hall earned the honor Nov. 17.

Leading the way for the Yellowjackets this season is Michael Hall who is averaging 15.6 points per game.  He is 51 of 130 from the field for a .392 average and is 29 of 79 from downtown as well, which ranks him second on the team in both areas.  Second on the team in scoring is Travis Bunker at a 13.8 clip.  Bunker leads the team in rebounds at a 9.6 average and he also leads the team in 3-pointers made with 30.  He has 106 rebounds on the year and the next closest Yellowjacket is Derrick Wright with 55 boards.

Wright also is averaging 13.8 points per game.  He leads the team in field goals made with 59 and is shooting a team-best .513 from the field.  He is second on the team in free throws with 34.  Mario Burns is the fourth Yellowjacket in double figures at 11.5 points per game.  He leads the team in free throws with 44 made attempts.  Burns also leads the team in assists with 71 and steals with 23. 

As a team, the Yellowjackets are shooting .444 from the field on 274 of 617 and are 75 of 204 (.368) from long range.  Through the last few games, the Yellowjackets have really improved their free throws shooting and are just south of 69 percent for the season on 149 of 217. 

MSUB is pulling down 32.8 rebounds and allowing 33.5 per game.  The ‘Jackets are averaging 70.2 points per game as their opponents are averaging 72.5 points.

Western Washington enters the week with a 7-2 record after starting the season 6-0.  The Vikings are a perfect 5-0 at home this year.  Ira Graham leads the team averaging 17.7 points per game in nine starts.  He also leads the team in field goals made (58) and free throws (34).  He is a team-best 58 of 108 from the field for an impressive .537 shooting average.  Steve Alford is second on the team in scoring at 11.8 points as he is the second of three players who are shooting over 50 percent from the field.  Alford leads the team in 3-pointers made with 16.  Calin Schell (11.2 points) leads the team in rebounding at a 7.7 clip.  He also is shooting over 50 percent from the field on 41 of 70 for a staggering .586 average.  The fifth player in double figures, Morris Anderson, leads the team in assists (65) and steals (30) and is averaging 10.8 points per game.

As a team, the Vikings are shooting over 50 percent and are averaging 91 points per game and allowing just 69 points.  In addition, the defense has been equally tough as it is holding teams to a .395 field goal average 27 percent from downtown.  WWU also has been dominating the glass, holding a 12.1 average in rebounds.

Seattle Pacific enters the week with a 7-4 record and, like WWU, has dropped two of the past three games.  The Falcons also are undefeated at home this season with a 3-0 record.  In addition, the Falcons also have five players in double figures led by Chris Banchero who is averaging a team-best 15.5 points.  He is 66 of 115 from the field for a .574 clip.  Banchero also leads the team in made free throws with 30.  Jeff Downs (11.3 points) leads the team from beyond the arc with 27 made 3-pointers and a .409 average, while Rob Diederichs (11.2 points) leads the team in rebounds at a 6.0 clip. 

Like WWU, the Falcons also are shooting over 50 percent as a team.  In fact, SPU is just south of 53 percent on 322 of 613 from the field.  The team is 70 of 186 from downtown and 135 of 216 from the charity stripe.  SPU is averaging 33.6 rebounds per game and are averaging 77.2 points to just 69.7 points by their opponents.

After the SPU game on Saturday, the Yellowjackets return home for five straight conference games at the friendly confines of Alterowitz Gymnasium to conclude a run of 13 of their first 17 games at home.