MSUB Men’s Basketball Celebrates 1,000th Victory Saturday

BILLINGS, Mont. – January 7, 2010, was a special date in Montana State Billings men’s basketball history as it marked the 1,000th career victory in team history.  The Yellowjackets won at Alaska Fairbanks that night (82-68) for the historic victory.

The Yellowjacket men’s basketball program will have a ceremony at halftime of the MSUB vs. Seattle Pacific game Sat., Feb. 20 honoring the 1,000th victory.  The men’s game will begin at approximately 7:30 p.m. Saturday following the women’s game versus Northwest Nazarene.

The 1,000th victory festivities begin as refreshments will be provided prior and during the game in the “Jackets Nest” for all former men’s basketball players and coaches.  They also will be honored at center court at halftime.  After the game, there will be a postgame celebration at Alumni House for them with beer and wine provided.

Former players and coaches who are scheduled to be in attendance include: Jim Soft (’68), Pete Conway (’76), Mike Harkins, Jr., Russ Powers (’65), Pete Berta (’70), Gene Espeland (’59), “Shorty” Alterowitz (head coach 1948-1957), Charlie Hereim (’63), Dominic Washington (’87), Ralph Winland (’71), Wayne Marus (’39), Mark Hamilton (’98), Trent Hickes (’98), Oscar Wirtala (’56), Brian Cook (’02) and more.

The Yellowjacket men’s basketball program began in 1927 and has seen much success in 82 years.  MSUB has made nine NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, one NCAA Final Four appearance, 11 NAIA National Tournament appearances, 16 NAIA District Tournament appearances and a total of 22 conference championships.

MSUB is in its third year in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, which is the fifth conference in school history.  The Yellowjackets also have had 43 winning season and 19 seasons of winning 20 or more games.  It is the longest running program at MSUB and stability has been a mark of the program with only 13 coaches in school history. 

The Yellowjackets stand at 1,004-884 all-time heading into this week.

The Hall of Fame and Distinction weekend features the induction of four outstanding former student-athletes Fri., Feb. 19, as Margot Merrill-Johnson (soccer and tennis, 2001-2005), Natalie Visger (basketball, 2000-2003), Dominic Washington (basketball, 1984-1987) and Henry “Charlie” Williams (football, baseball, basketball and track, 1964-1967) will be inducted into the 21st class of the Hilton Garden Inn Montana State Billings Yellowjacket Athletic Hall of Fame and Distinction.  The event is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn located at 2465 Grant Road in Billings.

The four inductees also will be introduced at halftime of the men’s game Saturday.