MSUB Men's Basketball 2014-15 Book by MSUB Sports

Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basketball 2014-15 Season

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Table of Contents

2014-15 Schedule...........................................................................................................................................................................................................3 2014 Season Preview.....................................................................................................................................................................................................4 Exhibition Game 1 Preview.........................................................................................................................................................................................7 Exhibition Game 1 Recap: Carroll 71, MSUB 66......................................................................................................................................................8 Exhibition Game 2 Preview.........................................................................................................................................................................................9 Exhibition Game 2 Recap: Rocky 75, MSUB 73..................................................................................................................................................... 10 Preview: Games 1 & 2................................................................................................................................................................................................ 12 Game 1 Recap: CSU East Bay 86, MSUB 80........................................................................................................................................................... 14 Game 2 Recap: CSU Stanislaus 75, MSUB 68......................................................................................................................................................... 17 Preview: Games 3 & 4................................................................................................................................................................................................ 20 Game 3 Recap: Dixie State 78, MSUB 56................................................................................................................................................................ 23 Game 4 Recap: Rocky 73, MSUB 69........................................................................................................................................................................ 26 MSUB Featured on ROOT SPORTS........................................................................................................................................................................ 29 Preview: Games 5 & 6................................................................................................................................................................................................ 31 Game 5 Recap: Great Falls 89, MSUB 84 (2 OT)................................................................................................................................................... 34 Game 6 Recap: MSUB 79, Black Hills State 61....................................................................................................................................................... 37 Preview: Games 7 & 8................................................................................................................................................................................................ 40 Game 7 Recap: Central Washington 88, MSUB 79................................................................................................................................................ 44 Game 8 Recap: Northwest Nazarene 59, MSUB 57............................................................................................................................................... 47 Preview: Games 9 & 10.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 50 Game 9 Recap: Montana Western 72, MSUB 62.................................................................................................................................................... 53 2014-15 Alumni Game.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 56 Game 10 Recap: Chaminade 82, MSUB 65............................................................................................................................................................. 57 Preview: Games 11 & 12............................................................................................................................................................................................ 60 Game 11 Recap: Hawaii Pacific 73, MSUB 45........................................................................................................................................................ 63 Game 12 Recap: MSUB 73, Ottawa 57.................................................................................................................................................................... 66 Preview: Games 13 & 14............................................................................................................................................................................................ 69 Feature Story: Junior Emmanuel Johnson.............................................................................................................................................................. 73 Game 13 Recap: Saint Martin’s 66, MSUB 65......................................................................................................................................................... 78 Game 14 Recap: Western Oregon 72, MSUB 64.................................................................................................................................................... 81 Preview: Games 15 & 16............................................................................................................................................................................................ 84 Game 15 Recap: Western Washington 88, MSUB 68............................................................................................................................................ 88 Game 16 Recap: MSUB 111, Simon Fraser 104...................................................................................................................................................... 91 Gataric Tabbed GNAC Player of the Week............................................................................................................................................................. 94 Preview: Games 17 & 18............................................................................................................................................................................................ 95 Feature Story: Senior Tyler Nelson.......................................................................................................................................................................... 99 Game 17 Recap: MSUB 83, Alaska Fairbanks 78 (OT)....................................................................................................................................... 103 Game 18 Recap: Alaska Anchorage 70, MSUB 62............................................................................................................................................... 106 Preview: Game 19..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 109 Feature Story: Sophomore Jace Anderson & Freshman Kendall Denham....................................................................................................... 111 Game 19 Recap: Seattle Pacific 60, MSU Billings 44........................................................................................................................................... 113 Preview: Games 20 & 21.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 116 Game 20 Recap: Western Oregon 94, MSUB 74.................................................................................................................................................. 120 Game 21 Recap: Saint Martin’s 75, MSUB 64....................................................................................................................................................... 123 Preview: Games 22 & 23.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 126 Game 22 Recap: MSUB 85, Simon Fraser 78........................................................................................................................................................ 130 Game 23 Recap: Western Washington 75, MSUB 65.......................................................................................................................................... 133 Preview: Games 24 & 25.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 136 Game 24 Recap: Alaska Anchorage 82, MSUB 68............................................................................................................................................... 140 Game 25 Recap: Alaska Fairbanks 87, MSUB 65................................................................................................................................................. 143 Preview: Game 26..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 146 Game 26 Recap: Seattle Pacific 81, MSUB 59....................................................................................................................................................... 149 Preview: Games 27 & 28.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 152 3 Yellowjackets Earn Academic All-Conference Honors.................................................................................................................................... 156 Game 27 Recap: Northwest Nazarene 91, MSUB 67........................................................................................................................................... 157 Game 28 Recap: Central Washington 104, MSUB 99 (OT)................................................................................................................................ 160 Hosley Earns GNAC Player of the Week............................................................................................................................................................... 163 Anderson Named All-Conference......................................................................................................................................................................... 164 2014-15 Season Review........................................................................................................................................................................................... 165 2014-15 Final Statistics............................................................................................................................................................................................ 168

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2014-15 MSUB Men’s Basketball Schedule Opponent at Carroll College at Rocky Mountain College vs. CSU East Bay (at Dominican) vs. CSU Stanislaus (at Dominican) at Dixie State University Rocky Mountain College+ University of Great Falls Black Hills State University at Central Washington University* at Northwest Nazarene University* University of Montana Western Alumni Game (exh) at Chaminade University at Hawaii Pacific University vs. Ottawa University (at HPU) Saint Martin’s University* Western Oregon University* at Western Washington University* at Simon Fraser University* University of Alaska Fairbanks * University of Alaska Anchorage* at Seattle Pacific University* at Western Oregon University* at Saint Martin’s University* Simon Fraser University* Western Washington University* at University of Alaska Anchorage* at University of Alaska Fairbanks* Seattle Pacific University* Northwest Nazarene University* Central Washington University*

Day Tuesday Wednesday Friday Saturday Tuesday Thursday Tuesday Saturday Thursday Saturday Friday Saturday Monday Friday Saturday Thursday Saturday Thursday Saturday Thursday Saturday Saturday Thursday Saturday Thursday Saturday Thursday Saturday Saturday Thursday Saturday

Date Oct. 28 Nov. 5 Nov. 14 Nov. 15 Nov. 18 Nov. 20 Nov. 25 Nov. 29 Dec. 4 Dec. 6 Dec. 12 Dec. 13 Dec. 15 Dec. 19 Dec. 20 Jan. 1 Jan. 3 Jan. 8 Jan. 10 Jan. 15 Jan. 17 Jan. 24 Jan. 29 Jan. 31 Feb. 5 Feb. 7 Feb. 12 Feb. 14 Feb. 21 Feb. 26 Feb. 28

Thursday Friday Saturday

Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships Mar. 5 Teams TBD Mar. 6 Teams TBD Mar. 7 Teams TBD

Time (Local) 7:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 2 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 5 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 2 p.m. 2 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 1 p.m. 5:15 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m.

*Great Northwest Athletic Conference Game All home games, including 2014-15 GNAC Championships inside Alterowitz Gym @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 3

MSUB men’s basketball season preview October 21, 2014 The combination of all-GNAC returner Austin Hudson and a diverse cast of newcomers makes for a promising outlook for the MSUB men’s basketball team in 2014-15. BILLINGS, Mont. – Returning one of the top inside players in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference for the 2014-15 season in senior Austin Hudson, the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team will look to return to the conference championships after an appearance last season. Hudson, who was tabbed as a unanimous GNAC preseason all-conference selection, averaged 14.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game last season and logged a field-goal percentage of .588. Hudson’s ability to penetrate underneath is unique, and he will be a key force for the Yellowjackets to build around this season. “Last season was a little bit of a surprise as Austin had a great year for us,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “As the year went on he was one of the top two or three post players in the league. He is a true five man that knows how to score, and he has great hands and footwork. He did have a tendency to get into foul trouble, but if he can stay in the game he can have a great senior season for us.” Another senior adds further depth down low for MSUB, as Tyler Nelson figures to see minutes this year as well. “Tyler spent last year backing up Austin and he has that GNAC experience too,” Stevens said. “He understands what we expect in this program because of that experience, and I also know what to expect out of him.” The Yellowjackets bid farewell to two invaluable seniors in point guard Kalob Hatcher and Jonathan Mesghna, but the gaps the two left behind are set to be filled by a combination of newcomers and returners.

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One of those crucial returners is sophomore guard Marc Matthews, whose impact as a freshman in 2013-14 had a noticeable effect on the trajectory of MSUB’s season. “Last year we put Marc into the starting lineup in Alaska when our record was sitting at 8-12,” Stevens said. “We won four in a row after we inserted him and it wasn’t just a coincidence. We started playing our best basketball when Marc was in the starting lineup.” Matthews turned in 7.5 points per game in his debut collegiate season, and added 10 steals and 3.3 rebounds per game in his six starts. “Marc is a guy that we feel is GNAC-ready, and we play as good as anybody in the conference when he is healthy,” Stevens said. “He understands the league, and he will be a year older, better and wiser. We are expecting a lot of good things out of him this season.” Two more players who will provide depth and key experience for MSUB are Jace Anderson and Luke Adams, who each saw time as freshmen last season. “The advantage those guys have over the newcomers is that they are returners who have been in the program for multiple years,” Stevens said. “They both had a great summer and a great fall, and they are in really good shape. They have made some significant strides and I feel like they will both contribute this season.” In Mesghna last season, who was the GNAC Newcomer of the Year, the Yellowjackets had a top 3-point shooter as his percentage was north of .400 at .414 (80-for-191). MSUB will look to a combination of new players to replicate the performance, with senior Antoine Hosley and junior Momir Gataric figuring to play key roles. “Antoine is our most talented guard and he can do things in the open court that none of our other guys can do,” Stevens said regarding the 2012 transfer from Utah Valley University. “He has been in the program for a year as he redshirted last season, and we are going to give him a lot of freedom to play in transition. We want him attacking the basket, and if he can improve in the half court he has the ability to be an all-league guy for us.” Sophomore Marc Matthews.

Gataric, a Sunnyvale, Calif., native who transferred from West Valley College, will bring further unique ability to this season’s squad. “Momir gives us some athleticism we maybe didn’t have at that position a season ago,” Stevens said. “He is sneaky athletic and he plays and practices extremely hard. Momir is a guy we have slotted to contribute heavily playing time wise and production wise right away.” With the departure of Hatcher, a second-team all-GNAC pick, the Yellowjackets let go of one of the conference’s best point guards. Enter Philadelphia native Gary Gordon. “I have been fortunate in my three years here to have really good point guards, first with Jaxon Mayer and most recently with Kalob,” Stevens said. “Gary is a guy that is kind of different than anyone we have ever had here, as he has good size and is the best rebounding point guard we have had here by far.” Gordon averaged 13.2 points per game as well as 5.2 rebounds in his two seasons at Northwest College. He was picked as the team’s most inspirational player, and he shot 52.6 percent from the field and 74.1 percent from the foul line. “Gary is a guy that we will lean on heavily at the point guard position,” Stevens said. “He can really defend the ball and he plays with a great tempo.”

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Bringing a local feel to the team this season, redshirt freshman Kendall Denham from Malta, Mont., will also factor into the conversation at point guard. “There will be a lot of competition between those two for minutes,” Stevens said regarding Gordon and Denham. “Kendall has now been in the program for a year as a redshirt, and he can really shoot, pass the ball and do good things for us.” With a combination of size and the ability to shoot, junior college transfer Emmanuel Johnson will have a strong case to see the court in an extended role as well. “We have been pleasantly surprised with Emmanuel, and he is not going to be intimidated by anyone in our league from the mere fact that he played in the best junior college league in the country,” Stevens said regarding Johnson’s time spent at Frank Phillips College. “He is a better shooter than I thought he would be, he can handle the ball, and he can definitely have a very good two years here for us.” Another redshirt freshman who will reap the benefits of being within the program for a season is Jordan Perry, who Stevens cites as one of the team’s hardest workers. “Jordan worked his tail off in the weight room and he practices and plays hard,” Stevens said. “He is going to have a lot of growth to his game this season and we are looking forward to seeing him with the opportunity to play in games.”

Freshman Kendall Denham.

Stevens is also excited about the prospects of true freshman Christian Evans, whose size and maturity have him on the cusp of seeing time this season. “Of all the freshmen I have had here in four years, Christian is by far the most ready-to-play,” Stevens said. “We have redshirted every freshman we have ever brought into the program, but Christian, quite frankly, is good enough to play here as a true freshman.” Spending one season at the University of Montana in the track and field program, sophomore Colby Henderson will also make his debut as a Yellowjacket this season. “Colby was a guy that surprised us when we had him here on a recruiting visit,” Stevens said regarding the Hamilton, Mont., native. “He is a guy who has been away from playing competitively for a few years, so there will be a little bit of a learning curve for him. He is an above-average shooter, handles the ball well, and spends a lot of time in the gym on his own. The guys on the team cannot beat him in conditioning exercises, and you can never have enough guys like Colby in the program.” Slated to finish fifth in the GNAC preseason coaches’ poll, MSUB gets its regular-season schedule underway with a road contest against Carroll College on Oct. 28 in Helena, Mont. The Yellowjackets’ GNAC schedule begins on the road in December against Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene, and picks up again in January with home games against Saint Martin’s on Jan. 1 and Western Oregon on Jan. 3 both at 7 p.m. “The GNAC is a great league, but we don’t want to be the type of program where our goal is just to make it to the conference tournament,” Stevens said. “We want to get to the point where we are competing for a league championship and an NCAA berth every year. We want our players to go out every day to get better and to compete on any given night.” Perhaps the most exciting element to MSUB’s 2014-15 schedule is the opportunity to host the men’s and women’s GNAC Basketball Championships, which are scheduled for March 4-7 inside Alterowitz Gym. “The opportunity to host these tournaments is certainly something we would like to take advantage of,” Stevens said. “Hopefully a lot of fans and people in the state of Montana will get a true idea of how good the GNAC is. If you walk into our gym in March, you are going to see really good college basketball and see what we deal with on a nightly basis. With the level of play in this league, we love being a part of it.”

