Yellowjackets Host Western Oregon in GNAC Home Opener Thursday

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings men’s basketball team returns home for its Great Northwest Athletic Conference home opener Thursday versus Western Oregon at 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gymnasium beginning a five game homestand.  MSUB also will host Alaska Fairbanks Saturday at 7 p.m. as part of a day-night doubleheader.  The MSUB women’s basketball team hosts Western Oregon Saturday at 2 p.m.

The Yellowjackets stand a 5-8 overall and 0-2 in conference play after a pair of heartbreaking road losses last week.  MSUB dropped a tough 72-67 road decision at Western Washington and dropped an 82-79 decision at Seattle Pacific.  Both games came down to the final minute with the Yellowjackets within one point in each game.

Leading the way for the Yellowjackets this season is Michael Hall who is averaging 16.3 points per game.  He leads the team with 39 made 3-pointers.  Second on the team is Derrick Wright who is averaging 15.8 points per game and leads the team with a .540 field goal percentage and 75 made field goals.  Last Saturday versus Seattle Pacific, Wright poured in 34 points as he was a season-best 10 of 12 from the field and 14 of 16 from the charity stripe.  Wright also leads the team with 55 made free throws and is pulling down 5.2 rebounds per game.  Travis Bunker is third on the team in scoring at 13.7 points and leads the team in rebounds at a 9.1 clip.  He is second on the team in 3-pointers with 37 and third in made field goals with 62.  In addition, he is second on the team with 50 assists to just 31 turnovers.  Mario Burns also is averaging double figures at 10.8 points per game.  He leads the team with 83 assists and is second in made free throws with 45.

As a team, the Yellowjackets are shooting 44 percent for the year from the field, 38 percent from beyond the arc and 70 percent from the line.  The ‘Jackets are pulling down 31.9 rebounds per game and are averaging 70.6 points per game. 

The Yellowjackets are looking for their first conference victory since a 65-55 victory over Alaska Fairbanks, Jan. 24, 2008 in Billings.  It was the lone win conference/overall for MSUB last season.  MSUB has lost its last 14 conference games dating back to last season.
Western Oregon enters the week with a 7-5 record and a 1-0 mark in the GNAC.  The Wolves knocked off Saint Martin’s last week, 83-74 and enter as one of the hottest teams in the league.  The Wolves are led by Travis Kuhns who leads the team averaging 17.3 points per game.  He is a team-best 61 of 145 from the field with a team-high 17 made 3-pointers and is pulling down 5.4 rebounds.  Second on the team in scoring is Blair Wheadon who is averaging 11.3 points.  Mike McLaughlin leads the team on the glass, pulling down 7.1 rebounds per game. 

As a team, the Wolvers are shooting 47 percent from the field and are shooting 33 percent from range.  The team is 195 of 270 from the line for 72 percent and is pulling down 35.8 rebounds per game.  WOU is averaging 77.4 points per game. 

Alaska Fairbanks enters the week with a 4-7 record and a 1-1 mark after an upset win over Northwest Nazarene in Fairbanks last weekend.  The Nanooks host Alaska Anchorage before traveling to Billings for Saturday’s showdown.  UAF is the only GNAC team MSUB has beaten since the Yellowjackets joined the league last season.

The Nanooks are led by Jon Moe who is averaging 19.5 points per game.  He leads the team with 80 field goals and 32 3-pointers thus far.  Emanuel Jenkins is right behind him at 18.9 points.  He is second on the team in both field goals and 3-pointers, but leads the team with 36 made free throws.  Nashorn Maynard leads the team averaging just under a double-double with 12 points and a team-best  9.7 rebounds per game.

UAF is shooting 45 percent from the field, 32 percent from beyond the arc and 70 percent from the line.  The Nanooks are pulling down 34.6 rebounds, but the opponents are averaging over 40 a game. 

WOU leads the all-time series 3-2, including two wins last season.  The Wolves won 85-72 in Monmouth and won 83-66 in Billings.  MSUB leads the all-time series with Alaska Fairbanks 32-16 as the teams split last season.  MSUB won the opener in Billings 65-55, while the Nanooks won 109-69 in Fairbanks.