Men’s Hoops Host Northern New Mexico College Friday

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings men’s basketball team is scheduled to host Northern New Mexico College Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. at Alterowitz Gymnasium.  The Yellowjackets enter the contest with a 3-2 record, while NNMC enters with a 2-6 mark. 

In addition, MSUB is hosting the Plenty Coups High School Native American Holiday Basketball Tournament Friday and Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. Friday and continues through Saturday.  A number of high school basketball teams will be showcased in Alterowitz Gymnasium both days.  The Yellowjacket men play on Friday, while the Yellowjacket women battle Dickinson State Saturday at 5 p.m.

The theme for the men’s game on Friday is Boy Scout/Cub Scout night.  Fans can bring in a canned food donation and get a $2 discount off a general admission ticket.  Boy Scouts/Cub Scouts in uniform and one parent are admitted free.

The Yellowjackets are led by DeAndre Chambers this season who leads the team averaging 13.8 points per game.  He leads the team with 26 made field goals and 12 made 3-pointers.  Chambers, a guard, also has pulled down 21 rebounds which is good for third on the team.  Brad Hodge is second on the team in scoring at 10.8 points, while Derrick Wright is averaging 10.6 points and leads the team with a 5.0 rebounding average.  DaVell Jackson leads the team with 23 assists and 18 steals.

Chambers tallied an MSUB career-best 19 points in the championship game of the Dixie Classic last weekend.  He scored 34 points to lead the team in two games in the tournament and was named to the all-tournament team.

As a team, the Yellowjackets are shooting 47.4 percent from the field (128 of 270) and are just south of 40 percent from deep (.397 on 29 of 73).  MSUB is shooting 68.7 percent from the charity stripe on 79 of 11 and is pulling down 33.0 rebounds per game.  The Jackets have 70 assists, 78 turnover and 41 steals on the year.

Defensively, MSUB holds teams to 46 percent shooting from the field and 41 percent from downtown.  Opponents are shooting 67 percent from the line and the Jackets out-rebound their opponents by 2.4 rebounds per game. 

MSUB stands just four wins from 1,000 career victories.  The Yellowjackets are 996-889 since 1928 for a .528 winning percentage.  With four more victories, MSUB will become the 68th Division II school to record 1,000 career victories.  The Yellowjackets’ earliest chance to achieve 1,000 victories is Jan. 2 versus the University of Great Falls at Alterowitz Gymnasium.

The Eagles, a NAIA team, are in just their second year of intercollegiate athletic competition after going 1-15 in men’s basketball a year ago.  NNMC has played a number of Division II schools this year and are 0-4 against those schools.  NMNC’s two wins are against University of the Southwest in the season opener (76-67) and American Sports University (77-69).  Leading the way for the Eagles is Eddie Fields who leads the team averaging 15.4 points per game.  He leads the team with 40 made field goals and is shooting 57 percent from the floor.  Billy Grayson is second on the squad in scoring at 12 points per game.  He leads the team with eight made 3-pointers and is shooting a team-best 81 percent from the line.

As a team, the Eagles are scoring 67 points per game and allowing just under 80 points per contest.  The team is shooting 49 percent from the field and 38 percent from beyond the arc.  The Eagles are shooting just 58 percent from the charity stripe.

The game will broadcast live on the internet as Ken Adelblue will have the call.  Fans can log on to www.msubillings.edu/broadcasts.htm to access the video and audio.  In addition, live stats will be available from logging on to the same page.

MSUB then is scheduled to host Dixie State, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m., in the final game before the Christmas Break.