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MSUB men travel to in-state opponent Carroll for exhibition contest October 27, 2014 Playing its first exhibition game of the 2014 season, the MSUB men’s basketball team takes on Helena, Mont., opponent Carroll College Tuesday evening. BILLINGS, Mont. – In its first preseason contest of the 2014-15 season, the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team will face Carroll College in an exhibition matchup Tuesday evening at the Carroll PE Center. The game against the NAIA opponent will be the first of two exhibition contests on tap for the MSUB men this preseason. After traveling to Helena, Mont., for Tuesday’s game, the ‘Jackets will take on cross-town rival Rocky Mountain College on Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. in the Fortin Center in another exhibition tilt. Tuesday’s match will tip off at 7:30 p.m. Mountain time and live statistics and video will be available via www. msubsports.com. The series between Carroll and MSUB dates back to the 1928-29 season, with the Yellowjackets holding an alltime 87-62 record against the Saints. MSUB has won the last five games between the teams, seven of the last eight and 18 of 20 dating back to the 1983 season. In 2013, MSUB won in Billings by the score of 65-60 on Nov. 9 at Alterowitz Gym. The MSUB men have been picked to finish fifth in this season’s Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason coaches’ poll, and senior forward Austin Hudson was a unanimous selection to the preseason all-conference team. The Saints, who compete in the Frontier Conference of the NAIA, have begun the season 3-1 and hold a 2-0 mark so far at home in 2014-15. After starting the season with three-straight wins, Carroll fell to the University of Jamestown 73-64 in its most recent matchup. The meeting between the two will be the first in Helena since the 1997-98 season, and just the second overall in the past 16 seasons. @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 7

MSUB men fall to Carroll 71-66 in first exhibition game October 28, 2014 Challenging NAIA opponent Carroll College in a preseason exhibition contest, the MSUB men’s basketball team fell 71-66 in Helena, Mont., Tuesday evening. HELENA, Mont. – Zach Taylor poured in nine field goals and finished with a game-high 29 points as Carroll College defeated Montana State University Billings 71-66 in a preseason exhibition contest Tuesday evening in the Carroll PE Center. Taylor was 9-for-14 from the field including 2-for-5 from downtown and 9-for-11 from the foul line. Oliver Carr also played a key role for the Saints, scoring 19 points on 7 of 14 from the field and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line. The Saints improved to 4-1 on the season with the win, while the Yellowjackets remain at 0-0 after the non-counting game. Senior Antoine Hosley topped the bill for MSUB, scoring 23 points on 8 of 20 shooting from the field and 3 of 9 from 3-point range. Sophomore Marc Matthews had 13 points and was 3-for-4 from 3-point range, and he also led his team with seven rebounds. Emmanuel Johnson hauled in six boards for the ‘Jackets and scored eight points, and freshman point guard Kendall Denham finished the night with nine points and three assists. MSUB jumped out to an early lead, and held it until midway through the first half. A jump shot by Zayn Kirkendoll made the score 14-12 in favor of the Saints midway through, and capped off a six-point swing for Carroll. Thirteen of Taylor’s points came in the first half, and his 3-point field goal with five seconds left sent his team to the locker room with momentum and a 32-23 advantage. Matthews opened the second-half scoring with a trey and Tyler Nelson contributed a bucket to narrow the deficit to four at 32-28. Carroll kept the lead through the second half, but MSUB battled back to cut the score to 54-53 on a field goal by Denham with 6:09 remaining. The ‘Jackets pulled within one point again on a Hosley field goal with 5:11 left, but the Saints never relinquished the lead as they closed out the game. The Yellowjackets outrebounded the Saints 32-26 on the game, but were hampered by 13 turnovers while totaling just four assists. Carroll also picked up seven steals on the night compared with three by MSUB, and the Saints finished with five blocks. NEXT UP: MSUB takes on Rocky Mountain College in another exhibition matchup on Nov. 5 inside the Fortin Center on the RMC campus. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

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MSUB men take on Rocky in exhibition contest Wednesday November 3, 2014 Set to face Rocky Mountain College in a preseason exhibition game on Wednesday, the MSUB men’s basketball team tips off against the Battlin’ Bears at the Fortin Center on the RMC Campus at 7 p.m. BILLINGS, Mont. – Getting set for its second preseason exhibition game of the season, the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team will challenge Rocky Mountain College on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Fortin Center on the RMC campus. The meeting will be the first of two scheduled this season between the opponents, with Wednesday’s game counting towards RMC’s record but not for the Yellowjackets. Opening its preseason with an exhibition game against Carroll College on Oct. 28, MSUB fell 71-66 in its first game action of the year. “We are looking forward to another measuring stick for our team on Wednesday,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “We had a good week of practice after our Tuesday game last week. We were able to have a great film session and really work on several key areas.” So far this season RMC is 2-0, having won games against Dickinson State on Oct. 25 and Walla Walla on Oct. 26. “We definitely want to play well and win, but more importantly we want to get better from the experience of playing on the road against in-state opponents,” Stevens said. “That is why we play these exhibition games early in the season.” The Yellowjackets were projected to finish fifth in this season’s Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason coaches’ poll. The team earned the No. 6 seed in the conference tournament a season ago, before falling to the University of Alaska Fairbanks in the first round. MSUB senior Austin Hudson was picked as a unanimous preseason all-conference player, as he returns to the squad after being the second-leading scorer (14.3 ppg) and leading rebounder (7.5 rpg) as a junior in 2013-14. The regular season begins for MSUB next weekend, as the team travels to San Rafael, Calif., for a tournament hosted by Dominican University. The ‘Jackets will face Cal State East Bay on Nov. 14 and Cal State Stanislaus the following evening with 6:30 p.m. Mountain time tipoffs set for both games. Conference play kicks off on Dec. 4, with MSUB challenging Central Washington on the road. MSUB will host the 2014-15 GNAC Championships for both men’s and women’s basketball, scheduled for March 4-7, 2015 in Alterowitz Gym. @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 9

MSUB drops exhibition game at Rocky 75-73 November 5, 2014 Playing its second exhibition game of the 2014 preseason, the MSUB men fall 75-75 against Rocky Mountain College Wednesday evening. BILLINGS, Mont. – Despite pulling the score within two points in the closing seconds of the game, the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team could not overcome a double-digit second-half deficit in a 75-73 exhibition loss to Rocky Mountain College Wednesday evening inside the Fortin Center on the RMC campus. With 1.1 seconds left on the clock, MSUB had possession with a final chance to inbound and take a shot. Marc Matthews was the recipient of the last look as time expired, but his wild 3-point shot rattled off of the backboard and rim as the game ended. Senior Antoine Hosley led all players with 24 points in the game, finishing 4 of 8 from 3-point range and converting 6 of 7 free-throws on the night. Tyler Nelson (15) and Matthews were the other players in double figure scoring for MSUB. “I was really proud of Tyler tonight, everybody in the gym can tell he plays as hard as anybody on the court,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “To see what he has done with his game and how he has transformed into the player he is, I’m really proud of that.” Momir Gataric came up one point shy of a double-double, as he scored nine points and had a team-best 12 rebounds. For RMC, Tyree Anderson launched 21 shots on the game and finished with 19 points. Sian Laine and Malachi Roberts each had 16 for the Battlin’ Bears, and Zach Hinton had a team-best 11 boards on the game. 10 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

The Bears benefitted from 15 offensive rebounds in the game, and held a narrow 39-37 edge in the rebound department. “A lot of credit goes to Rocky,” Stevens said. “Their guys played really hard, and it was a great exhibition game for us. We had a ton of situational things that you can’t simulate in practice, and we executed a missed free-throw perfectly. You cannot ask for more from an exhibition game.” In the first, the Bears jumped out to a nine-point lead, with threes by Roberts, Nelson Smith, and Anderson making the score 15-6. MSUB embarked on a 15-5 run including a 3-pointer by Hosley and a layup by Nelson that evened the score are 21-21. An ensuing trey by Matthews gave MSUB the lead midway through the first half 24-23. A pair of missed layups by RMC opened the door for the ‘Jackets, and Hosley followed with a 3-point play as he converted a foul shot after a layup. A finish by Nelson underneath and a 3-pointer by Matthews extended the Yellowjackets’ lead to 32-25. The 11-2 run turned momentum into MSUB’s favor and prompted RMC to burn its first timeout of the half. RMC chipped away at the deficit, and a pair of costly giveaways gave the Bears two easy layups to make the score 32-31, Yellowjackets. Trading buckets down the stretch in the first half, a pair of Hosley free-throws knotted the score at 36-36. RMC held for the final shot of the first, but a pull-up jumper by Rob Nyby rolled out as time expired. An energizing dunk by Anderson pulled the score even again shortly out of the break, and a fast-break bucket by Laine made it 44-42 in favor of the Bears. Matthews knocked down his third 3-pointer of the game with 13 minutes remaining in the game, a deep one from the corner that pulled MSUB within a single point at 46-45. The Battlin’ Bears went on a 10-2 run over the next three minutes, sealed by three-straight baskets in transition that made the score 56-47 and pushed MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens to burn a timeout. Taylor Longo followed a missed three with a put-back layup, and the Bears grabbed two more offensive rebounds on the next possession to maintain control of the game. RMC held onto the lead into the closing minutes, but the ‘Jackets cut the spread to four points at 67-63 with two minutes remaining. The game ended in dramatic fashion, as a turnover by RMC gave the ‘Jackets a final chance in the last second. The win upped the Bears’ record to 3-0 on the season, and the team competes in the Frontier Conference of the NAIA. “We go play two NCAA Division Two teams now in the opening weekend excitement in California,” Stevens said regarding opening the regular season. “The nice thing now is that we have nine days to prepare for a tough threegame road trip to start the season. That’s what will get us better, and then we come back and go at it again with Rocky.” NEXT UP: The Yellowjackets begin their regular-season next week with a pair of games in California in a tournament hosted by Dominican University. MSUB squares off against Cal State East Bay on Nov. 14 and Cal State Stanislaus on Nov. 15, with tipoff set for 5:30 p.m. Pacific time for both games.

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Yellowjackets kick off regular season in California this weekend November 11, 2014 Beginning the regular-season portion of their schedule, the Yellowjacket men travel to Dominican University this weekend for games against Cal State East Bay and Cal State Stanislaus in a tourney. BILLINGS, Mont. – Beginning its 2014-15 campaign with a pair of big in-region games, the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team is headed to Dominican University this weekend for two games in the Penguin Preseason Conference Challenge. The Yellowjackets will face Cal State East Bay on Friday, before taking on 2013-14 west region runner-up Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday inside the Conlan Center. Both games are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Mountain time, with live video and statistics provided. The Yellowjackets, who have not played a counting game yet this season, return preseason unanimous Great Northwest Athletic Conference all-star Austin Hudson, who averaged 14.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game a year ago. Hudson will be joined by a diverse cast of newcomers, as well as returners Tyler Nelson and Marc Matthews who figure to play significant roles this season. After the two games in California, MSUB will make a stop in St. George, Utah, to take on Dixie State before returning home for three games. The ‘Jackets will host NAIA opponent Rocky Mountain College on Nov. 20, with games against the University of Great Falls on Nov. 25 and Black Hills State on Nov. 29 to follow before conference play. A road trip against Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene will give the ‘Jackets a taste of conference action in early December, but GNAC play doesn’t get into full swing until the calendar turns to 2015. After the 18-game GNAC schedule, the Yellowjackets will host the 2014-15 GNAC Basketball Championships from March 4-7 in Alterowitz Gym.

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Friday, November 14 – 6:30 p.m. MTN – Conlan Center Cal State East Bay Pioneers 2014-15 Record: 0-0 Head Coach: Gus Argenal, 2nd season 2013-14 Record: 7-21, 4-18 CCAA The Pioneers will also be making their 2014-15 regular-season debut on Friday, after finishing No. 11 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association last year. CSUEB said goodbye to its top-two leading scorers from 2013-14, with Gabe Kindred (16.0 ppg) and Mark Samuels (11.9 ppg) both departing. With a roster heavily loaded with upperclassmen, the Pioneers have a dozen juniors and seniors who will battle for minutes this season. One of them is senior Nick Grieves, who averaged 9.4 points and 2.8 rebounds a season ago. Grieves played in all 28 games for CSUEB as a junior, shooting .410 from the field (87-for-212) and a .414 from the 3-point line with a team-best 63 3-pointers. Another impactful senior will be Jarred Jourdan, who turned in 8.6 points and 3.3 rebounds as a forward last year. As a freshman in 2013-14, Kyle Frakes started a dozen games as a guard and averaged 5.4 points and 3.2 rebounds. The Series: The meeting will be the first ever between the two teams, who have not previously crossed paths. Saturday, November 15 – 6:30 p.m. MTN – Conlan Center Cal State Stanislaus Warriors 2014-15 Record: 0-0 Head Coach: Larry Reynolds, 6th season 2013-14 Record: 23-9, 14-8 CCAA (Sweet 16) A remarkable run at the NCAA west regional tournament a season ago ended with an 81-80 loss to Chico state in the Sweet 16, as Cal State Stanislaus won nine games in-a-row before the loss to close its 2013-14 campaign. The Warriors had two double-digit scorers last year, with Marcus Bell leading the team with 17.4 points per game. The other was Chris Read (13.2 ppg), who returns to the program this season after playing in all 32 games and starting 29 as a junior. Second-leading rebounder Rob Walters also returns for sixth-year coaching veteran Larry Reynolds, and will provide further senior leadership. Walters averaged 7.9 boards per game last year, while posting a solid 9.0 points in 28 starts. Shey Mataele is the other returning starter for the Warriors, and he averaged 7.0 points while shooting an even .500 (77-for-154) from the floor as a junior last year. As a team CSUS finished in fourth place in the CCAA regular-season standings with a record of 14-8 in conference action. The team caught fire to win the CCAA Championships in three games, before continuing the tear deep into the postseason. The Series: MSUB has never faced CSUS before, and the Warriors will provide a true early-season test for the ‘Jackets with a strong in-region contest. @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 13

Game 1: November 14, 2014 CSU East Bay 86, MSU Billings 80

Out west, MSUB men fall to Cal State East Bay 86-80 November 14, 2014 Gary Gordon leads all players with 22 points and Austin Hudson records a double-double, but the MSUB men can’t overcome CSU East Bay in a season-opening 86-80 loss. SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Despite a game-high 22 points from Gary Gordon, and a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double from Austin Hudson, the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team fell 86-80 against Cal State East Bay in the first game of the Penguin Preseason Conference Challenge Friday evening inside the Conlan Center on the Dominican University campus. The ‘Jackets (0-1) overcame a double-digit halftime deficit to work their way back into the game, but CSUEB held tough down the stretch and maintained its advantage. Nick Grieves had a team-high 19 points for CSUEB, and five total Pioneers finished in double-figures in scoring. Trailing 24-11 coming out of a timeout in the first, the ‘Jackets kept pace through the middle of the first half, but the Pioneers upped their lead to 30-16 with 7:29 before the break. CSUEB closed the half strong, carrying a 42-29 edge into the locker rooms. Hudson had nearly completed the double-double by halftime, as he had nine points and nine boards at the break. Emerging from the break, the Yellowjackets inched their way back into the game as the second half opened. Gary Gordon knocked down a mid-range jumper that cut the deficit to 50-42, but the Pioneers managed to reestablish a double-figure lead at 54-44 with 13:12 remaining. 14 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

After a pair of free-throws, Momir Gataric soared from behind for a big block, and returned to the other end on a fast-break for a bucket to make the score 54-48. The 6-0 MSUB run pushed CSUEB to burn a timeout, as the game drew closer midway through the second. A pair of Gataric free-throws cut the deficit to five points, but Marcus Norman countered with a deep 3-pointer to push the Pioneers back out in front. CSUEB kept its foot on the gas, as a wide-open trey kicked the advantage up to 16 points at 70-54. With less than three minutes left, Hudson wrestled down a rebound to give the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Jackets possession trailing 77-69. On the opposite end, a three by Gordon rattled out but Hudson fought his way in for the offensive board and the put-back layup to cut the deficit to six points. MSUB kept fighting inside of one minute to play. When CSUEB threw the ball out of bounds on a wild pass, Gordon turned it into two points going end-to-end for the layup to make the score 81-76. NEXT UP: MSUB takes on Cal State Stanislaus Saturday evening as the tournament hosted by Dominican University continues. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. inside the Conlan Center, with live video and statistics available throughout.

