Yellowjacket Hoops Opens 2009-2010 Season Wednesday with Colorado Christian

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OPENING TIP
The Montana State Billings men’s basketball team opens the 2009-2010 season at home for the first time since 2005.  MSUB hosts Colorado Christian Wednesday, Nov. 18 at approximately 7:30 p.m., followed by a matchup with the University of Mary Nov. 21 at 7 p.m.  Both dates have women’s games preceding the men’s as Wednesday’s game is a doubleheader (women at 5:15) and Saturday’s is a day/night doubleheader with the women’s game at 2 p.m.

SCOUTING MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
The Yellowjackets enter year two of the George Pfeifer campaign with a new look as Pfeifer welcomes nine newcomers and a core of six experienced veteran players creating a new look for the Jackets.  All on board are dedicated to continuing the momentum coming off a 10-17 campaign in Pfeifer’s inaugural season and moving up the very competitive Great Northwest Athletic Conference ladder.

Returning for the Yellowjackets this season is GNAC Honorable Mention selection, Derrick Wright, who averaged 17.1 points last season as he shot 53.8 percent from the field and grabbed 5.8 rebounds per game last year.  Brad Hodge led the team in field goal accuracy last season at a 59.2 clip scoring 8.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.  In addition, Brett Taylor returns to the Jacket perimeter as he knocked down 45 percent of his long-range shots last year.

Nine new key recruits will have the potential to make an immediate impact as witnessed in the exhibition game at Eastern Washington.  Three key seniors (DaVell Jackson, Lasha Parghalava and Mike McCrary are on the roster with Parghalava and McCrary have Division I experience.  Jackson was a NJCAA All-America selection, while Parghalava played at the University of Hawaii and McCrary played at Cal State Northridge.

RECAPPING EASTERN WASHINGTON EXHIBITION GAME
MSUB traveled to Division I foe Eastern Washington for an exhibition game last Sunday.  The Yellowjackets made a strong showing against the Eagles, falling 67-58 in a close battle throughout.  The Jackets were led by 14 points from DaVell Jackson and 13 from Lasha Parghalava, while Brad Hodge led the team with six rebounds.  The Yellowjackets played EWU to a two-point game at half as MSUB shot 47 percent in the opening stanza and went a perfect 12 of 12 from the charity stripe.  MSUB struggled in the second half shooting just 17.9 percent on 5 of 28 from the field and struggled from the line at 9 of 17 for the second half.  However, MSUB won the battle of the offensive rebounds 14-11 and held EWU to 9 of 23 from the field in the second half.

“I thought we played really hard and were very physical,” head coach George Pfeifer said.  “I thought in the first 7-8 minutes we were out of sorts offensively and we went 9 of 17 from the free throw line in the second half which was one of the biggest differences in the game after going 12 of 12 in the first half.”

SCOUTING COLORADO CHRISTIAN
The Cougars open the regular season Tuesday at Montana State before playing at MSUB on Wednesday.  CCU begins the season after a 21-13 2008-09 campaign and went 12-8 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.  The Cougars return five letterwinners and two starters for fifth year head coach David Daniels.  The Cougars made their second-straight RMAC Final Four in 2009 and enter the 2009-10 season with a lot of questions.   CCU returns sophomore Jobi Wall (10ppg., 4rpg.) along with seniors Justin Neuhaus (15.9ppg., 6.4rpg., RMAC Defensive Player of the Year) and Tyler House (7.2ppg., 4.6rpg.).  Daniels welcomes six newcomers including the younger brother of former University of Kentucky and current Golden State Warrior Kelenna Azubuike, Jay Azubuike.

A WIN OVER COLORADO CHRISTIAN WOULD...
• Give the Yellowjackets a 1-0 record on the year.
• Open the season with a win for the first time since 2005-06 season.
• Only be six wins away from 1,000 career wins.
• Would be the fourth win in the series for MSUB giving it a 4-2 record in the series.

LAST TIME THEY MET
The Cougars and the Yellowjackets split two meetings in Billings last season on back-to-back days.  The Yellowjackets won the opener 62-59 in a close battle throughout which saw six lead changes and three ties.  MSUB had four players in double figures led by Derrick Wright with 17 and Travis Bunker had a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.  CCU’s Jordan Long led all-scorers with 23 points.  The Cougars won the second game 76-71 as Brenden Puckett had a game-high 22 points leading four Cougars in double figures.  

INSIDE THE SERIES WITH CCU
The Yellowjackets own a 3-2 record in the series that dates back to Dec. 19, 1995.   MSUB won the first meeting in Lakewood and won the second in Marshall, Minn., at the Southwest Minnesota Tournament.  CCU won during the 2007-08 season and the teams split two games in Billings last season.

CLOSING IN ON 1,000
The Montana State Billings men’s basketball team stands at 993-877 and need just seven wins to hit the 1,000 career victories list.  The earliest MSUB would play for its 1,000th win would be a Dec. 21 home game versus Dixie State.

DIVISION ONE FLAVOR
George Pfeifer continued the tradition of bringing in talent from Division I this year as he signed Lasha Parghalava (Hawaii) and Mike McCrary (Cal State Northridge).  Last season, Pfeifer had the services of Mike Hall (Idaho) and Travis Bunker (Wyoming).

NINE NEW JACKETS
Pfeifer has nine new faces for his 2009-2010 team.  MSUB returned six players from his first season and now has two Division I transfers, to go along with three junior college transfers (DaVell Jackson, DeAndre Chambers, Tyrone Williams), three freshmen (Joel Barndt, Robby Trabing, Andrew Hickman) and a transfer from Carroll College in Jason Tanascu.

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.

JACKETS PICKED FIFTH
The Yellowjackets were picked preseason fifth by the conference coaches.  The Jackets tallied 52 points, one point behind fourth place Alaska Anchorage.  Seattle Pacific was tabbed league favorite.

LISTEN TO COACH 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.