MSUB Hall of Fame Induction 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Friday, January 22, 2016 3 inducted into MSUB Hall of Fame Friday night

Troy Truvillion, Ali Watson, and Sam Charles are all inducted into MSUB’s Hall of Fame and Distinction Friday night in a ceremony at the Hilton Garden Inn. BILLINGS, Mont. – A festive evening designed to honor the careers of three all-time great Yellowjackets culminated with the induction of Troy Truvillion, Ali Watson, and Sam Charles into the Montana State University Billings Hall of Fame and Distinction Friday in a ceremony at the Hilton Garden Inn. Scott Breen of KTVQ served as the master of ceremonies of the event for the second year in-a-row. Truvillion was introduced by former head coach Len Wilkens, Charles was introduced by former head coach Dan McNally, and Watson was introduced by Yellowjacket director of athletics Krista Montague.

“Tonight we are excited to host one of our favorite events for the 27th year in a row,” commented Montague during a welcoming statement. “Once again, we have a very outstanding cast to induct with Troy, Ali, and Sam being permanently honored tonight.”

An NCAA Division II All-American during the 1989-1990 season, Truvillion was a member of two Eastern Montana College teams that combined to go 38-19 during his career. He was a first-team all-region selection as a senior and was a first-team all-GNAC pick both seasons he competed for the Yellowjackets.

His 45 points against Seattle Pacific on Feb. 15, 1990 ties for the seventh-best single-game scoring total in MSUB history, and his 17 made field goals in the game are third-most in school history. Truvillion also ranks fifth in career free-throw percentage at 83.28 (149-for-299), and climbed to No. 21 in career points with 1,016 in just two seasons.

Truvillion commented on his journey from Detroit growing up to a junior college in California, that ultimately led him to suiting up for the Yellowjackets and head coach Len Wilkens. “I tell people that the thing I liked the most was the people (in Billings),” Truvillion said during a captivating acceptance speech. “I am just happy to be here and I appreciate all of my teammates and coaches for all that they did for me.”

Charles is a former NCAA Division II National Player of the Year on MSUB’s men’s soccer team, Truvillion was an AllAmerican on MSUB’s men’s basketball team, and Watson is a former Heartland Conference Player of the Year in the Yellowjackets’ volleyball program.

The top scorer in the both the MSUB and Great Northwest Athletic Conference record books, Charles amassed 154 points throughout his four seasons, scoring 69 goals and adding 18 assists in 70 games. Setting an MSUB and GNAC single-season record with 24 goals to lead the NCAA in scoring during the 2009 season, Charles was picked as the Ron Lenz Daktronics Division II National Player of the Year.

Charles had five hat tricks during his career, and scored 19 goals in the 2007 season and again in the 2008 season. He was picked as the GNAC Player of the Year in 2007 and 2009, and earned NCAA Division II West Region Player of the Year after his historic 2009 season.

Charles’ scoring average of 2.69 points per game stands as a GNAC record, and his 22 career game-winning goals are also the most ever in the conference.

Charles was a member of teams that went 5-11-2 in 2006, 13-4-2 in 2007, 10-8 in 2008, and 11-5-2 in 2009 for a cumulative career mark of 39-28-6. In his final career game, Charles scored three goals on Nov. 4, 2009 at Rocky to put a fitting close on his illustrious career.

Watson was picked as the Heartland Conference Player of the Year in 2006, helping the ‘Jackets to a record of 26-5 and a berth in the NCAA Southwest Regional Championships after winning the conference title. She was a first-team allconference selection in 2005 and 2006.

In just two seasons, Watson made her way into MSUB’s record books with the fifth-most and seventh-most kills in a single season with 443 in 2006 and 414 in 2005. She also stands as No. 8 in career service aces (84), and No. 10 in career kills (857).

Charles is the first men’s soccer player, Truvillion is the 34th men’s basketball player, and Watson is the eighth women’s volleyball player to be inducted into MSUB’s Hall of Fame. They joined 149 previous inductees when they were enshrined on Friday.

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