Senior Tyler Nelson.

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 15

Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics Cal State East Bay vs Montana St. Billings 11/14/14 5:30 PM at San Rafael, Calif. Cal State East Bay 86 • 1-0 ##

00 25 15 23 3 11 22 24 32 35 44 5

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Okwudibonye,Ryan Pasquini,Jack Springfield,Juawnn Grieves,Nick Jourdan,Jarred Ford,Jamal Kale,Cody Marr,Patrick Norman,Marcus Frakes,Kyle McIntosh,Darrick Whitfield,Jacari Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 17-34 50.0% 3FG % 1st Half: 4-8 50.0% FT % 1st Half: 4-6 66.7%

6-11 4-7 5-8 6-11 2-10 0-1 0-0 3-6 4-5 1-1 0-2 2-2

1-1 0-2 1-1 2-3 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-1 2-2 0-0 0-0 0-0

0-0 2-3 4-9 5-5 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-2 2-3 0-0 0-0 0-0

33-64

6-11

14-22

f f g g g

2nd half: 16-30 53.3% 2nd half: 2-3 66.7% 2nd half: 10-16 62.5%

1 0 1 5 2 6 8 2 0 4 4 3 0 4 4 3 1 2 3 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 1 0 4 4 3 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 4 0 1 1 3 3 1 4 9 28 37 30

13 10 15 19 4 0 0 7 12 2 0 4

A TO Blk Stl

Min

0 2 5 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0

1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0

1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

86 11

3 200

Game: 33-64 51.6% Game: 6-11 54.5% Game: 14-22 63.6%

18 30 38 33 25 2 0 20 12 6 9 7

Deadball Rebounds 3

Montana St. Billings 80 • 0-1 ##

12 25 3 42 44 13 22 23 24 32

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Gordon,Gary Gataric,Momir Hosley,Antoine Nelson,Tyler Hudson,Austin Matthews,Marc Johnson,Emmanuel Anderson,Jace Perry,Jordan Adams,Luke Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 9-20 45.0% 3FG % 1st Half: 1-4 25.0% FT % 1st Half: 10-22 45.5%

* * * * *

7-12 3-4 7-15 0-1 9-15 0-1 0-0 0-1 1-1 0-0

0-2 0-0 1-4 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

8-10 7-16 6-9 1-2 2-4 0-0 1-2 0-1 0-0 0-0

27-50

1-7

25-44

2nd half: 18-30 60.0% 2nd half: 0-3 0.0% 2nd half: 15-22 68.2%

2 6 8 4 0 3 3 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 2 1 3 9 12 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 3 0 1 1 0 1 4 5 7 26 33 22

1st

42 29

2nd

44 51

Min

1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

5 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 0

0 1 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 0

1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2 200

Game: 27-50 54.0% Game: 1-7 14.3% Game: 25-44 56.8%

Officials: Michael Hendrix, Doug Sturdivan, Dwayne Ealy Technical fouls: Cal State East Bay-Whitfield,Jacari. Montana St. Billings-Hosley,Antoine. Attendance: 120 Score by periods Cal State East Bay Montana St. Billings

A TO Blk Stl

22 13 21 1 20 0 1 0 2 0

Total

86 80

16 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

31 36 27 28 33 13 11 14 7 0

Deadball Rebounds 7,1

Game 2: November 15, 2014 CSU Stanislaus 75, MSU Billings 68

‘Jackets slip in second half, fall to CSU Stanislaus 75-68 November 15, 2014 Holding a 10-point lead at halftime, MSUB cannot maintain the advantage through the second half as Cal State Stanislaus rallies to win 75-68 on Saturday evening. SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Trailing by as many as 16 points, Cal State Stanislaus overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat Montana State University Billings 75-68 Saturday evening in the Penguin Preseason Conference Challenge at the Conlan Center on the Dominican University Campus. Four Warriors scored in double figures, with Wes Bartole and Tyler Barber leading the way with 13 points each. Bartole added 10 rebounds for a double-double, and Chris Read had six assists to go along with 10 points. Clinton Tremelling finished with a dozen points, all coming on 3-pointers as he was 4-for-9 from beyond the arc. CSUS (2-0) shot 33.3 percent from the floor and 38.9 percent from 3-point range (7-for-18). The team held a 16-10 advantage in offensive rebounds, and made 30 of 43 free-throws. For the ‘Jackets, Antoine Hosley led the team with 13 points of 5 of 14 shooting. Marc Matthews and Emmanuel Johnson had 11 points apiece, and Gary Gordon paced the squad with eight rebounds. Momir Gataric was a major contributor as well, with 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists on the night. Senior Austin Hudson, whose action was limited due to early foul trouble in the first half, finished with eight points and seven rebounds for the ‘Jackets. MSUB (0-2) shot 48.1 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from 3-point range (5-for-14). The teams were even at 38 rebounds each, and MSUB held a slight edge in second-chance points, 12-10. @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 17

“This was a pretty disappointing loss for our team,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “I thought we played better tonight but I did a poor job of making adjustments in the second half to what they were doing on our defensive end. It’s tough when you send them to the free-throw line 34 times in a half.” The Yellowjackets had twice as many points in the paint as the Warriors 36-18, but 16 turnovers proved to be costly for MSUB. The game featured four ties and five lead changes, but the Warriors held strong through the closing minutes and refused to relinquish the lead. “We needed to make an adjustment and we didn’t,” Stevens said. “Our energy on both ends just wasn’t where we needed it to be in the second half.” MSUB won the opening tip and moved to an early lead within the first five minutes of play. After a missed 3-pointer, Gataric sneaked underneath for a rebound and a put-back lay-in to make the score 6-4 ‘Jackets. A pair of Gataric free-throws gave MSUB a 10-4 lead, but CSUS went on a 7-0 run to take the lead 11-10 midway through the first. A three by Tremelling with 6:18 remaining gave the lead back to the Warriors at 18-17. MSUB responded with back-to-back threes by Johnson and Matthews, and a layup by Hosley extended the spread to 27-20 with less than five minutes left before the break. Tyler Nelson picked up an offensive rebound and finished a layup, then converted a free-throw the next time down the court to complete a 3-point play and give MSUB a double-digit lead at 32-20. The ‘Jackets maintained the spread, taking a 34-24 edge into the break. The Yellowjackets kept momentum on their side as the second period opened, and a three by Hosley five minutes in made the spread 14 points at 45-31. Junior Momir Gataric. at 51-49.

CSUS worked back into the game, cutting the score to 51-44 with 9:44 remaining. A giveaway by the ‘Jackets led to a fast-break slam by Christian Bayne, and a 3-point play by Bayne on the next possession cut the Yellowjackets’ lead to two

The game remained tight as time wound down, and six-straight free-throws by the Warriors gave the team its first lead of the second half, 62-59. Inside of two minutes, a big three pushed CSUS ahead by five points at 68-63, and an offensive foul on the next possession gave the Warriors the ball back. With 18 seconds left, a giveaway by the Warriors on an inbounds pass gave MSUB a chance, and Matthews made a free-throw to make the score 72-68. At the mercy of fouling to stop the clock, MSUB watched as CSUS converted free-throws and time ran out. NEXT UP: The Yellowjackets stop in St. George, Utah to take on Dixie State on Nov. 18 before returning to Alterowitz Gym for their home opener against Rocky Mountain College on Nov. 20. Tipoff against the Red Storm is set for 7:30 p.m. inside Burns Arena.

18 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics Montana St. Billings vs Cal State Stanislaus 11/15/14 5:30 PM at San Rafael, Calif. Montana St. Billings 68 • 0-2 ##

12 23 25 42 44 13 22 3

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Gordon,Gary Anderson,Jace Gataric,Momir Nelson,Tyler Hudson,Austin Matthews,Marc Johnson,Emmanuel Hosley,Antoine Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 13-29 44.8% 3FG % 1st Half: 3-9 33.3% FT % 1st Half: 5-8 62.5%

1-4 0-2 4-9 4-5 4-7 4-9 4-4 5-14

0-0 0-2 0-0 0-0 0-0 2-6 1-1 2-5

26-54

5-14

* * * * *

4-4 0-0 2-8 1-1 0-0 1-2 2-2 1-2

0 8 8 4 0 0 0 2 3 4 7 4 2 2 4 5 2 5 7 5 1 1 2 5 2 4 6 4 0 1 1 4 0 3 3 11-19 10 28 38 33

2nd half: 13-25 52.0% 2nd half: 2-5 40.0% 2nd half: 6-11 54.5%

6 0 10 9 8 11 11 13

A TO Blk Stl

3 0 4 0 0 2 0 1

Min

3 2 4 2 3 0 2 0

0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0

1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1

68 10 16

6 200

Game: 26-54 48.1% Game: 5-14 35.7% Game: 11-19 57.9%

28 11 28 26 25 31 27 24

Deadball Rebounds 4,1

Cal State Stanislaus 75 • 2-0 ##

23 32 34 03 15 01 10 11 13 24

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Bartole,Wes Barber,Tyler Walters,Rob Tremelling,Clinton Read,Chris Carlson,Alek Bayne,Christian Ward,Phil Medina,Richie Gouviea,Kyle Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 7-27 3FG % 1st Half: 2-8 FT % 1st Half: 8-9

25.9% 25.0% 88.9%

f f c g g

1-5 3-7 1-6 4-9 4-12 1-6 2-6 1-1 1-1 1-4

0-0 2-3 0-0 4-9 0-1 1-4 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-0

19-57

7-18

11-15 5-6 2-2 0-1 2-5 6-6 3-4 0-0 0-2 1-2

5 5 10 2 2 1 3 4 2 3 5 5 0 1 1 3 1 2 3 3 1 2 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 4 4 8 1 1 2 3 30-43 16 22 38 20

2nd half: 12-30 40.0% 2nd half: 5-10 50.0% 2nd half: 22-34 64.7%

Game: 19-57 33.3% Game: 7-18 38.9% Game: 30-43 69.8%

A TO Blk Stl

Min

13 13 4 12 10 9 7 2 2 3

0 0 0 0 6 1 0 0 1 0

2 0 4 0 2 2 0 0 0 2

0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0

33 21 19 36 32 22 12 5 4 16

8 12

3 200 Deadball Rebounds 6

Officials: Mark Fulton, Nikki Caruthers, Sam Haddad Technical fouls: Montana St. Billings-Team. Cal State Stanislaus-None. Attendance: 102 Score by periods Montana St. Billings Cal State Stanislaus

1st

34 24

2nd

34 51

Total

68 75

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 19

MSUB men to challenge Dixie State, Rocky Mountain College this week November 17, 2014 After finishing a three-game road trip on Tuesday at Dixie State, the MSUB men’s basketball team returns to Billings for its 2014-15 home opener against Rocky Mountain College on Thursday. BILLINGS, Mont. – Wrapping up a season-opening three-game road trip on Tuesday, the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team will travel to St. George, Utah to challenge Dixie State University. Tipoff against the Red Storm is set for 7:30 p.m. inside Burns Arena. The Yellowjackets’ second game of the week will come on Thursday, as MSUB takes on Rocky Mountain College in its 2014-15 home opener at Alterowitz Gym sponsored by Cellular Plus. Tipoff against RMC is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, and the ‘Jackets will wear throwback jerseys in remembrance of the school’s former title, Eastern Montana College. Tickets for Thursday’s game can be purchased at any of the Cellular Plus store locations for a discounted price of $2. At the door, general admission tickets will be sold for $8. Returning from California last weekend, MSUB opened its season with a pair of losses to Cal State East Bay and Cal State Stanislaus in the Penguin Preseason Conference Challenge hosted by Dominican University. Austin Hudson notched a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds and Gary Gordon topped all players with 22 points, but the effort wasn’t enough to overcome CSUEB last Friday in an 86-80, season-opening loss. The next night against CSUS, the ‘Jackets let go of a 10-point halftime lead in a 75-68 slip-up against the Warriors. Antoine Hosley scored 34 points over the two-game stretch, and earned all-tournament honors for the Yellowjackets.

20 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Momir Gataric scored 23 points and grabbed 10 boards over MSUB’s first two games, and also contributed a team-best five assists in a team-high 64 minutes. MSUB was selected to finish fifth in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason coaches’ poll, and will host the 2014-15 GNAC men’s and women’s Basketball Championships. Tuesday, November 18 – 7:30 p.m. – Burns Arena Dixie State University Red Storm 2014-15 Record: 0-0 Head Coach: Jon Judkins, 10th season 2013-14 Record: 21-7, 15-5 PacWest (NCAA West Regional 1st Round) Yet to play a regular season game this year, Dixie State looks to ride the success of last season’s second-place PacWest finish and NCAA regional tournament berth. So far in the preseason, DSU defeated Arizona Christian University 76-63 in an exhibition contest on Oct. 27. Freshman Kendall Denham.

