FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Monday, December 12, 2016 Matthews claims GNAC Player of the Week after 2 MSUB victories
Scoring 49 points in two wins for MSUB’s men’s basketball team last week, senior Marc Matthews earns his first-career GNAC Player of the Week honor. PORTLAND, Ore. – Helping the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team claim two victories last week and extend its successful run to five wins in its last six games, senior guard Marc Matthews has been named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week announced Monday. “Marc was awesome last week,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “Not only was he high-level on the offensive end, but he contributed in other ways specifically with his defense and rebounding. We look forward to seeing what Marc has in him once we get back from break.” Matthews led MSUB in scoring in both of its wins last week, as the Yellowjackets defeated Western Oregon 79-71 Monday and Rocky Mountain College 95-85 Saturday. In the team’s first GNAC win of the year over the Wolves, Matthews led the ‘Jackets with 20 points on 4 of 9 shooting from the 3-point arc. He also hauled in four rebounds and contributed three assists and a steal.
Against Rocky on Saturday, Matthews fell one short of his career high as he scored 29 points and tied a personal best with seven made 3-pointers. Overall he shot 60.0 percent from the field (18-for-30), 57.9 percent from 3-point range (11-for-19), and had nine rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block. MSUB has now won five of its last six games, a stretch during which Matthews is averaging 17.5 points and has had three 20-point games. His 28 total 3-pointers made are currently the most in the GNAC, and his average of 2.8 per game is fifth-best in the league. With his 49 points in the two games, Matthews is now just two away from reaching 1,000 in his decorated career at MSUB. His next bucket will make Matthews the 22nd player in MSUB history to reach the landmark scoring figure, and he is currently No. 9 in MSUB history with 164 made 3-pointers. Matthews is the second Yellowjacket this season to earn GNAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, joining teammate Preston Beverly who claimed the honor from Nov. 13-19. This is the first-career weekly award for the senior, who was an honorable mention all-conference pick last year and a preseason all-GNAC selection this season. Currently ranking second on the team in scoring, Matthews is averaging 14.2 points per game this season. He is shooting 43.3 percent from the field overall, 37.8 percent from beyond the arc, and a stellar 90.9 percent from the foul line. Matthews is also averaging 3.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game in 26.9 minutes. MSUB (6-4, 1-1 GNAC) is next in action on Dec. 29, as the Yellowjackets travel to Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia for a 6:15 p.m. Mountain time tipoff following the holiday break.
--@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--