Yellowjackets Conclude Home Stand Versus Great Falls and Chadron State this Week

Game Notes in PDF Format

The Montana State Billings men’s basketball team concludes its six-game home stand this week with two games.  First, the Yellowjackets battle Great Falls Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. and then look to even the season series with Chadron State Friday at 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gymnasium.

The Yellowjackets are looking to snap a three-game skid and have dropped five of six.  Most recently, MSUB dropped a heartbreaking 81-79 decision to Augustana College Dec. 20.  Both teams had chances to win the game in the final minute. 

Leading the way for the Yellowjackets this season is senior guard Michael Hall who is averaging 15.5 points per game.  He leads the team with 24 made 3-pointers and is third on the team in made field goals with 42.  Second on the team in scoring is junior forward Derrick Wright.  He is averaging 13.8 points per game and he leads at team with 48 made field goals and 28 made free throws.  Travis Bunker is the only Yellowjacket to play and start all nine games thus far.  He is third in scoring at 13.7 points and is averaging just under a double-double with a team-high 9.8 rebounds per game.  Bunker leads the team in minutes played as well, playing 350 minutes of 365 total individual minutes this season.  In addition, he is tied with Hall for the most 3-pointers made with 24.  Junior guard Mario Burns also is averaging double figures at 11.7 points.  He leads the team with 60 assists and just 24 turnovers for a 6.67 assists average.

As a team, the Yellowjackets are shooting just under 45 percent from the field for the season on 226 of 503.  From downtown, the Yellowjackets are 61 of 167 for a .365 average.  MSUB is 109 of 159 from the line for a .686 clip.  The Jackets are pulling down an average of 32.3 rebounds per game and are averaging 17 assists per game and 5.2 steals per game.  MSUB is averaging 69.1 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 74.4 points.

Great Falls enters the week with a 5-9 record and is scheduled to play King College Tuesday, prior to traveling to Billings Wednesday.  The Argos enter the week winners of two of three prior to losing six-straight after starting the year 2-2. Leading the way for the Argos this season is Rayshaun Ames who leads the team at 19.9 points per game.  He is shooting .545 percent from the field on a team-high 96 of 176.  In addition, Ames is 66 of 86 from the line for a 76.7 average.  Ames also leads the team in rebounds averaging 8.6 per game.  B.J. Meridyth and Travoy Edwards are averaging 11.5 and 10.0 points, respectively.  Aaron Skogen has 19 3-pointers.

MSUB leads the all-time series 30-10 and has won six straight and 16 of 18.  The teams haven’t played since MSUB won 132-54, Feb. 5, 2004 in Billings.  The Yellowjackets own a 19-3 record in Billings and haven’t lost at home to the Argos since a 47-45 decision on Jan. 29, 1982.  The last five meetings in the series all have been in Billings.

SCOUTING CHADRON STATE
Chadron State enters the week with a 4-5 record and has dropped four of five since an 81-74 victory over MSUB Nov. 29.  The Eagles started the year 3-1. 

Leading the way for the Eagles this season is Tim McLaurin who is averaging a team-high 18.6 points per game.  He leads the team with 54 made field goals and is shooting .429  for the year.  He is second in 3-pointers with 17 and leads the team with 42 made free throws.  He also is averaging a team-high 5.8 rebounds per game.  Second on the team in scoring is Kevin McClelland at an 11.1 clip.  He leads the team from long range with 18 3-pointers and is second in field goals made and free throws. 

As a team, the Eagles are shooting .428 percent from the field, down considerably from where they were the first time they played MSUB.  The team is shooting .377 from beyond the arc and .744 from the line.  Chadron State is averaging 36 rebounds per game and 74.4 points per game. 

A WIN OVER GREAT FALLS WILL...
• Give the Yellowjackets their fourth win of the season, a first since 2006-07
• Snap a three game losing skid and five of six
• Be the fourth home win of the season

RECAPPING LAST WEEK
The Yellowjackets suffered another last minute defeat before Christmas in an 81-79 loss at home to a good Augustana team.  The Yellowjackets had opportunities to win the game late, but a inbounds pass and layup late sealed the victory for the Vikings.  Mario Burns and Derrick Wright had 22 and 21 points, respectively, while Travis Bunker recorded another double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.  The game saw 14 ties and 16 lead changes in the back-and-forth affair.