DSU had three players average in double-figures in scoring a season ago, and the team returns its top-two in Zach Robbins (15.8 ppg) and DeQuan Thompson (14.3). Robbins also led the Red Storm in rebounding with 9.5 per contest, on his way to earning first-team allPacWest honors as a junior. Thompson was a second-team all-conference pick for DSU head coach Jon Judkins, as he led the team in 3-point shooting with a percentage of 45.4 (49-for-108). Joining Robbins and Thompson as a senior leader this season is Jordan Rex, whose 6.7 rebounds per game were second-most on the team last year. Mason Sawyer and Robbie Nielson are two junior returnees who also figure to play significant roles this year. Sawyer averaged 7.1 points per game and had a team second-most 72 assists last season. Nielson averaged 6.0 points while grabbing 3.1 rebounds per game and logging a dozen blocks. The Series: All-time against the Red Storm MSUB holds a 1-5 record and is 0-2 in away games. The teams have met in each of the last five seasons, with Dixie State having won the previous four encounters. Last Time Out: The teams faced off last year in the Las Vegas Challenge, with the Red Storm emerging the 8365 victor on Dec. 19, 2013. Tyler Nelson netted nine points and grabbed four rebounds for the ‘Jackets, while Thompson finished with 17 points and Robbins with 14 for the Red Storm last winter. Thursday, November 20 – 7 p.m. – Alterowitz Gym Rocky Mountain College Battlin’ Bears 2014-15 Record (NAIA): 4-1 Head Coach: Bill Dreikosen, 15th season 2013-14 Record: 23-8, 12-4 Frontier Conference Off to a hot start in the 2014-15 season, Rocky Mountain College won its first three games and four of its first five to open the year.

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 21

Most recently, RMC picked up a big 95-82 win over NAIA top-ranked Vanguard University, rebounding in a big way after a loss to Cal State San Marcos. The Battlin’ Bears, ranked No. 22 in the NAIA, defeated MSUB 75-73 in a matchup in the Fortin Center on Nov. 5, a game that counted for RMC but was an exhibition contest for the ‘Jackets. Over the team’s first five games, three players are averaging in double figures in scoring. Leading the way is Sian Laine, who is averaging 16.7 points per game on 47.6 percent shooting from the field. Malachi Roberts (13.0 ppg) and Tyree Anderson (12.2) are RMC’s next two leading scorers, and Anderson’s 21 assists are a team-high. Rob Nyby is leading the team in rebounding with 8.3 per game, and Zach Hinton is pulling down 6.4 per contest. As a team RMC is shooting 41.7 percent from the field and 30.7 percent from 3-point range. The Battlin’ Bears are outrebounding opponents 44.6-43.0 this season, while averaging 79.8 points per game. The Series: MSUB leads the all-time series 88-79, as the teams have played 167 games dating back to the 1929 season. At home MSUB holds a 51-29 overall mark, and the ‘Jackets have won the last two meetings between the teams dating back to the 2012 season. Last Time Out: In the last counting game between the two on Nov. 20, 2013, the ‘Jackets collected an 81-72 victory at Alterowitz Gym. Hudson had a big game with 13 points and eight rebounds for MSUB.

22 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Game 3: November 18, 2014 Dixie State 78, MSU Billings 56

Dixie State storms to 78-56 win over Yellowjackets November 18, 2014 Leading from start-to-finish, Dixie State downs MSUB in a one-sided menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball game Tuesday in St. George as the Yellowjackets wrap up a three-game, season-opening road trip. ST. GEORGE, Utah â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Setting the tone early with a 13-0 run to begin the game, Dixie State cruised to a 78-56 nonconference victory over visiting Montana State University Billings Tuesday evening inside Burns Arena. The Red Storm (1-0) used a balanced attack, as four different players scored in double figures in the season-opening win. Mason Sawyer led all players with 18 points, and also had a team-best five assists in the victory. Sawyer got the Red Storm going early, scoring the first seven points of the game with a 3-pointer, a layup off of a steal and a jumper. DSU never looked back after the early boost, leading by double figures for the entire game.

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 23

Zach Robbins turned in 15 points for DSU, and completed a double-double with a dozen rebounds. Mark Ogden (12) and DeQuan Thompson (10) were DSU’s other double-figure scorers. As a team DSU shot 51.7 percent from the field compared to a 38.2 percent mark by MSUB. The Red Storm also held the advantage in rebounds, 39-31, and thoroughly outscored the ‘Jackets in the paint 44-12. For MSUB (0-3), Marc Matthews finished with a team-best 13 points on 5 of 12 shooting and 3 of 5 from 3-point range. Matthews also grabbed six rebounds and had a pair of assists. Gary Gordon was MSUB’s other double-digit scorer with 10 points, and freshman point guard Kendall Denham led the squad with seven rebounds. Emmanuel Johnson finished with seven points, six rebounds and two assists for MSUB, while senior Austin Hudson posted eight points and five boards – all defensive – for the ‘Jackets. Denham added a 2-for-6 line from 3-point range to Matthews’s total, but the ‘Jackets were just 6-for-19 overall from long distance. The ‘Jackets also got beat in terms of second-chance points, posting just four while the Red Storm collected 12. The Red Storm extended their lead to 21-4 midway through the first, maintaining momentum and knocking down shots. Matthews gave the ‘Jackets a burst with five-straight points on a three and a jumper, but Robbins countered with a layup as the score moved to 23-9 in favor of DSU.

Sophomore Marc Matthews.

Ogden completed a 3-point play with 6:16 remaining in the first, further extending DSU’s lead to 30-11. Maintaining a 20-point advantage into the closing minutes of the first, the Red Storm headed to the locker room with a 43-20 lead at the break.

The Red Storm held on to the lead through the second half, moving into the final 10 minutes comfortably ahead. A three by Matthews cut the deficit to 17 points at 61-44. The ‘Jackets had difficulty penetrating DSU’s tough zone defense in the second, preventing the team from cutting into the lead. Eating up the clock down the stretch, DSU cruised comfortably to the victory in its first game of the 2014-15 season. UP NEXT: The ‘Jackets return to Billings for their home opener on Thursday against Rocky Mountain College. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. inside Alterowitz Gym, and the Yellowjackets will wear throwback jerseys in honor of the university’s previous moniker of Eastern Montana College.

24 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics MSU-Billings vs Dixie State 11/18/14 7:30 pm at Burns Arena, St. George, Utah MSU-Billings 56 • 0-3 ##

02 12 13 42 44 03 22 23 24

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Denham,Kendall Gordon,Gary Matthews,Marc Nelson,Tyler Hudson,Austin Hosley,Antoine Johnson,Emmanuel Anderson,Jace Perry,Jordan Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 6-26 3FG % 1st Half: 2-9 FT % 1st Half: 6-8

23.1% 22.2% 75.0%

* * * * *

2-6 4-5 5-12 1-4 3-8 3-12 3-7 0-1 0-0

2-6 0-0 3-5 0-1 0-1 0-3 1-2 0-1 0-0

2-4 2-2 0-0 0-1 2-4 2-2 0-0 0-0 0-0

21-55

6-19

8-13

2nd half: 15-29 51.7% 2nd half: 4-10 40.0% 2nd half: 2-5 40.0%

1 6 7 2 1 1 2 4 2 4 6 0 0 3 3 3 0 5 5 3 0 1 1 3 1 5 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 6 25 31 18

8 10 13 2 8 8 7 0 0

A TO Blk Stl

Min

4 1 2 0 0 1 2 0 0

2 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

0 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 0

56 10

5 200

Game: 21-55 38.2% Game: 6-19 31.6% Game: 8-13 61.5%

35 24 33 29 26 27 23 1 2

Deadball Rebounds 1

Dixie State 78 • 1-0 ##

12 24 32 42 44 10 20 30 34 40 52

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Sawyer, Mason Thompson, DeQuan Ogden, Mark Robbins, Zach Hill, Trevor Woods, Collin Brandley, Sterling Van Brocklin, Connor Hunter, Zac Saunders, Braden Morris, Anthony Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 18-35 51.4% 3FG % 1st Half: 1-4 25.0% FT % 1st Half: 6-8 75.0%

* * * * *

7-12 3-7 4-9 6-10 5-7 2-6 0-0 1-3 2-5 0-0 1-1

2-2 1-2 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-1 0-0 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-0

2-2 3-5 4-4 3-4 0-1 1-2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

31-60

3-7

13-18

2nd half: 13-25 52.0% 2nd half: 2-3 66.7% 2nd half: 7-10 70.0%

2 1 3 1 0 4 4 0 1 4 5 4 2 10 12 4 0 5 5 3 0 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 7 32 39 15

Game: 31-60 51.7% Game: 3-7 42.9% Game: 13-18 72.2%

18 10 12 15 10 5 0 2 4 0 2

A TO Blk Stl

5 1 1 3 5 1 0 0 0 0 0

78 16

0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 6

Min

0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0

2 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0

28 28 29 27 29 14 1 15 21 1 7

5 200 Deadball Rebounds 2

Officials: Shane Crosland, Layne Barney, Curtis Williams Technical fouls: MSU-Billings-None. Dixie State-None. Attendance: 1737 Time:2:03 Score by periods MSU-Billings Dixie State

1st

20 43

2nd

36 35

Total

56 78

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 25

Game 4: November 20, 2014 Rocky Mountain College 73, MSU Billings 69

Bears win battle down the stretch, down ‘Jackets 73-69 November 20, 2014 MSUB receives a double-double from Austin Hudson but the ‘Jackets come up short in a tough 73-69 loss to Rocky Mountain College Thursday night in Alterowitz Gym. BILLINGS, Mont. – Falling behind down the stretch, Montana State University Billings came up just short in a hard-fought 73-69 loss to Rocky Mountain College Thursday evening inside Alterowitz Gym. Tyree Anderson finished with a game-high 25 points for the Battlin’ Bears, and also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. The performance overshadowed a 22-point, 11-rebound double-double by Austin Hudson, as MSUB couldn’t cut into RMC’s narrow lead down the stretch. With time winding down in the second, Kendall Denham streaked the length of the floor, and drove in for a layup on an uncontested lane to make the score 70-68. The two-point difference was as close as the ‘Jackets got however, as RMC knocked down free-throws inside the closing minute to secure the win. Malachi Roberts had 18 points for RMC (4-1), and Zach Hinton and Sian Laine joined him as double-digit scorers with 11 and 10 points, respectively. The Bears shot 37.7 percent from the floor on the game, while the ‘Jackets finished with a mark of 39.1 percent. Playing its fourth game in a six-day span, MSUB (0-4) was hurt by poor 3-point shooting, finishing just 1-for16 on the game. RMC meanwhile shot 9-for-32 from long distance, as Anderson and Roberts had three apiece. The Yellowjackets outrebounded the Bears substantially, 55-29, including a mark of 22-6 on offensive boards.

26 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

“I am really proud of our guys’ effort,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “The main thing that we talked about is playing hard, guarding, rebounding and doing the tough things, and our guys did that tonight.” Momir Gataric put up 14 points and grabbed five rebounds for MSUB. Denham had a solid game, scoring nine points, picking up seven boards and contributing a game-high five assists. Seventeen turnovers also hurt MSUB, as RMC finished the game with just eight. “It was a fifty-fifty game, they made some shots down the stretch, and we didn’t,” Stevens said. “I was really happy with the guys’ effort tonight, and I think Rocky is a really good team that is going to win a lot of games.” For RMC, Laine added a pair of rebounds and assists, and a gamebest four steals to his point total for a strong all-around effort. Hudson got the scoring started with a pair of layups underneath, and scored six of the first eight points as the ‘Jackets opened the game with a 10-0 run. Working their way back into the game, RMC took advantage of several MSUB turnovers and turned a 12-5 hole into just a 14-13 deficit. Denham had a layup and an assist to Marc Matthews, as the Yellowjackets scored four quick points out of a timeout to reestablish a seven-point lead at 20-13.

Junior Momir Gataric.

MSUB clung strongly to its lead moving into the closing minutes of the first half, but a bucket by Anderson and a pair of free-throws by Laine made the score 30-27 with 1:19 remaining. A steal and dunk by Roberts cut the deficit to a single point, and pushed Stevens to burn a timeout. Similar to MSUB’s run to open the game, the Bears embarked on a 7-0 stretch to open the second half and take a 39-32 lead. The ‘Jackets battled for offensive rebounds underneath, one of which by Tyler Nelson led to a free-throw to give MSUB a 44-43 lead midway through the second. With less than nine minutes remaining, Emmanuel Johnson hit the Yellowjackets’ first three of the game to knot the score at 49-49. A Hinton three on the other end temporarily gave the lead back to RMC, but buckets by Matthews and Hudson re-tied the score at 55-55. The game remained tight as time wound down in the second, and a Johnson free-throw tied the score at 65-65. Roberts hit a big three on the next possession, and a pair of free-throws followed to make the score 70-65 Rocky with 38 seconds remaining. The final five-point burst by the Bears proved to be too much for the ‘Jackets to overcome, as a last-ditch three as time expired was off the mark. UP NEXT: MSUB hosts the University of Great Falls on Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. Live video and statistics will be available at www.msubsports.com. @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 27

Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics Rocky Mountain College vs Montana State Billings 11/20/14 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym Rocky Mountain College 73 • 4-1 ##

03 22 24 30 40 02 23 34 42 44

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Laine,Sian Anderson,Tyree Roberts,Malachi Nyby,Rob Moerkerke,Ben Smith,Nelson Longo,Taylor Stulc,Joe Hinton,Zach Little,Danny Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 11-35 31.4% 3FG % 1st Half: 3-14 21.4% FT % 1st Half: 7-10 70.0%

* * * * *

3-11 10-15 5-14 0-4 0-1 1-3 1-5 0-6 4-8 2-2

0-2 3-7 3-8 0-3 0-0 1-1 0-3 0-4 2-4 0-0

4-8 2-2 5-5 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-2 0-0

26-69

9-32

12-17

2nd half: 15-34 44.1% 2nd half: 6-18 33.3% 2nd half: 5-7 71.4%

0 2 2 2 2 5 7 1 0 5 5 1 0 2 2 3 0 1 1 5 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 1 1 4 5 2 1 3 4 3 0 0 0 6 23 29 20

A TO Blk Stl

10 25 18 0 0 3 2 0 11 4

2 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

2 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0

0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1

5 10 200

Game: 26-69 37.7% Game: 9-32 28.1% Game: 12-17 70.6%

4 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 1

Min

26 37 31 20 9 15 12 3 21 26

Deadball Rebounds 3,1

Montana State Billings 69 • 0-4 ##

02 12 25 42 44 03 13 22 23 24

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Denham,Kendall Gordon,Gary Gataric,Momir Nelson,Tyler Hudson,Austin Hosley,Antoine Matthews,Marc Johnson,Emmanuel Anderson,Jace Perry,Jordan Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 14-30 46.7% 3FG % 1st Half: 0-8 0.0% FT % 1st Half: 4-5 80.0%

* * * * *

4-9 0-3 6-11 1-8 10-21 0-0 3-9 3-6 0-1 0-1

0-2 0-0 0-1 0-3 0-1 0-0 0-6 1-2 0-1 0-0

27-69

1-16

1 6 7 2 2 4 6 3 2 3 5 4 4 5 9 4 5 6 11 3 0 0 0 0 1 6 7 4 6 3 9 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 14-22 22 33 55 20

