Yellowjackets Look for First Road Win of the Season Wednesday at University of Mary

Game Notes in PDF format

OPENING TIP
The Montana State Billings men’s basketball team returns to the hardwood with a pair of non-conference games this week, prior to the start of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference slate next week in Alaska.  The Yellowjackets enter the week with a 5-2 record after defeating Dixie State Dec. 21, 63-60 in a hard-fought thrilling contest. The University of Mary enters the week with a 4-5 mark after a pair of losses prior to the Christmas Holiday to No. 14 Minnesota State (86-71) and Southwest Minnesota 79-67. 

University of Great Falls enters the week with a 4-9 record and play at the University of Lethbridge in Lethbridge, Alberta, Wednesday prior to coming to Billings for Saturday’s matchup. 

The Yellowjackets play their final non-conference road game of the season at Mary on Wednesday.  MSUB is searching for its first road win of the year (0-2). 

GAME THEME AND SPONSOR - $1 ADMISSION NIGHT
Saturday’s game theme is $1 Night for admission to the game and the game sponsor is Sign Pro. 

MAGIC NUMBER FOR 1,000TH VICTORY
The magic number for the 1,000th victory is two.  MSUB is 998-889 all-time for a .529 winning percentage.  If the Yellowjackets win at Mary on Wednesday, the 1,000th victory opportunity would come Saturday, Jan. 2, versus the University of Great Falls.

SCOUTING MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
The Yellowjackets are led by DeAndre Chambers who averages 13.7 points per game in seven games.  He leads the team with 37 made field goals and 16 made 3-pointers.  Second on the team in scoring is Lasha Parghalava who averages 11.6 points per game.  He is second in made field goals (30) and 3-pointers (13).  Derrick Wright, who is third in scoring (11.3) leads the team averaging 5.7 rebounds per game.  He is shooting a team-best .587 from the field and is second in made free throws with 23 (23 of 32).  DaVell Jackson is the fourth player in double figures averaging 10 points per game.  Jackson leads the team and the conference in assists with 41 and first in both in steals with 23. 

As a team, the Yellowjackets are shooting 47 percent from the field (181 of 384) and 43 of 109 from beyond the arc for 39 percent.  The Yellowjackets are shooting just over 70 percent from the line on 107 of 152, while averaging 33.6 rebounds per game.  MSUB is scoring 73.1 points per game.

Conversely, the opponents are shooting 44 percent from the field (158 of 359) and are at a 37 percent from beyond the arc and 69 percent from the line.  MSUB is allowing 32.3 rebounds per game and 68 points per game.

RECAPPING DIXIE STATE
The Yellowjackets had three players in double figures led by 14 points from Lasha Parghalava and 13 points off the bench from DeAndre Chambers to lead MSUB to a 63-60 victory Dec. 21.  MSUB avenged a 78-75 loss to Dixie State earlier in the month in St. George, Utah.  MSUB would lead the game early on and built as many as a 12 point lead, but the Red Storm would come back each time.  In the end, the Yellowjackets sealed the victory on a steal and easy layup in the closing seconds.  DSC had one look at the buzzer as a triple went off the front of the iron. 

A WIN OVER MARY WOULD...
• Give the Yellowjackets a 6-2 record on the year.
• Only be two one away from 1,000 career wins.
• Would give the Yellowjackets a 1-2 record on the road this season
• Would give MSUB a season sweep of the Marauders and a 5-1 record in the all-time series.

SCOUTING UNIVERSITY OF MARY
The Marauders are led by Anthony Moody who averages 17.4 points per game.  He leads the team with 57 made field goals and is second in triples with 13.  Eric Erdmann is second in scoring at 16.2 points.  He is second in made field goals with 56 and second to Moody in made free throws with 26.  Jordan Wilhelm leads the team in rebounds averaging 5.6 per game and he is scoring 10.7 points per contest.

LAST TIME THEY MET
The Yellowjackets and the Marauders played a nail-biter in Billings earlier this season with the Yellowjackets pulling out a hard-fought 72-68 victory.  In that game, the Yellowjackets used a late tip-in from Brad Hodge and a free throw from DeAndre Chambers helping the Yellowjackets hold-off a feisty Marauder club.  MSUB had four players in double figures led by Hodge with 19.  DaVell Jackson was close to a triple-double with 10 points, eight assists and seven steals in the game.  Eric Erdmann and Anthony Moody had 19 and 17 points, respectively, to lead the Marauders.

SCOUTING GREAT FALLS
The Argos enter the week with a 4-9 record overall.  Kevin Harris leads the team averaging 14.9 points per game.  He has 81 made field goals for a .503 average.  Harris is second on the team from long range with 14 made triples.  Matt Niemeyer is second in scoring a 10.7 points, while Mark Celaya is third at 10 points per game.  Dyston Madsen leads the team averaging 5.1 rebounds per game.

LAST TIME VERSUS GREAT FALLS
MSUB had three players in double figures including 20 points from Travis Bunker in a 74-58 win over UGF on New Year’s Eve last year.  The Yellowjackets shot 44 percent for the game from the field and 44 percent from beyond the arc.  The main difference was MSUB was 16 of 22 from the line, while the Argos were just 6 of 10 and 4 of 18  from beyond the arc.  Rayshaun Ames had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds for UGF.

WINNING THE CLOSE ONES
Of the seven games this season, the Yellowjackets have had four games decided by four points or less.  MSUB is 3-1 in those games and three have happened at home where MSUB is 4-0 on the year. 

ROAD UNKIND
The road has been unkind to the Yellowjackets in recent years.  Last year MSUB was 1-10 on the road and the year before 0-10.  Since the 2000-01 season, the Yellowjackets are just 18-76 in road games.  Moreover, the Yellowjackets are just 2-31 on the road since 2005-06.  MSUB is 0-2 on the road this season.

WENDY’S THREE’S
Anytime the Yellowjackets hit seven 3-pointers in a home game, everyone in the crowd will receive a free coupon for one small chili at Wendy’s.  The Yellowjackets hit exactly seven triples versus Colorado Christian.  MSUB followed with six triples versus Mary, seven versus Northern New Mexico College and seven versus Dixie State.  The Jackets have 27 for the year at home with two Wendy’s Three’s Winner.  For the season, MSUB has 43 triples.

CHAMBERS OFF THE BENCH
Junior DeAndre Chambers leads the team in scoring, field goals made and 3-pointers made.  The interesting thing is he has not had one start this season.  He has come off the bench in all seven games.  Chambers has scored in double figures in all seven games including an MSUB-best 19 in a 78-75 loss at Dixie State.  He was named to the all-tournament team of the Dixie State Classic.

THE WRIGHT REJECTION
Senior Derrick Wright tallied two blocks on versus Colorado Christian, two of which were huge down the stretch.  Wright swatted Jobi Wall twice on 3-pointers that would have cut the Yellowjacket lead to either one or two in the final two minutes of the game.  Wright five on the year and 23 for his MSUB career.  He needs just four rejections to move into the top 10 all-time in school history.