Yellowjacket Men’s Basketball Releases 2009-2010 Slate

BILLINGS, Mont. – Year two of the George Pfeifer era begins with the 2009-2010 Montana State Billings men’s basketball schedule announcement this week.  The Yellowjacket schedule features 13 home games and 25 in all, including eight home dates in the always competitive Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The slate also features four NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago in Augustana College, Central Washington, Seattle Pacific and Western Washington.

Beginning with an exhibition game at Division I Eastern Washington on Nov. 8, the Yellowjackets open the regular season at home for the first time since 2005-06 with Colorado Christian Nov. 18 – a team with which MSUB split last season.  Again facing rivals from last season, MSUB will host the University of Mary Nov. 21, followed by a trip to Augustana College (SD), prior to Thanksgiving.

“We feel really good about our schedule,” Pfeifer said.  “We have all but two games against NCAA opponents and we are excited to play Division I Eastern Washington as it gives us fuel for our early season workouts.”

December opens with two NCAA Division II West Region contests in St. George, Utah, as MSUB battles Dominican (CA), a school that is transitioning to Division II, and Dixie State College, Dec. 4 and 5, respectively.  The Yellowjackets return home before finals to face NAIA-foe Northern New Mexico College on Dec. 11.  After a 10-day finals break, the Yellowjackets host Dixie State Dec. 21, and then close out 2009 at the University of Mary on Dec. 30.

The 2010 portion of the season begins Jan. 2, with a home date against University of Great Falls in a final tune-up before the GNAC season.  The ‘Jackets open conference play on the road for the second-straight year and play four of the first five contests away from home.  The conference slate begins with a trip to Alaska Anchorage (Jan. 7) and Alaska Fairbanks (Jan. 9), followed by a home date with Saint Martin’s on Jan. 16.  MSUB then heads to Northwest Nazarene and Seattle Pacific, Jan. 21 and Jan. 23, respectively.

“The Dixie State Tournament will be very challenging,” Pfeifer added.  “Last year two of our top teams in the GNAC ventured into that tournament and came away 0-4.  I like our non-conference schedule because I believe it prepares us for the GNAC which is one of the premier Division II conferences in the country year in and year out.”

The Yellowjackets return home to close out the month of January hosting Central Washington Jan 28, and Western Washington Jan. 30.  February opens in Alterowitz Gym, where the ‘Jackets meet Alaska Fairbanks on Feb. 3.

Trips to Saint Martin’s and Western Oregon ensue (Feb. 11 and 13), followed by the longest home stand of the year beginning Feb. 18 with Northwest Nazarene.  For the second-straight year, MSUB ends the season on the road, playing at Central Washington Mar. 4 and Western Washington Mar. 6.

This season ALL MSUB home men’s and women’s basketball games will be FREE on the internet with live video and audio as the voice of the Yellowjackets, Ken Adelblue, will have the call. Please log onto www.msubillings.edu/athletics/broadcasts.htm to catch every home game.

2009-2010 Men’s Basketball Schedule

Day            Date               Opponent                                 Location                         Time
Sun.          Nov. 8              at Eastern Washington (Exhib.)    Cheney, WA                   1 p.m.
Wed.        Nov. 18            Colorado Christian (DH)            Billings, MT            7:30 p.m.
Sat.         Nov. 21            University of Mary (DH)            Billings, MT                 7 p.m.
Tues.        Nov. 24             at Augustana College (SD)           Sioux Falls, SD               7 p.m.
Fri.           Dec. 4              vs. Dominican!                           St. George, UT               5 p.m.
Sat.           Dec. 5              Dixie State!                                St. George, UT           7:30 p.m.
Fri.          Dec. 11            Northern New Mexico College   Billings, MT                 6 p.m.
Mon.        Dec. 21            Dixie State                               Billings, MT                 7 p.m.
Wed.         Dec. 30             at University of Mary                    Bismarck, ND                 7 p.m.
Sat.           Jan. 2             University of Great Falls           Billings, MT                 7 p.m.
Thurs.        Jan. 7              at Alaska Anchorage*                  Anchorage, AK                7 p.m.
Sat.           Jan. 9              at Alaska Fairbanks*                   Fairbanks, AK                 7 p.m.
Sat.          Jan. 16            Saint Martin’s*                         Billings, MT                 7 p.m.
Thurs.       Jan. 21             at Northwest Nazarene*               Nampa, ID                     7 p.m.
Sat.          Jan. 23             at Seattle Pacific*                       Seattle, WA                    7 p.m.
Thurs.      Jan. 28            Central Washington* (DH)        Billings, MT            7:30 p.m.
Sat.          Jan. 30            Western Washington* (DH)      Billings, MT            7:30 p.m.
Wed.         Feb. 3             Alaska Fairbanks*                     Billings, MT                 7 p.m.
Thurs.       Feb. 11             at Saint Martin’s*                        Lacey, WA                     7 p.m.
Sat.          Feb. 13             at Western Oregon*                    Monmouth, OR               7 p.m.
Thurs.      Feb. 18            Northwest Nazarene*               Billings, MT                 7 p.m.
Sat.         Feb. 20            Seattle Pacific* (DH)                Billings, MT            7:30 p.m.
Thurs.      Feb. 25            Western Oregon*                      Billings, MT                 7 p.m.
Sat.         Feb. 27            Alaska Anchorage*                   Billings, MT                 7 p.m.
Thurs.        Mar. 4              at Central Washington*               Ellensburg, WA               7 p.m.
Sat.           Mar. 6              at Western Washington*              Bellingham, WA              7 p.m.

* GNAC Game
! Dixie State Tournament (St. George, Utah)
All times local to site
Home games Bold
(DH) represents doubleheader
Game times and dates subject to change