2nd half: 13-39 33.3% 2nd half: 1-8 12.5% 2nd half: 10-17 58.8%

1-3 3-4 2-3 3-3 2-4 0-0 2-2 1-3 0-0 0-0

1st

32 32

2nd

41 37

Min

9 3 14 5 22 0 8 8 0 0

5 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

2 3 4 2 2 0 1 2 1 0

0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

1 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0

7 17

4 200

Game: 27-69 39.1% Game: 1-16 6.3% Game: 14-22 63.6%

Officials: Kevin Flatow, Matt Mason, Scott Holland Technical fouls: Rocky Mountain College-None. Montana State Billings-None. Attendance: 1504 Score by periods Rocky Mountain College Montana State Billings

A TO Blk Stl

Total

73 69

28 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

36 21 26 25 29 1 31 26 5 0+

Deadball Rebounds 5,6

MSUB basketball to be featured on ROOT Sports November 21, 2014 Part of a conference package featuring men’s and women’s games from GNAC schools, the MSUB men’s and women’s basketball teams will be on ROOT SPORTS this season. PORTLAND, Ore. – Part of a conference-wide package, the Montana State University Billings men’s and women’s basketball teams will be featured on ROOT SPORTS announced the Great Northwest Athletic Conference on Friday. The MSUB men’s basketball team will take on Seattle Pacific on Feb. 21, 2015 in Brougham Pavilion in Seattle. For the lady ‘Jackets, coverage on ROOT SPORTS will come on Jan. 24, 2015 during a road game against Western Oregon in Monmouth, Ore. The games are part of a 10-game conference slate that features nine GNAC schools and five each men’s and women’s games. “We are excited for the opportunity to play on ROOT SPORTS again,” said MSUB men’s head coach Jamie Stevens. “Our program has great memories from our last appearance on ROOT. This is a great showcase for our athletics program and MSUB as a whole.” Last season, the MSUB women’s team was featured on ROOT SPORTS during a game against Seattle Pacific on Jan. 11 in Seattle. “It is great for our women’s basketball program to play in the ROOT televised game,” MSUB women’s basketball head coach Kevin Woodin said. “GNAC teams play at a very high level and it will be great for others to see. We are looking forward to the game against Western Oregon.”

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 29

“We are excited to be returning to ROOT SPORTS and are grateful to the conference office for working to establish a package that features both our men’s and women’s teams,” said MSUB director of athletics Krista Montague. “This is a tremendous opportunity to display the talented student-athletes in our programs, and we are looking forward to the chance to be featured on one of the leading regional sports networks.” Mirroring the GNAC’s footprint almost identically, the regional coverage of ROOT Sports spans from Alaska to Montana. Coverage reaches more than 3.4 million homes across the region, and the series is also available on DirecTV (channel 687) and Dish Network (channel 426). The full GNAC slate of games on ROOT SPORTS is set to air from December through February, with commentary from Brad Adam, Bob Akamian, and Dave Harshman highlighting the bill. Full schedules for both MSUB basketball teams, as well as live coverage details regarding the ROOT Sports games can be found at www.msubsports.com.

30 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Great Falls, Black Hills State stand between MSUB and GNAC play November 24, 2014 Hosting two more nonconference games this week, the MSUB men’s basketball team takes on Great Falls and Black Hills State to finish up a three-game home stand. BILLINGS, Mont. – With Great Northwest Athletic Conference play kicking off next weekend, the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team will host a pair of nonconference opponents this week with games set for Tuesday and Saturday in Alterowitz Gym. The Yellowjackets welcome the University of Great Falls on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. matchup, before hosting Black Hills State University on Saturday at a special 2 p.m. start time. Both games will feature live video and statistics, available via www.msubsports.com. Both games will feature a canned food drive sponsored by the MSUB Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, with half-price admission being granted in exchange for the donation of any canned food item. All canned food collected at the games will be donated to the Billings Food Bank. MSUB (0-4) began its season last week with four games in a six-day period. Most recently, MSUB hosted Rocky Mountain College on Nov. 20, falling 73-69 in the team’s 2014-15 home opener. So far this season, MSUB is being led by preseason all-GNAC selection Austin Hudson, who is averaging 14.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. A 51.0 field-goal percentage (26-for-51) has contributed to Hudson’s high average early on, and he also has a team-best three blocks and four steals this season. Also averaging in double-figures in scoring are Momir Gataric (12.3 ppg), Antoine Hosley (10.5) and Gary Gordon (10.3). Gataric, who is averaging 30.0 minutes per game, is also hauling in boards at a clip of 5.0 and has five assists through the first four games. @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 31

Gordon is averaging 6.0 rebounds per game, and Hosley has four assists and three steals so far this year. Gordon is also shooting a team-best 85 percent from the foul line (17-for-20). Freshman point guard Kendall Denham is averaging 8.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in two games played, and his nine assists lead the team. Denham also has a steal and has only turned the ball over four times for an assist-turnover ratio of plus-2.25. Another consistent rebounder for the ‘Jackets so far has been Emmanuel Johnson, who is averaging 5.3 boards and 21.8 minutes and has played in all four games. The junior from San Antonio, Texas is also contributing 6.8 points per game and has two blocks and three assists. Senior Tyler Nelson has started all four games for MSUB, averaging 4.3 points and 4.5 rebounds. As a team the Yellowjackets average 68.2 points per game and outrebound their opponents 39.2-35.8. MSUB is also shooting 44.3 percent from the floor while allowing a clip of 43.6 percent, but poor marks from the 3-point line (23.2 percent) and foul line (59.2 percent) have hindered the ‘Jackets. Tuesday, November 25 – 7 p.m. – Alterowitz Gym University of Great Falls Argos 2014 Record: 7-2 Head Coach: Anthony Owens, 1st year Off to a strong start in 2014-15, the Argos have won three of their last four games and seven of their first nine to begin the season. UGF began the season with a four-game winning streak, and most recently defeated Oglala Lokota College 105-47 on Saturday. Three UGF players are averaging in double-figures in scoring, and Marcus Hurn is leading the way with 17.9 points per game. Hurn has also turned in a team-best 24 steals on the season, and leads the team from long range with a mark of 47.5 percent (29-for-61). T.J. Harris (11.1 ppg) and Darren Lockett (10.2) are close behind in scoring, and Harris is leading the team with 30 assists this season. Underneath, Sigman Farmer III is topping the team with 7.0 rebounds per game, and Daniel Arcau (5.8 rpg) and Steven Daho (5.7) have been major contributors as well. As a team UGF averages 74.0 points per game and is outrebounding its opponents 37.1-33.5. The Argos are shooting at a solid clip of 36.5 percent from 3-point range and 42.6 percent overall from the field. The team shoots just 61.1 percent from the free-throw line, but Hurn has put forth a strong showing with a mark of 85.7 percent (12-for-14). The Series: Dating back to the 1969-70 season, MSUB holds an all-time 32-10 record against the in-state opponent. At home in Alterowitz Gym, the Yellowjackets are 21-3, and MSUB has won the last eight meetings between the teams dating back to the 1981-82 season. This will be the first matchup between the two teams since the 2009-10 season, when MSUB downed UGF 88-61 at home on Jan. 2, 2010. UGF competes as a member of the NAIA in the Frontier Conference.

32 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Saturday, November 29 – 2 p.m. – Alterowitz Gym Black Hills State University Yellow Jackets 2014 Record: 1-3 Head Coach: Jeff Trumbauer, 1st year After beginning the season with a 72-67 win over South Dakota Mines on Nov. 17, the Yellow Jackets have lost three games in-a-row to move to 1-3 early in 2014-15. BHSU finished a stretch of three games in three days on Saturday at the GCI Alaska Invitational hosted by the University of Alaska Fairbanks. BHSU narrowly lost to GNAC opponent Alaska Fairbanks 68-66 on Nov. 20, before losing to Minnesota State Moorhead 80-61 and West Alaska 71-67 to finish the tournament. Through four games, Riley Ryan is leading the team with 10.2 points per game and 4.0 rebounds. Brody Brisk is also in double figures in scoring at 10.0 points per game and is averaging a team-best 4.2 boards. Nick Ongarato is BHSU’s top 3-point shooter, holding a mark of 50 percent early on (6-for-12). Brady Bisgaard has a team-best 16 assists, and Ryan is pacing the team with eight steals on the year. As a team the Yellow Jackets are being outscored by opponents 71.5-66.5, and outrebounded 36.0-29.8. From the field BHSU is shooting at a clip of 45.3 percent, and the team is at a solid 70.4 percent from the free-throw line. The Series: The series between the similarly-named programs is fairly even, with MSUB holding a slight 9-7 edge all-time. The teams revitalized the matchup in 2012 after a 35-year hiatus, and have split the last two meetings. Last year, it was BHSU that emerged on top with a 97-77 win in Great Falls on Nov. 16, 2013. In 2012, MSUB stormed past BHSU, 89-50 in Alterowitz Gym on Nov. 10.

Sophomore Jace Anderson. @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 33

Game 5: November 25, 2014 Great Falls 89, MSU Billings 84 (2 OT)

‘Jackets fall to Argos 89-84 in double overtime November 25, 2014 Battling into double overtime, the University of Great Falls comes out on top with an 89-84 win over MSUB in a men’s basketball game Tuesday night at Alterowitz Gym. BILLINGS, Mont. – Battling neck-and-neck through regulation and into a second overtime period, the University of Great Falls emerged with an 89-84 victory over host Montana State University Billings Tuesday evening in Alterowitz Gym. Antoine Hosley led all players with 33 points on 12 of 27 shooting and 4 of 9 from 3-point range, but the Argonauts rallied in the second overtime period to establish a lead and close out the game with the win. “Once again I was proud of the effort our guys gave, especially on initial defensive possessions,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “They did some good things out there. UGF had a lot of second-chance points and we had too many turnovers. Overall, if our guys continue to play with great effort, good things will happen.” T.J. Harris had a team-best 23 points for UGF, also connecting on 4 of 9 from long distance. Darren Lockett finished with 21 points, and Matthew Hurn (11) and Sigman Farmer (10) were also in double-figures. 34 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

A costly turnover in the first minute of the first overtime led to four-straight points for the Argos, as a layup by Steven Daho and a pair of free-throws by Harris made the score 73-69. The ‘Jackets responded well however, and rallied to tie the score at 79-79 as time expired in the first overtime period. The Yellowjackets (0-5) held the lead for much of the game, first surrendering it on a layup by Daho with 2:30 remaining in regulation that made the score 65-63. With the score tied at 67-67 and less than 30 seconds remaining, Harris converted a layup on a quick inbounds pass and the Argos immediately called a timeout with a two-point lead. Hosley countered with a coast-to-coast layup to tie the score again, and the Argos failed to score on the final possession of regulation as the game moved to overtime. Playing without leading scorer and rebounder Austin Hudson, who was sidelined with an injury, MSUB committed 24 turnovers and shot 55.6 percent from the free-throw line (25-for-45). MSUB outrebounded UGF 43-40, and shot better from the 3-point line at 7-for-17 compared to 5-for-19 by the Argos. Momir Gataric contributed 13 points, had five rebounds and three assists, and Emmanuel Johnson had a teambest 14 boards on the game. Senior Tyler Nelson also reached double-digits in rebounds with 11, and freshman point guard Kendall Denham had eight points, six rebounds and five assists. For the Argos (7-2) Daho was a big contributor with a game-high 16 rebounds as well as six points. Farmer led the team with four steals, and Hurn grabbed six rebounds for UGF. The teams traded buckets to open the game, before back-to-back 3-pointers by Marc Matthews and Hosley opened up a 12-6 advantage for the ‘Jackets early on. A three by Dalton Groenewold cut the deficit in half, but fourstraight points from Hosley pushed MSUB back up 16-9. MSUB held onto the lead through the middle of the first half, but the Argos remained close as the score sat at 23-19 with six minutes remaining. A fast-break layup by Hosley several minutes later extended the lead back to eight points for MSUB, and a three by Jace Anderson made it 33-23 with less than two minutes until the break. Opening the second half with a seven-point lead, Hosley and Harris traded 3-point buckets as the score moved to 44-40. A steal and layup by Hurn cut the spread to two points, but MSUB regained a handle on the lead moving up 51-45. A costly turnover by MSUB resulted in a dunk by Farmer with five minutes remaining, a finish that tied the score at 61-61. UGF took the lead on Daho’s basket, and the teams elbowed even with one another down the stretch and into overtime. Sophomore Marc Matthews. UP NEXT: After Thanksgiving, the ‘Jackets take on Black Hills State University on Saturday in another home game at Alterowitz Gym. Tipoff is set for an early time of 2 p.m., and the canned food drive will continue as a donation of one item will earn attendees half-price admission. @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 35

Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics University of Great Falls vs Montana State Billings 11/25/14 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym University of Great Falls 89 • 7-2 ##

03 05 21 22 24 13 32 34 44 50 52

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Harris,TJ Berkley,Sergio Daho,Steven Lockett,Darren Farmer,Sigman Hurn,Matthew Groenewold,Dalton Singleton,Maleek Schlesser,Chris Arcau,Danny Williams,Benjamin Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 10-33 30.3% 3FG % 1st Half: 2-8 25.0% FT % 1st Half: 6-9 66.7%

* * * * *

6-21 3-5 2-10 8-16 4-6 5-12 1-2 3-9 0-1 0-1 0-0

4-9 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-1 0-4 1-2 0-2 0-0 0-0 0-0

32-83

5-19

7-13 1-3 2-4 5-8 2-2 1-1 0-0 2-2 0-0 0-0 0-0

0 1 1 3 2 3 5 2 7 9 16 4 3 2 5 3 0 2 2 3 0 6 6 4 0 1 1 1 1 2 3 5 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 20-33 13 27 40 30

2nd half: 15-35 42.9% 2nd half: 2-8 25.0% 2nd half: 9-13 69.2%

OT: OT: OT:

7-15 1-3 5-11

46.7% 33.3% 45.5%

A TO Blk Stl

Min

23 7 6 21 10 11 3 8 0 0 0

2 0 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0

4 3 4 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 1

0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2 0 0 1 4 2 0 0 0 0 0

8 18

9 250

Game: 32-83 38.6% Game: 5-19 26.3% Game: 20-33 60.6%

48 22 37 41 34 30 7 23 1 5 2

Deadball Rebounds 11,7

Montana State Billings 84 • 0-5 ##

02 13 22 25 42 03 12 23 32

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Denham,Kendall Matthews,Marc Johnson,Emmanuel Gataric,Momir Nelson,Tyler Hosley,Antoine Gordon,Gary Anderson,Jace Adams,Luke Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 12-25 48.0% 3FG % 1st Half: 5-9 55.6% FT % 1st Half: 6-17 35.3%

