Yellowjacket men to host Alaska, Dixie State, Dominican in D2 Thanksgiving tourney

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Wednesday, November 25, 2015 Yellowjacket men to host Alaska, Dixie State, Dominican in D2 Thanksgiving tourney

MSUB’s men’s basketball team will host a four-team NCAA Division II tournament at Alterowitz Gym this weekend, as the Yellowjackets welcome Dominican University, Dixie State University and University of Alaska.

BILLINGS, Mont. – Coming off two straight road victories over the past week, the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team returns home this weekend to host a Thanksgiving tournament on Friday and Saturday at Alterowitz Gym. Fellow NCAA Division II schools Dixie State University, Dominican University, and University of Alaska will converge on MSUB’s campus this weekend, with four total men’s games on tap. University of Alaska is a fellow Great Northwest Athletic Conference school, while west region opponents Dixie State and Dominican hail from the PacWest Conference.

“It is nice to have the GNAC well-represented with Alaska coming into our gym at 4-0,” Stevens said. “Dixie State and Dominican are really solid west region teams, and all three teams coming in are really well coached.”

A pair of MSUB women’s basketball games will be mixed into the action as well, with six games total running on Friday and on Saturday. All men’s and women’s games this weekend will feature live video with commentary and live statistics available via MSUB’s Stretch Internet portal here.

Friday, November 27, 2015 Alterowitz Gym 3 p.m. MEN’S – University of Alaska vs. Dixie State University 5:15 p.m. WOMEN’S – Chadron State College vs. MSU Billings 7:30 p.m. MEN’S – Dominican University vs. MSU Billings Saturday, November 28, 2015 Alterowitz Gym 3 p.m. MEN’S – University of Alaska vs. Dominican University 5:15 p.m. WOMEN’S – University of Great Falls vs. MSU Billings (Exhibition) 7:30 p.m. MEN’S – Dixie State University vs. MSU Billings The Yellowjackets (2-2) are coming off a gritty 98-92 overtime road win over the University of Mary on Monday, after defeating Black Hills State University 82-80 on Saturday. This weekend’s action will serve as a final tune-up before the ‘Jackets begin their GNAC schedule on the road at Concordia University (Ore.) and Western Oregon University on Dec. 3 and Dec. 5.

“That was one of the more satisfying weeks we have had in a while,” Stevens said. “If you count the exhibition game against Rocky, we played and won three games in six days with seven guys. They have been working hard and it is nice to taste some of that success.”

30 for #23: Setting a new career best in scoring on Monday was junior guard Jace Anderson, who scored 30 points in 40 minutes to help the ‘Jackets hold on for victory.

Ten of Anderson’s points came on free-throws in the overtime period alone, and he also added four threes and made 7 of 11 shots overall from the field.

Through four games, Anderson is averaging 11.8 points and is shooting 43.8 percent from 3-point range. An honorable mention all-GNAC selection a season ago, Anderson has turned the ball over just five times while providing 11 assists and shooting 85.7 percent from the foul line overall.

“We want Jace to play aggressive and look for his shot,” Stevens said. “He did that all weekend and he has done that since we have put him into that point guard role.”

Junior Jace Anderson.

MATTHEWS’ MAGIC NUMBER 24: Junior Marc Matthews also had a big hand in both of MSUB’s wins last week, as he scored 24 points in each contest and made 18 of 29 shots from the field overall. Against BHSU on Saturday, Matthews made 6 of 7 3pointers and is shooting a red-hot 59.3 percent (16-for-27) from beyond the arc this season.

Matthews was one of three players to play more than 40 minutes on Monday, as he was on the court for 44 of 45 minutes. He has made 10 of 12 free throws and is averaging 20.5 points through four games.

“Marc was just Mr. Consistency, and when we needed a bucket he had the ability to go and get us one,” said Stevens.

“To have those returners play like that gives our freshmen some confidence.”

EVANS EMERGING: After redshirting a season ago, freshman Christian Evans had his first breakout game with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double against Mary. Evans made 6 of 9 shots from 3-point range, and led the team in rebounding while playing 41 minutes. The standout effort came on the heels of a 17-point contribution on Saturday at Black Hills State, as the first-year forward is averaging 15.0 points through his first four collegiate games.

“What Chris did the other night was pretty phenomenal for a redshirt freshman,” Stevens said. “He’s just a tough matchup, and we hope that is just the beginning for Chris.”

JOHNSON IN DOUBLE FIGURES: Senior Emmanuel Johnson is also averaging in double digits in scoring, with 10.3 points per game this season. He is shooting 41.4 percent from the field and is also contributing 4.5 rebounds per game in 30.0 minutes as a forward.

PERRY PRODUCING OFF BENCH: Sophomore Jordan Perry scored 11 points in the win over BHSU, and played 56 minutes total in the two games over the weekend.

He has converted 13 of 16 shots from the foul line, and is shooting 45.5 percent from the field overall.

Freshman Christian Evans.

BEVERLY, ALCORN IN THE MIX AS FRESHMEN: Having started all four games this season, Cade Alcorn is averaging 4.0 rebounds and has eaten up 24.3 minutes per game in his true freshman season. Preston Beverly has also seen extended action in his first year, averaging 22.5 minutes with 3.0 rebounds per game so far.

CASHING IN FREE THROWS: A season ago, the ‘Jackets shot just 65.7 percent from the free-throw line. Through just four games, MSUB has improved by more than 10 percent in that category, shooting 76.3 percent from the line as a team.

The ‘Jackets are also shooting well from the field (43.9 percent) and from 3-point range (41.8 percent), and will look to keep up their average of 74.0 points per game compared to last year’s mark of 70.0.