GET YELLOWJACKET GEAR
Fans can now purchase their Yellowjacket apparel through the MSUB athletic website.  Please log on to www.msubillings.edu/athletics and click on the apparel icon.  MSUB and Cuda Apparel have teamed together to bring Yelllowjacket fans custom apparel.  Fans are still encouraged to continue their support of Jackets and Company, too.

TOUGH IN THE LAST MINUTE
In five of the six Yellowjacket losses this season, the Jackets have had leads in the final five minutes but have been unable to shut the door.  In fact, the last three games versus Colorado Christian (Dec. 6) Montana Tech (Dec. 11) and Augustana (Dec. 20) have come down to the final minute as the visitors were able to get the victories in each game.  The Dec. 5 Colorado Christian game, the Yellowjackets won in the last minute, 62-59.

ASSISTING MR. BURNS
Junior Mario Burns currently is ranked 16th nationally in assists at a 6.6 clip according to the first NCAA statistics of the year.  He also is 32nd nationally in assist/turnover ratio at a 2.65 average.  In addition, Burns leads the GNAC in assist/turnover ratio and is second in steals (2.13) and assists.

BUNKER ON THE GLASS
Senior Travis Bunker is 38th nationally in rebounds at a 9.5 pace.  He leads the team in rebounds and is third in the league  at that clip.  Bunker leads the league in defensive rebounds, pulling down 7.5 defensive rebounds per game.

DOWN THE HALL
Senior Michael Hall currently is 30th nationally in 3-point field goals made per game at a 3.1 clip.  In addition, also leads the GNAC in that same area.  He is tied for the team lead in made 3-pointers with 22.

SEEING THE FLOOR
Senior Travis Bunker leads the GNAC in minutes played at a 38.88 clip.  Fellow senior Michael Hall is third at 34.86 and junior Mario Burns is 11th at 32.25.  Bunker has played in three complete games this season, including all 45 minutes against the University of Mary on Nov. 26.

BUNKER EARNS WEEKLY HONORS
Senior Travis Bunker earned honorable mention GNAC Player of the Week honors as he recorded his third double-double of the year at Chadron State and played his third consecutive 40-minute game. 

TAYLOR STEPS UP
Sophomore Brett Taylor stepped into the Yellowjacket starting lineup against Chadron State (Nov. 29) and had the game of his life.  He scored a career-high 23 points on 8 of 14 from the field, including 7 of 12 from beyond the arc. 

TOUGH ON THE GLASS
In a 70-67 overtime victory over Mary Nov. 26, the Yellowjackets dominated the glass, outrebounding the Marauders 35-26, including 14-7 on the offensive end.  All but one of the eight players who played for MSUB tallied a rebound.  It was the second consecutive game that the Jackets have won the battle of the boards, MSUB had a 40-38 advantage over Montana Western Nov. 22.

BUNKER DOUBLE-DOUBLE X6
Three straight games this season Travis Bunker has recorded double-doubles. The Yellowjackets had two double-doubles all of last season.  Against Montana Western, Bunker recorded his first double-double and followed against Mary Nov. 26 and at Chadron State with 14 points and 12 rebounds.  He then tallied two more double-doubles - one against Colorado Christian (Dec. 5) and a season-best 22-point performance and 11 rebound night against Montana Tech (Dec. 11).  Bunker leads the team with 9.5 rebounds per game through eight games.

OVERTIME YELLOWJACKETS
The Yellowjackets needed an extra period to down the Mary Marauders Nov. 26, 70-67.  It was the first overtime game for MSUB since a 90-89 overtime loss on Dec. 21, 2006, against Northwest Nazarene at Alterowitz Gym. It was the first overtime victory since a 113-106 victory over Saint Leo on Dec. 21, 2004.