* * * * *

0-2 3-5 3-8 3-5 2-5 12-27 1-4 1-1 1-3

0-1 2-4 0-1 0-0 0-1 4-9 0-0 1-1 0-0

8-10 1-3 1-3 7-13 1-2 5-7 1-3 0-0 1-4

26-60

7-17

25-45

2nd half: 10-22 45.5% 2nd half: 2-5 40.0% 2nd half: 12-20 60.0%

OT: OT: OT:

0 6 6 5 0 4 4 4 5 9 14 4 1 4 5 4 2 9 11 4 0 1 1 3 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 1 8 35 43 30

4-13 0-3 7-8

30.8% 0.0% 87.5%

8 9 7 13 5 33 3 3 3

1st

28 35

2nd

41 34

10 10

OT2

10 5

Min

6 1 4 1 5 5 1 1 0

0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

2 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0

84 12 24

5 250

Game: 26-60 43.3% Game: 7-17 41.2% Game: 25-45 55.6%

Officials: Kevin Flatow, Rob Tesch, Greg Morstein Technical fouls: University of Great Falls-None. Montana State Billings-None. Attendance: 647 2:37 Technical Foul: Coach, MSUB 0837 of 2nd half Score by periods University of Great Falls Montana State Billings

A TO Blk Stl

5 0 2 3 0 1 0 0 1

Total

89 84

36 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

40 26 45 35 38 39 14 2 11

Deadball Rebounds 12,5

Game 6: November 29, 2014 MSU Billings 79, Black Hills State 61

MSUB wins battle of the ‘Jackets, defeats Black Hills State 79-61 November 29, 2014 Marc Matthews makes five of the Yellowjackets’ season-high 10 3-pointers, and MSUB pulls away in the second half to defeat visiting Black Hills State 79-61. BILLINGS, Mont. – On his 21st birthday, Marc Matthews knocked down five of a season-high 10 3-pointers for the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team as the Yellowjackets pulled away in the second half in a 79-61 win over Black Hills State University Saturday afternoon at Alterowitz Gym. Leading by just three points at the intermission, MSUB outscored BHSU 46-31 and shot 72.7 percent (16for-22) from the field in the second half. “It truly was a team effort, and we shot seventy two percent from the field in the second half,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “I’m happy for our guys because, and every game we have played has been close. The guys are putting in a lot of hard work and their effort has been great.” Also scoring in double-digits for MSUB were Momir Gataric (14) and Antoine Hosley (10), and redshirt freshman Jordan Perry had a game-high eight rebounds. “Jordan was huge for us,” Stevens said. “When he went in he really changed the game completely, he had great energy, rebounded the ball, and was very steady.” A trio of players scored in double-digits for BHSU, which fell to 2-4 on the season with the loss. Yoshio Allen led his team with 16 points and also had a team-best six rebounds. Riley Ryan contributed a dozen points and six boards, and Myles Henry also had 12 points for the Yellow Jackets. On the game MSUB (1-5) outrebounded BHSU 29-23 and shot 60.0 percent from the field compared to 43.4 percent by BHSU. Freshman Kendall Denham turned in a game high four assists, and senior Austin Hudson had eight points and five rebounds for MSUB.

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 37

Both teams started slow offensively, as BHSU moved to a 6-4 lead six minutes into the game on four points by Allen. Back-to-back threes by Matthews and Antoine Hosley jump-started the MSUB offense, as the score moved even at 10-10 midway through the first. The teams remained close as time wound down in the first, and Matthews’s third 3-pointer of the half gave MSUB a 25-23 lead. A three from Gataric with less than three minutes until half time sparked a 6-0 run to extend the lead to 33-27.

Junior Momir Gataric. Hudson opened the second frame with a layup, and Matthews hit a jumper and another three to give MSUB a six-point lead at 40-34. Following a missed 3-pointer with an offensive rebound, Perry finished a layup to make it a 10-point lead for MSUB. On the next play, the redshirt freshman came up with a steal, and passed the ball to Hosley for a short jumper to make the score 49-37. The 6-0 MSUB run was halted on a three by Tate Hilgenkamp, but the ‘Jackets maintained the double-digit advantage moving into the later part of the second half. Matthews knocked down a wide-open shot from long range with five minutes left, opening up a 68-52 edge as MSUB stormed to a secure lead. BHSU never threatened to cut into the deficit through the final four minutes, and MSUB closed out its first win of the season. “It’s an exciting week because it is a fresh start for us,” Stevens said regarding conference play beginning next week. “GNAC play is really where you want to perform well, and coming off of a game like this helps us. It’s a tough road trip, and we are playing two good, well-coached teams.” AHEAD: Kicking off Great Northwest Athletic Conference play next weekend, the Yellowjackets will hit the road to take on Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene. MSUB faces the Wildcats on Dec. 4 with an 8:30 p.m. Moutain time tipoff, and against the Crusaders on Dec. 6 the start time will be 7:30 Mountain.

38 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics Black Hills State vs Montana State Billings 11/29/14 2 p.m. at Billings, MT Black Hills State 61 • 2-4 ##

02 03 04 13 24 11 14 15 23 31 32

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Nick Ongarato Brady Bisgaard Brody Brisk Myles Henry Yoshio Allen Wyatt Krogman Ryan Miller Collin Smith Tate Hilgenkamp Sergio Antelmi Riley Ryan Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 12-27 44.4% 3FG % 1st Half: 3-6 50.0% FT % 1st Half: 3-7 42.9%

* * * * *

2-7 1-5 1-4 4-8 8-13 0-2 1-1 0-0 1-3 0-1 5-9

1-4 0-2 0-2 2-2 0-0 0-0 1-1 0-0 1-1 0-1 1-3

0-0 0-2 2-2 2-4 0-0 1-2 0-0 0-0 2-2 1-2 1-5

23-53

6-16

9-19

2nd half: 11-26 42.3% 2nd half: 3-10 30.0% 2nd half: 6-12 50.0%

0 1 1 0 2 0 2 4 1 3 4 5 0 1 1 3 2 4 6 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 1 2 4 6 3 0 0 0 8 15 23 24

5 2 4 12 16 1 3 0 5 1 12

A TO Blk Stl

2 3 1 0 1 1 3 0 0 0 0

Min

0 3 0 1 4 2 1 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 3 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0

61 11 11

7 200

Game: 23-53 43.4% Game: 6-16 37.5% Game: 9-19 47.4%

25 28 17 26 28 10 15 0+ 17 5 29

Deadball Rebounds 6,2

Montana State Billings 79 • 1-5 ##

02 13 25 42 44 01 03 12 22 23 24 32

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Denham,Kendall Matthews,Marc Gataric,Momir Nelson,Tyler Hudson,Austin Henderson,Colby Hosley,Antoine Gordon,Gary Johnson,Emmanuel Anderson,Jace Perry,Jordan Adams,Luke Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 11-23 47.8% 3FG % 1st Half: 6-13 46.2% FT % 1st Half: 5-6 83.3%

* * * * *

0-2 7-13 5-5 2-2 4-7 0-0 3-5 2-3 1-2 1-2 2-4 0-0

0-2 5-10 2-2 0-0 0-0 0-0 2-4 0-0 0-0 1-2 0-1 0-0

2-4 4-4 2-4 1-1 0-0 0-0 2-2 3-4 0-0 1-2 0-2 0-2

27-45 10-21 15-25 2nd half: 16-22 72.7% 2nd half: 4-8 50.0% 2nd half: 10-19 52.6%

0 3 3 1 0 3 3 2 0 3 3 1 1 2 3 3 1 4 5 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 2 1 1 2 3 0 0 0 1 2 6 8 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 5 24 29 21

Game: 27-45 60.0% Game: 10-21 47.6% Game: 15-25 60.0%

2 23 14 5 8 0 10 7 2 4 4 0

A TO Blk Stl

4 1 2 2 1 0 2 1 1 0 1 0

Min

0 1 2 1 3 0 0 1 1 0 2 0

0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

26 29 30 30 13 1 18 12 11 5 22 3

79 15 11

3 200 Deadball Rebounds 6,2

Officials: Kevin Flatow, Ted Gardner, Jason Schaeffer Technical fouls: Black Hills State-None. Montana State Billings-None. Attendance: 324 2:00 Score by periods Black Hills State Montana State Billings

1st

30 33

2nd

31 46

Total

61 79

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 39

MSUB men on the road to start GNAC play this week December 2, 2014 Taking on Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene this weekend to start 2014-15 GNAC play, the MSUB men’s basketball team is on the road for games on Thursday and Saturday. BILLINGS, Mont. – Coming off of a big 79-61 win over Black Hills State last Saturday, the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team will look to carry the momentum into Great Northwest Athletic Conference play which begins this week with a pair of road contests. On Thursday, MSUB will take on Central Washington at Nicholson Pavilion in Ellensburg, Wash., before catching Northwest Nazarene at the Johnson Sports Center in Nampa, Idaho on the way back Saturday evening. “We are excited about GNAC play beginning and the guys are looking forward to a fresh start,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “Every road trip in conference play is a tough battle.” The games are the first of the 18 slated for conference action this season, which will resume on New Year’s Day 2015 after the holiday break. Both games this week will feature live video and statistics, available through www. msubsports.com. MSUB (1-5) earned its first win of the year last weekend, downing visiting Black Hills State on Saturday behind a game-high 23 points from sophomore Marc Matthews. The ‘Jackets heated up from the field, shooting 72.2 percent overall in the second half.

40 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Overall on the year, Matthews (10.7 ppg) is one of four Yellowjackets to be averaging in double-figures in scoring. Senior Antoine Hosley is leading the way with 14.2 points per game, and Austin Hudson (13.2) and Momir Gataric (12.8) are close behind. Hudson is leading the team in rebounding with 8.0 per contest, and is shooting 51.7 percent from the floor (30for-58). His five steals are a team high, and he also has three blocks. With five 3-pointers in the team’s last game, Matthews now leads the squad in long-distance shooting at a clip of 37.5 percent (12-for-32). Hosley has also been effective from beyond the arc, shooting at 36.0 percent (9-for-25). Sharing duties at point guard so far have been junior Gary Gordon and redshirt freshman Kendall Denham. Gordon is turning in 8.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, and is shooting a team-best 77.8 percent from the foul line (21-for-27). Denham holds a solid line of 6.8 points and 5.8 rebounds, and he leads the team in assists with 18. Establishing his presence underneath the basket, junior Emmanuel Johnson has blossomed into the team’s second-leading rebounder with an average of 6.2 per game. He is also averaging 6.0 points per game, thanks to a strong mark of 51.9 percent shooting from the floor (14-for-27). Senior Tyler Nelson has also been a contributor in terms of rebounds, averaging 5.3 per game to go along with 4.5 points. Most recently, redshirt freshman Jordan Perry played a key role in helping MSUB to the win on Saturday as he ignited the team with eight rebounds off the bench. As a team MSUB is shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 31.9 percent from 3-point range. The ‘Jackets have struggled from the foul line with a mark of 58.3 percent, but have outrebounded opponents 38.2-34.2 per game. Offensively, MSUB is averaging 72.7 points per game while allowing 77.0. Thursday, December 4 – 8:30 p.m. MTN – Nicholson Pavilion Central Washington University Wildcats 2014 Record: 3-2 Head Coach: Greg Sparling, 20th year

Junior Emmanuel Johnson.

Saying goodbye to the No. 1 scorer in all of the NCAA Division II a season ago in Mark McLaughlin (27.1 ppg), the Wildcats feature a new-look team this season with more balanced scoring. Junior transfer Gary Jacobs is pacing the squad so far with 12.0 points per game and Joseph Stroud is close behind with 11.6 points and a team-best 5.4 rebounds. While CWU averages just 68.4 points per game, the Wildcats’ stingy defense is allowing 70.4 points per game. A key returner for CWU, junior Jordan Russell is averaging 10.6 points per game and is leading the team from 3-point range with a mark of 43.8 percent (14-for-32). Dom Williams has been a strong presence with 9.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, and Joey Roppo has turned in nine assists and is shooting 92.3 percent from the foul line (12-for-13).

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 41

As a team the Wildcats are being outrebounded 39.2-35.0 per game and hold a subpar assist-turnover ratio of 0.42. “Central Washington is a different team than they have been, but they have been playing really well,” Stevens said. “I know for a fact that they are going to play hard, and it looks like they are guarding really well this year as the scores are a little bit lower.” The Series: In 19 meetings all-time between the teams, MSUB holds a record of 5-14. The Yellowjackets have won two of the last three meetings, but CWU has taken seven of the last nine games overall. At home MSUB holds a record of 3-5 against CWU but the ‘Jackets have fared less well on the road at 1-8. The teams first met in 1965 at the NAIA national tournament in Kansas, with MSUB emerging 63-61. After going 35 years without a game, the two revitalized the series in 2000 and have met twice per season since MSUB joined the GNAC in 2007-08. Last Season: The teams split their games last season, each winning at home. MSUB took care of business at Alterowitz Gym on Dec. 5, 2013, winning 82-67, while the Wildcats sneaked out a 91-88 win at home on March 1, 2014. Hudson notched a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double in MSUB’s win last season, and scored 23 total points over the two-game stretch. Sophomore Jace Anderson had a career game in the second meeting between the two a year ago, pouring in 17 points on 5 of 10 shooting including 3 of 7 from 3-point range. Saturday, December 6 – 7:30 p.m. MTN – Johnson Sports Center Northwest Nazarene University Crusaders 2014 Record: 1-6 Head Coach: Dave Daniels, 2nd year Entering conference play having dropped five games in-a-row, Northwest Nazarene will take on Seattle Pacific on Thursday before welcoming MSUB to the Johnson Sports Center on Saturday evening. Similar to the ‘Jackets, the Crusaders feature a lineup with four players averaging in double-digit scoring. Erik Kinney is leading the way with 14.6 points per game, and also paces the squad with 7.6 rebounds. Aubrey Ball (12.2 ppg), Mike Wright (11.4), and Kevin Rima (10.7) are NNU’s other double-digit scorers. The Crusaders are without 2013-14 GNAC Freshman of the Year Michael Loomis, who played in all 26 games and averaged 12.2 points a season ago. Rima is NNU’s lone all-conference returner, as he earned honorable mention as a junior last year. In addition to his 10.7 points, Rima is also averaging 7.4 rebounds per game. Wright has been the team’s most consistent 3-point shooter with a mark of 44.1 percent (15-for-34), while Rima is shooting 60.0 percent from the floor overall (27-for-45). Rima also paces the squad with 26 assists and has come up with seven steals on the season. As a team NNU allows 79.4 points per game while scoring 72.9, but the Crusaders outrebound opponents 32.029.1. The team is posting solid shooting marks across the board at 49.3 percent from the field, 39.1 percent from long range, and 70.4 percent from the free-throw line. “NNU has a ton of new transfers, and they are probably a little bit in the same position as us,” Stevens said regarding the Crusaders. “They have played a really difficult schedule, and I know Coach Daniels does a great job with them.” 42 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

The Series: MSUB holds a slight edge between the teams all-time with a mark of 16-13. At home MSUB is 10-6 and the team will look to pull even at .500 on Saturday as the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Jackets are 6-7 on the road against the Crusaders. Last Season: In a pair of low-scoring matchups, NNU prevailed twice last season. On Dec. 7, 2013 in Billings, the Crusaders landed a 63-61 triumph and backed it up with a 66-60 win in Nampa on Feb. 27, 2014. Matthews had success shooting in both games last season, scoring 13 points on 3-for-6 from 3-point range last December and adding 11 points on 3-for-6 from long distance in February. Hudson posted a double-double the last time the teams met with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and he also had two assists, two blocks and three steals in the game. For NNU, Rima had big numbers in both games last year, scoring nine points with 13 boards in the first meeting and adding 13 points and six rebounds the second time out.