7 FOR FIGHTING: Injuries have diminished MSUB’s roster as of late, with the Yellowjackets competing the last two weeks with seven active players. Senior preseason all-conference guard/forward Momir Gataric will redshirt this season as he continues to rebound from a torn ACL suffered at the end of last year, and freshman forward Zack Lessinger will use a medical redshirt this season after a foot injury sustained during practice.

Freshman Preston Beverly.

Sophomore guard Kendall Denham, who went down with an injury in MSUB’s 8582 exhibition win over Rocky Mountain College last week, is expected to return to the team within two weeks.

Visiting Team Profiles University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks 2015 Record: 4-0 Head Coach: Mick Durham, 5th season 2014 Record: 7-19, 4-14 GNAC Mick Durham is in his fifth season as head coach of the Nanooks and led the University of Alaska Fairbanks to back-toback winning seasons and to the GNAC Championship semifinals during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.

This year UAF has opened its season with four wins. The Alaska Nanooks defeated Hawaii Pacific University 96-77 and Chaminade University 112-102 in the 2015 GCI GNAC/PacWest Crossover.

Senior transfer Travante Williams averaged 23.5 points per game on the weekend, as he earned GCI GNAC/PacWest Crossover Most Valuable Player honors. At the AT&T Seawolf Jamboree the Nanooks overcame Cal State Dominguez Hills 81-73 and Life Pacific College 90-75. Alaska’s 4-0 start marks the team’s first four-game winning streak since the 2013-14 season. It is the first time that an Alaska team has started the year 4-0 since the 2006-07 season.

Alaska scores 94.8 points per game, and Williams is leading the Nanooks with 20.3 points per game.

Ashton Edwards and Joe Slocum were both selected to the all-GNAC preseason team. Slocum is making his return to Alaska this season after sitting out the 2014-15 season with a redshirt, and is averaging 11.8 points and a team-best 4.3 assists per game.

Bangaly Kaba has been another top scorer for UAF this year, turning in 15.8 points and a team-best 8.0 rebounds per game in 29.3 minutes. Senior returner Almir Hadzisehovic has complemented Kaba nicely, averaging 9.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in 19.5 minutes.

The Series: Though MSUB and UAF will not meet this weekend, they will compete against one another twice this season in conference games. The ‘Jackets will travel to Fairbanks on Jan. 14 for a 9 p.m. Mountain time game, before hosting UAF on Feb. 13 at 5:15 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym. MSUB holds an alltime 40-24 edge over UAF, including a mark of 27-4 at home and 11-18 on the road.

Dixie State University Red Storm 2015 Record: 1-3 Head Coach: Jon Judkins, 11th season 2014 Record: 20-8, 17-3 PacWest Having led the Red Storm to six straight 20-win seasons, head coach Jon Judkins returns to the court for his 11th season in charge of the program.

Last season Judkins led the Storm to a 20-8 record and the program’s fifth PacWest title in six years with a 17-3 league mark. In addition, he guided DSU to its sixth-consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament.

The Dixie State men's basketball team was picked to finish third in the 2015-16 PacWest Conference preseason coaches' poll.

The Storm holds a 1-3 record this season. After opening the season with a convincing 91-56 victory over Concordia University, the Storm dropped the following three games to Seattle Pacific 80-74, Sonoma State 72-64, and San Francisco State 79-75.

Trevor Hill is the team’s leading scorer (15.5 points per game) and assist man (5.0 per game). Mark Ogden is the leader in free-throw percentage (85.0) and rebounds (5.5 per game). Brandon Simister was named to the Ron Logsdon Basketball Classic All-Tournament Team.

As a team DSU averages 76.0 points per game while allowing 71.75. The Red Storm also outrebounds opponents 37.532.8, while shooting 43.8 percent from the floor, 31.7 percent from 3-point range, and 66.1 percent from the foul line.

The Series: MSUB has defeated DSU just once in seven historic meetings between the teams, with the ‘Jackets holding a 1-2 record at home against the Red Storm. DSU has won the last five meetings between the teams dating back to the 2010 season.

Last Time Out: The two teams met last year during the preseason, with DSU collecting a 78-56 triumph in St. George, Utah. Marc Matthews led the ‘Jackets with 13 points, while Denham had eight and Johnson had seven.

Dominican University (Calif.) Penguins 2015 Record: 2-2 Head Coach: Booker T. Harris, 5th season 2014 Record: 13-15, 10-10 PacWest In 2013-14 the Penguins went 22-8 and finished in second place en route to an appearance in the PacWest championship game. Head coach Booker T. Harris was named Dominican's Coach of the Year in 2013-14. Last season the Penguins ended with a 12-15 record.

This season, DU (2-2) dropped its home opener, 68-63, to Sonoma State in the PacWest/CCAA Challenge. Dominican’s first win of the season, 83-73, came over visiting Cal State Monterey Bay. After the game, Josh Ramirez and Christopher Schwartz-Edmisten were named to the PacWest/CCAA Challenge all-tournament team.

The Penguins fell 96-75 to No. 17 Chico State in non-conference action, and DU twice erased a 10-point deficit to record a 70-66 non-conference road victory at Stanislaus State.

Schwartz-Edmisten, Matt Hayes, and Ramirez are the key players on the team. Ramirez leads the team in points per game (16.3), Hayes leads in rebounds per game (6.8), and Schwartz-Edmisten leads in steals per game (1.5).

On the season, DU is averaging 72.8 points per game while allowing 75.8, and is bringing down 33.2 rebounds while surrendering 35.2.

The Series: Friday’s meeting will be the second-ever between MSUB and DU, as the ‘Jackets picked up an 82-54 victory in St. George, Utah on Dec. 4, 2009.

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