QUICK OUT OF THE GATES
The Yellowjackets have started quick out of the gates at home this season.  Against Dickinson State (Nov. 11) MSUB raced to a 16-5 and a 24-10 lead.  Then, on Nov. 22, the Jackets raced to a 16-6 lead through the first seven minutes against Montana Western.  On Nov. 26, the Jackets continued that trend with a 21-11 lead through the first nine minutes against Mary.

SNAP THE SKID
With an 81-76 victory over Montana Western Nov. 22, the Yellowjackets snapped a 13-game skid dating back to last season.  The Jackets defeated Alaska Fairbanks on Jan. 24, 2008 to snap an 18-game skid to that point.  This is the first time MSUB has been .500 or better since the final game of the 2005-06 season.

STOUT DEFENSE
MSUB held Montana Western to under 40 percent shooting in both halves Nov. 22.  For the game, the Bulldogs were 28 of 71 from the field for 39.4 percent. 

GETTIN’ TO THE LINE
The Yellowjackets got to the free throw line 25 times against Montana Western Nov. 22 and followed with getting to the line 24 times against Mary on Wednesday.  MSUB knocked down 19 free throws, including 9 of 10 in the final five minutes preserve the victory against UWM.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
The Yellowjackets have just five road games between the beginning of the season at Feb. 5.  MSUB started the year at No. 10 Gonzaga and played at Mary and Chadron State this past week.  From there, the Jackets have six-straight home games in December and early January prior to the beginning of conference play.    For the season, the Jackets only have 11 road games and 16 home games. 

BURNS DOES THE DISHES
Junior Mario Burns leads the team with 53 assists this season for a 6.6 average.  He had eight assists and five steals, against Montana Western earlier in the season.  He then followed with a nine assist outing against Mary Nov. 26 and just missed a double-double by one assist.

PAINTING THE PAINT
The Yellowjackets dominated the points in the paint against Montana Western Nov. 22.  MSUB scored 34 points in the paint compared to 18 for the Bulldogs and followed with a 22-18 points in the paint advantage over Mary on Wednesday for a 56-36 lead in the Jackets’ two wins this season.

HALL NAMED CO-GNAC POW
Senior Michael Hall earned co-GNAC Player of the Week honors for his 24-point outing against No. 10 Gonzaga in the season opener Nov. 15. Hall scored a game-high in points and was 8 of 17 from the field and 5 of 12 from beyond the arc.  He scored the final 14 points of the first half to bring the Yellowjackets within five at intermission.  Hall shares the first GNAC Player of the Week honor since MSUB joined the league last year with Blake Poole of Saint Martin’s.

SENIOR LEADERSHIP
Last season, the Yellowjackets didn’t have a senior on the team, in fact, MSUB had probably one of the youngest teams in the country with six freshmen and four sophomores.  This season, two senior transfers and six junior transfers highlight the team.

FRESH FACES
As the 2007-08 roster featured six freshmen, the 2008-09 roster features nine new players, including two Division I senior transfers, six transfer juniors and one freshman. 

JUCO INFUSION
MSUB has a number of junior college transfers this season.  In fact, five of the nine new players all came from junior college.  Derrick Wright and Mario Burns came from Western Oklahoma State College, while Lance Anderson and Brad Hodge transferred from Grays Harbor College and Adam Weisz came to MSUB from Dawson County Community College.

JACKETS PICKED EIGHTH
The Yellowjackets were picked preseason eighth by the conference coaches.  The Jackets tallied 22 points, three ahead of ninth-place Alaska Fairbanks.

LISTEN TO PFEIFER
Fans can listen to the weekly Coach Pfeifer Show on the internet each Tuesday.  Log on to www.msubillings.edu/athletics to listen to Pfeifer’s thoughts on the previous week and the coming weeks throughout the season.

WATCH/LISTEN TO HOME GAMES
Fans can listen to all MSUB men’s basketball home games by logging on to www.musbillings.edu/athletics and click on live broadcasts.  Ken Adelblue provides the play-by-play for each home game.