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 43

Game 7: December 4, 2014 Central Washington 88, MSU Billings 79

Williams runs wild, ‘Cats beat ‘Jackets 88-79 in GNAC opener December 4, 2014 In the first game of the 2014-15 GNAC men’s basketball season, Montana State Billings falls to Central Washington 88-79 as the Wildcats’ Dom Williams leads all scorers with 31 points. ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Behind the sharp shooting and 31 points of Dom Williams, the Central Washington Wildcats took off in the closing minutes to defeat visiting Montana State University Billings 88-79 Thursday evening in the 2014-15 Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener in Nicholson Pavilion on the CWU campus. Williams finished 11-for-20 shooting from the field including a mark of 5-for-7 from 3-point range. He also totaled five assists on the game and grabbed a pair of rebounds. Gary Jacobs was CWU’s other double-figure scorer, as he shot 5-for-12 from the floor for 14 points. Jacobs also had five rebounds and five assists. The Wildcats (4-2, 1-0 GNAC) used a balanced attack and rebounding effort, as CWU outrebounded MSUB 37-35 including 14-11 in offensive boards. For MSUB, sophomore Marc Matthews led the way with 17 points, nine rebounds and three assists, and was one of four Yellowjackets to score in double figures. Antoine Hosley converted 5 of 15 shots from the field and was a perfect 5-for-5 from the foul line for 16 points, and senior Austin Hudson contributed 15 points and three rebounds. Momir Gataric finished with 10 points for the ‘Jackets, and senior Tyler Nelson chipped in eight boards and five points. With the loss MSUB falls to 1-6 on the season and the team is now 0-1 in GNAC play.

44 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

“I was really pleased with our effort,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “We gave up too many offensive rebounds and we had too many turnovers. I thought Central also hit some big-time shots and when you can do that, you win a lot of games.” CWU led 12-7 early on in the first half, but the five-point advantage was the largest the ‘Cats held until late in the second half. With the score tied at 19-19 midway through the first, the teams traded off scoring as the game remained even inside of 10 minutes until the break. The margin stayed close as time wound down in the first, and a finish by Emmanuel Johnson with 3:30 left gave MSUB a narrow 32-31 edge. CWU scored six of the next eight points however, and took a 37-36 lead into halftime. Emerging from the locker room on a hot streak, the Wildcats opened up a 10-point lead on another three by Williams that gave him 22 points and CWU a 59-49 advantage. Trailing 65-57, MSUB worked its way back into the game with a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to two points. Hudson had a pair of strong finishes underneath during the hot streak, patiently working past defenders and finishing strong layups. A three-point play converted by Hudson with 7:33 remaining once again brought MSUB within two points at 69-67, but as time wound down the Wildcats began to pull away. With three minutes remaining, a free-throw and a layup by Marc Rodgers made the score 82-74 in favor of the ‘Cats, who never looked back in closing out the victory.

Junior Emmanuel Johnson.

On the game the teams were nearly even in field goal percentage, with MSUB holding a slight 47.5-47.1 percent edge. CWU benefitted from nine 3-pointers on 23 attempts, while the ‘Jackets shot just 25 percent from long distance (3-for-12). Limiting its turnovers to just 12 and creating 17, CWU exposed MSUB for 18 points and a plus-five margin in points off of turnovers. The Wildcats also had a 17-13 advantage in second-chance points, but MSUB outscored CWU off the bench (32-21) and in the paint (38-34). “We are looking forward to Saturday for another chance to play and to get better,” Stevens said. COMING UP: The Yellowjackets catch Northwest Nazarene on their way back to Billings, with another GNAC matchup against the Crusaders set for Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 45

Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics Montana State Billin vs Central Washington 12/4/14 7:30pm at Ellensburg,WA -- Nicholson Pavilion Montana State Billin 79 • 1-6, 0-1 GNAC ##

25 42 44 02 13 03 12 22 24

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Gataric,Momir Nelson,Tyler Hudson,Austin Denham,Kendall Matthews,Marc Hosley,Antoine Gordon,Gary Johnson,Emmanuel Perry,Jordan Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 13-33 39.4% 3FG % 1st Half: 1-7 14.3% FT % 1st Half: 9-12 75.0%

f f c g g

4-5 2-5 6-9 0-3 6-8 5-15 2-6 2-4 1-4

0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-3 1-6 0-0 1-1 0-2

28-59

3-12

2-3 1-2 3-5 0-0 4-4 5-5 3-6 0-0 2-2

0 0 0 1 3 5 8 0 2 1 3 5 0 0 0 2 2 7 9 0 0 4 4 1 1 1 2 3 1 5 6 1 1 1 2 2 1 0 1 20-27 11 24 35 15

2nd half: 15-26 57.7% 2nd half: 2-5 40.0% 2nd half: 11-15 73.3%

10 5 15 0 17 16 7 5 4

A TO Blk Stl

1 0 0 3 3 3 1 1 1

Min

4 0 4 3 1 3 2 0 0

0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 0

79 13 17

5 200

Game: 28-59 47.5% Game: 3-12 25.0% Game: 20-27 74.1%

29 18 22 22 30 24 17 27 11

Deadball Rebounds 4

Central Washington 88 • 4-2, 1-0 GNAC ##

04 05 40 01 11 00 02 03 22 25 32 44

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Dawn,Terry Jacobs,Gary Dressler,Caleb Rodgers,Marc Williams,Dom Vaughn,Julian Russell,Jordan Roppo,Joey Stroud,Joseph Bryant,Jerome Matthews,Devin Rademacher,Drake Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 13-35 37.1% 3FG % 1st Half: 4-12 33.3% FT % 1st Half: 7-8 87.5%

f f c g g

3-6 5-12 3-7 3-6 11-20 2-2 1-7 1-2 1-3 0-0 2-2 0-1

2-4 2-5 0-0 0-2 5-7 0-0 0-3 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1

32-68

9-23

3 2 5 1 1 4 5 2 1 2 3 3 0 4 4 2 0 2 2 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 2 1 0 1 1 0 2 3 5 4 2 1 3 2 2 0 2 2 0 1 1 0 1 3 4 15-19 14 23 37 20

2nd half: 19-33 57.6% 2nd half: 5-11 45.5% 2nd half: 8-11 72.7%

0-0 2-2 0-0 2-4 4-4 0-0 2-2 3-4 1-1 0-0 1-2 0-0

8 14 6 8 31 4 4 5 3 0 5 0

2 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2

1 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0

88 20 12

9 200

Game: 32-68 47.1% Game: 9-23 39.1% Game: 15-19 78.9%

1st

36 37

2nd

43 51

Total

79 88

46 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

1 5 0 6 5 0 0 0 0 1 2 0

Min

1 2 0 1 0 0 2 0 2 2 2 0

Officials: Matt Mason, Ben Jordan-Downs, Devinci Elmore Technical fouls: Montana State Billin-None. Central Washington-None. Attendance: 1074 Score by periods Montana State Billin Central Washington

A TO Blk Stl

30 28 15 28 35 7 13 5 15 8 11 5

Deadball Rebounds 2

Game 8: December 6, 2014 Northwest Nazarene 59, MSU Billings 57

Crusaders hold off ‘Jackets down the stretch, MSUB falls 59-57 in Nampa December 6, 2014 MSUB fights its way back from a six-point deficit down the stretch but the ‘Jackets can’t complete the comeback in a 59-57 loss to Northwest Nazarene Saturday night in GNAC play. NAMPA, Idaho – Kevin Rima scored 16 points and added eight rebounds, fueling a second-half comeback for Northwest Nazarene as the Crusaders defeated visiting Montana State University Billings 59-57 Saturday evening in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play inside the Johnson Sports Center. Trailing by just two points with five seconds remaining, a last-ditch 3-point attempt by Antoine Hosley was off the mark as time expired and the Crusaders (2-7, 1-1 GNAC) escaped with the narrow victory. Erik Kinney had a double-double for NNU with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and shot 5-for-11 from the floor overall. Rima was 6-for-12, and the Crusaders shot 44 percent overall in the game (22-for-50). Mike Wright had four of NNU’s eight assists on the game, and also contributed eight points and a rebound. For MSUB (1-7, 0-2 GNAC) senior Austin Hudson had a team-high 15 points and came up one rebound shy of a double-double with nine. Hudson was 5-for-10 from the field and shot 5-for-7 from the foul line. “This was a tough loss for our team,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “We just couldn’t make enough plays in the second half and it’s hard to win close games without making free-throws and layups. I thought our effort was really good again but we just need to find a way to win close games.” @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 47

Hosley finished with a dozen points for MSUB, and Momir Gataric was also in double figures with 10. Redshirt freshman Jordan Perry was effective all-around for MSUB, with eight points, four rebounds and a pair of assists on the evening. On the game MSUB was outrebounded 34-27, and NNU’s mark of 44 percent from the field topped MSUB’s 40.9 percent. The Crusaders shot a strong 73.3 percent from the foul line (11-for-15), compared with a mark of 59.1 percent by the Yellowjackets (13-for-22). MSUB held a slight edge in bench points, 22-21, but NNU heavily outscored MSUB in the paint 28-12. The Crusaders also generated five steals in the game, and overcame a six-point halftime deficit in their first conference win of the season. Cruising to an early 8-0 lead, the Yellowjackets established command and built their advantage in the opening minutes of the first half. Kendall Denham knocked down a big three in the corner on a pass from Perry, and the ‘Jackets moved ahead 24-18 with less than 10 minutes until halftime. The ‘Jackets maintained distance as time wound down in the first, and took a 38-30 edge into the break. Slowly working back into the game, NNU cut into the deficit and eventually tied the score at 44-44 on a jumper by Rima with 12 minutes remaining in the game. MSUB temporarily regained the lead, but a three-point play converted by Rima pushed the ‘Saders ahead by four at 52-48. Todd Helgesen followed with a finish two possessions later, giving NNU its largest lead of the night at six points, 56-50. A 3-pointer by Pol Oliver with 3:30 left distanced the Crusaders further, making the spread 59-52. Hudson knocked down a pair of free-throws, and a three by Perry cut the deficit to two points with just more than two minutes remaining. Freshman Kendall Denham. the win.

The Yellowjackets failed to tie the score again however, and NNU converted enough chances in the waning minutes to seal

AHEAD: The ‘Jackets return home to play the University of Montana Western in a nonconference game on Dec. 12. MSUB will also play its alumni game the following evening.

48 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics Montana State Billin vs Northwest Nazarene 12/06/14 7:30 pm at Nampa, Idaho Montana State Billin 57 • 1-7, 0-2 GNAC ##

02 13 25 42 44 03 12 22 24

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Denham,Kendall Matthews,Marc Gataric,Momir Nelson,Tyler Hudson,Austin Hosley,Antoine Gordon,Gary Johnson,Emmanuel Perry,Jordan Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 12-18 66.7% 3FG % 1st Half: 7-11 63.6% FT % 1st Half: 7-10 70.0%

* * * * *

2-5 1-6 2-4 0-1 5-10 5-10 0-0 1-2 2-6

1-2 1-4 2-3 0-0 0-1 2-4 0-0 0-0 2-2

0-0 0-2 4-9 2-2 5-7 0-0 0-0 0-0 2-2

18-44

8-16

13-22

2nd half: 2nd half: 2nd half:

6-26 1-5 6-12

23.1% 20.0% 50.0%

0 3 3 3 0 0 0 2 1 2 3 1 1 2 3 4 3 6 9 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 2 2 1 1 3 4 2 1 2 3 7 20 27 20

5 3 10 2 15 12 0 2 8

A TO Blk Stl

2 1 2 0 0 0 3 1 2

0 2 1 0 3 1 1 1 1 1 57 11 11

Min

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0

3 200

Game: 18-44 40.9% Game: 8-16 50.0% Game: 13-22 59.1%

30 30 35 27 24 15 11 8 20

Deadball Rebounds 4

Northwest Nazarene 59 • 2-7, 1-1 GNAC ##

02 03 05 21 42 01 04 12 30 34

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Kinney,Erik Ball,Aubrey Wright,Mike Rima,Kevin Massey,Parris N'Diaye,Bouna Olivier,Pol Hering,Matyas Shedrick,David Helgesen,Todd Team Totals

* * * * *

FG % 1st Half: 10-24 41.7% 3FG % 1st Half: 2-9 22.2% FT % 1st Half: 8-9 88.9%

5-11 1-6 2-5 6-12 0-0 3-3 1-3 1-4 1-3 2-3

0-2 1-3 1-3 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-3 1-4 0-1 0-0

22-50

4-16

0-0 1-2 3-4 4-4 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-0 0-0 3-4

3 7 10 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 2 6 8 3 1 0 1 3 0 4 4 3 0 2 2 2 0 0 0 3 0 2 2 3 2 3 5 3 1 0 1 11-15 10 24 34 23

2nd half: 12-26 46.2% 2nd half: 2-7 28.6% 2nd half: 3-6 50.0%

A TO Blk Stl

Min

10 4 8 16 0 6 3 3 2 7

0 1 4 1 0 2 0 0 0 0

0 2 2 1 0 3 1 1 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0

2 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

8 10

5 200

Game: 22-50 44.0% Game: 4-16 25.0% Game: 11-15 73.3%

31 15 31 26 4 29 21 12 18 13

Deadball Rebounds 2

Officials: Damon Bruland, Sean Weatherston, Toby Doolittle Technical fouls: Montana State Billin-None. Northwest Nazarene-None. Attendance: 209 Score by periods Montana State Billin Northwest Nazarene

1st

38 30

2nd

19 29

Total

57 59

Last FG - MSUB 2nd-02:14, NNU-M 2nd-03:39. Largest lead - MSUB by 10 2nd-19:46, NNU-M by 7 2nd-03:39. MSUB led for 30:08. NNU-M led for 08:22. Game was tied for 01:08.

Points MSUB NNU-M

In Paint 12 28

Off T/O 3 9

2nd Fast Chance Break 6 4 7 2

Bench 22 21

Score tied - 1 time. Lead changed - 1 time.

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 49

2 nonconference games, Alumni Game on tap for MSUB men December 10, 2014 The MSUB men return home to take on the University of Montana Western and play the annual Alumni Game, before a week-long trip to Hawaii for three more nonconference matchups. BILLINGS, Mont. – Returning to action this weekend, the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team takes on nonconference opponent University of Montana Western on Friday before the annual Alumni Game on Saturday. The ‘Jackets then face a quick turnaround, boarding a plane to Hawaii on Sunday and taking on NCAA Division II west region top opponent Chaminade on Monday. Tipoff on Friday against UM Western is set for 7 p.m., while Saturday’s game against the Yellowjacket alumni will tipoff at 5 p.m. Both games will be in Alterowitz Gym, and the Alumni Game will be part of a doubleheader with the MSUB women’s basketball team which plays Jamestown at 7 p.m. In a promotion sponsored by the Yellowjacket Student Athlete Advisory Committee, MSUB will also be accepting donations for the Toys for Tots program, and offering half-price admission to fans who donate a toy upon entrance to either of Saturday’s games. All donations of small toys will be passed along to the Toys for Tots program which provides an opportunity for families in need to obtain toys during the holiday season. The Yellowjacket men spent several hours helping organize and sort toys the week of Thanksgiving in a community service effort helping the Toys for Tots program. Against Chaminade on Monday, tipoff is set for 10:30 p.m. Mountain time, and live statistics and audio will be available for the game.

50 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

The Yellowjackets (1-7, 0-2 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) began conference play last week with a pair of road losses to Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene. MSUB features four players who are scoring in double figures, with senior Antoine Hosley leading the way at 14.1 points per game. Hosley is shooting 40.8 percent from the field, 34.3 percent from 3-point range and a team-best 77.8 percent from the foul line. Senior Austin Hudson has contributed 13.7 points and a team-best 7.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 53.2 percent from the field. Hudson’s six steals are also a team high. Momir Gataric (12.0 ppg) and Marc Matthews (10.5) are also scoring in the double-digits for the ‘Jackets, and the latter is leading the team from 3-point range at 35.9 percent (14-for-39). Gataric is turning in 3.7 rebounds per game and is shooting a team-best 62.8 percent from the floor. Freshman point guard Kendall Denham is pacing the squad with 23 assists this season, while scoring 5.3 points and averaging 4.3 rebounds per game in his first year. Junior Emmanuel Johnson has been a strong presence underneath for MSUB, hauling in 5.6 rebounds per game while adding 5.4 points. Senior Tyler Nelson is close behind Johnson in terms of rebounding with 5.4 per game, and he is averaging 4.3 points as well. As a team MSUB is being outscored 76.1-71.5 but is managing to outrebound opponents 36.4-34.6. The ‘Jackets are shooting 45.9 percent from the floor, 33.6 percent from long range and 60.4 percent from the free-throw line. Friday, December 12 – 7 p.m. – Alterowitz Gym University of Montana Western Bulldogs 2014-15 Record: 4-3 (NAIA) Head Coach: Steve Keller, 8th season Having won back-to-back games against Northwest Indian College, the Bulldogs enter Friday’s game against the Yellowjackets with a record of 4-3. UMW opened its 2014-15 season with two-straight wins against Walla Walla University and Dickinson State, before dropping its next three counting games. The Bulldogs have five players averaging more than 10 points per game, with Dexter Williams pacing the squad at 12.4. The junior forward’s 5.7 rebounds per game are also a team high, as are his 14 steals. Jordan Overstreet is scoring at a clip of 11.9 points per game, and sophomore guard Shyke Smalls is producing 11.3. Overstreet is shooting a strong 86.7 percent from the free-throw line, and Smalls has 19 assists and is shooting 86.4 percent on foul shots. Stephen McCall leads the team in assists with 22 and is averaging 11.0 points per game while shooting 49.2 percent from the field and 92.3 percent on free-throws. The Bulldogs’ top 3-point man is Ryan McCarty, who is converting at a percentage of 51.6 from beyond the arc and averaging 10.7 points. Connor Woodill has been a top rebounder for UMW with 5.5 per game, and Quinn Smith is close behind with 4.7 while shooting 53.2 percent from the field in 17.4 minutes (9.0 ppg). The Bulldogs have outscored opponents 86.4-75.4 this season and hold a nearly plus-10 rebound margin at 42.332.7. As a team UMW is shooting 48.4 percent from the field, 34.3 percent from 3-point range and 74.3 percent from the foul line.

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The Series: The all-time series between MSUB and UMW is nearly dead even, with the Bulldogs holding a slight advantage with a 76-74 record dating back to the 1928 season. At home, MSUB holds a strong advantage with a 49-27 mark against UMW. The teams had played one another every season from 1947-1995, before a 12-year interruption to the series. Since being revitalized in 2007, UMW has won three of the four games played between the teams. Last Time Out: The Bulldogs scored a 78-67 win over the Yellowjackets last year, outscoring MSUB 42-33 in the second half to earn the victory. Overstreet poured in 22 points in the win for UMW. For MSUB, Matthews scored 10 points on 2 of 4 from 3-point range, and Nelson grabbed six rebounds. Saturday, December 13 – 5 p.m. – Alterowitz Gym MSUB Alumni Game Toys for Tots sponsored by MSUB Student Athlete Advisory Committee – Half-price admission for all fans donating a toy. All toys will be given to the Toys for Tots program, aiding local families in need during the holiday season. Monday, December 15 – 10:30 p.m. MTN – McCabe Gym Chaminade University 2014-15 Record: 3-4, 1-1 PacWest Head Coach: Eric Bovaird, 4th season Also beginning conference play last week with a pair of PacWest matchups, Chaminade split games against Hawaii Hilo and BYU-Hawaii in its most recent action. The Silverswords defeated UHH 94-89 on Dec. 4, before losing to No. 23 BYUH 104-87 last Saturday. Although Chaminade holds an overall 3-4 record, three of the team’s losses came against NCAA Division I opponents during the EA Sports Maui Invitational. The Silverswords lost games to Pittsburgh, Brigham Young University, and the University of Missouri in three games in mid-November. Before the test against Division I schools, Chaminade opened the season with back-to-back wins against Regis University and Saint Katherine College. Leading the team in scoring has been Lee Bailey, who is putting in 13.1 points per game while leading the team in assists with 26 and steals with 10. Kuany Kuany is scoring 13.0 points per game and leading the team in rebounding with 6.4. The sophomore guard is shooting a strong 47.8 percent from the field and 76.9 percent from the free-throw line. Also in double figures in scoring for Chaminade are Kiran Shastri (12.9 ppg) and Kevin Hu (10.4). Shastri is also averaging 4.3 rebounds, and is shooting a team-best 89.5 percent from the foul line. David Ware has also been effective for the Silverswords with 6.0 points, a dozen assists, and a field-goal percentage of 53.6. As a team Chaminade is averaging 80.1 points per game while allowing 84.3. The team is being outrebounded 41.0-34.0, and is averaging 12.1 assists per game. Chaminade is shooting 44.7 percent from the floor, 37.3 percent from 3-point range and 64.8 percent from the free-throw line. The Series: In 32 all-time meetings between the teams, MSUB holds a 20-12 overall record dating back to 1978. The home team has historically prevailed in the series, as the ‘Jackets are a perfect 16-0 at Alterowitz Gym and Chaminade is 12-4 at home against MSUB. The teams have not met since the 2004-05 season, when MSUB won 2 of 3 games between the teams. Chaminade has won three of the last five meetings overall. 52 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Game 9: December 12, 2014 Montana Western 72, MSU Billings 62

‘Jackets drop non-conference game to Montana Western 72-62 December 12, 2014 Marc Matthews knocks down four of MSUB’s nine 3-pointers, but the ‘Jackets come up short in a 72-62 loss to Montana Western in non-conference action Friday night. BILLINGS, Mont. – Jordan Overstreet and Stephen McCall combined to score more than half of their team’s points as the University of Montana Western defeated host Montana State University Billings 72-62 Friday evening in Alterowitz Gym. Overstreet led all scorers with 20 points, shooting 5-for-8 overall from the field and 7-for-8 from the foul line. McCall complemented him with 17 points on 7-for-13 from the floor, and the Bulldogs shot a strong 59.5 percent overall on the night (25-for-42). Dexter Williams was the top rebounder for UMW (5-3), grabbing seven boards and adding 11 points. For MSUB (1-8), senior Antoine Hosley paced the squad with 18 points on 5-for-12 shooting from the floor. He also added two rebounds and three assists. Sophomore Marc Matthews converted four 3-pointers and totaled 14 points, and Austin Hudson scored 13 and had seven rebounds for the ‘Jackets.

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The Yellowjackets shot 36.5 percent from the field (19-for-52), and 63.6 percent from the free-throw line (14for-22). Freshman guard Kendall Denham dished out seven assists on the game, and MSUB had 15 total on the evening. Senior Tyler Nelson also grabbed four boards for MSUB, which was outrebounded 25-20 in the game. “Montana Western played really well and hit some big time shots tonight,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “Some of those shots in the second half were daggers, but I thought our guys shared the ball and we had good looks. We didn’t shoot it great tonight and in the end it probably cost us.” Matthews got the scoring started with a three and scored six of the Yellowjackets’ first eight points. Denham knocked down a three several minutes later, as MSUB held on to an early 16-12 lead. The ‘Jackets maintained their lead into the late minutes of the first half, but a three by Kris Castro kept the score close at 25-23 with six minutes until the break. McCall followed with another trey for the Bulldogs, who took a 30-27 edge. With less than a minute remaining in the first, Overstreet knocked down a shot from long range and gave UMW its largest lead of the night to that point at 37-30. The Bulldogs extended their lead to nine points early on in the second, but the ‘Jackets worked their way back into it as Hudson made a layup to cut the deficit to six points at 15:56 left. Hosley completed a three-point play a minute later and the spread was down to one at 43-42. McCall hit a mid-range jumper inside of eight minutes, and the Bulldogs capitalized on a turnover for two more points to make the score 54-47. A strong take to the hoop by Hosley followed by another three from Matthews cut the score to 58-54, but UMW responded with a bucket to keep ahold of the lead. The Bulldogs pulled away into the closing minutes, staying ahead by more than two possessions down the stretch to seal the victory. Although the ‘Jackets only held a slight advantage in turnovers 12-10, MSUB capitalized on its opportunities with 16 points off of turnovers compared to just four by UMW. The Yellowjackets also had an advantage in second-chance points, 10-5, and outscored the Bulldogs off the bench 26-13. The Bulldogs outworked the ‘Jackets in the paint, scoring 28 points down low while MSUB had 20. NEXT UP: The ‘Jackets welcome former players back to Alterowitz Gym for the annual Alumni Game, set for Saturday evening at 5 p.m. The game will be part of a doubleheader with the MSUB women’s basketball team, and attendees who bring a toy to donate to the Toys for Tots program will receive half-price admission for either of Saturday’s games.

Senior Antoine Hosley.

“The nice thing is that we get to come back and practice tomorrow, and we are excited about getting prepared for Chaminade next week,” Stevens said. “We also have the chance to play our alumni team, and it is another chance for our guys to go out and play a 40 minute game and hopefully have some success.” 54 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics University of Montana Western vs Montana State Billings 12/12/14 7 p.m. at Billings, MT - Alterowitz Gym University of Montana Western 72 â&#x20AC;˘ 5-3 (NAIA) ##

04 11 15 22 24 00 10 21 33

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Williams,Dexter McCall,Stephen Smith,Quinn Overstreet,Jordan Castro,Kris Smalls,Shyke Smith,Zach McCarty,Ryan Sullivan,Ryan Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 16-23 69.6% 3FG % 1st Half: 5-9 55.6% FT % 1st Half: 0-0 0.0%

* * * * *

4-6 7-13 3-3 5-8 1-3 2-4 0-0 2-2 1-3

0-0 1-4 0-0 3-5 1-2 0-1 0-0 1-1 0-1

3-5 2-2 2-2 7-8 0-0 2-3 0-0 0-1 0-1

25-42

6-14

16-22

2nd half: 9-19 47.4% 2nd half: 1-5 20.0% 2nd half: 16-22 72.7%

1 7 8 4 3 2 5 2 1 3 4 5 0 3 3 3 0 1 1 3 0 2 2 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 3 3 1 0 0 0 5 21 26 23

A TO Blk Stl

Min

11 17 8 20 3 6 0 5 2

2 3 0 0 1 2 0 0 0

5 2 0 2 0 2 0 1 1

0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0

0 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 0

8 13

4 200

Game: 25-42 59.5% Game: 6-14 42.9% Game: 16-22 72.7%

33 36 22 30 27 17 5 12 18

Deadball Rebounds 5,4

Montana State Billings 62 â&#x20AC;˘ 1-8 ##

02 13 25 42 44 01 03 22 23 24

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Denham,Kendall Matthews,Marc Gataric,Momir Nelson,Tyler Hudson,Austin Henderson,Colby Hosley,Antoine Johnson,Emmanuel Anderson,Jace Perry,Jordan Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 10-25 40.0% 3FG % 1st Half: 7-20 35.0% FT % 1st Half: 3-5 60.0%

* * * * *

2-7 4-15 0-5 0-1 4-5 0-0 5-12 0-1 1-3 3-3

2-5 4-13 0-3 0-0 0-0 0-0 2-8 0-1 1-3 0-0

0-0 2-2 1-2 1-2 5-11 0-0 6-7 0-0 0-0 0-0

19-52

9-33

15-24

2nd half: 9-27 33.3% 2nd half: 2-13 15.4% 2nd half: 12-19 63.2%

1 1 2 3 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 1 3 4 5 3 4 7 5 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 5 0 0 0 9 11 20 24

Game: 19-52 36.5% Game: 9-33 27.3% Game: 15-24 62.5%

6 14 1 1 13 0 18 0 3 6

A TO Blk Stl

7 1 1 1 1 0 3 1 0 0

Min

1 1 3 0 3 0 0 2 0 1

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

39 28 20 21 28 1 27 6 10 20

62 15 11

4 200 Deadball Rebounds 8,2

Officials: Rob Tesch, Matt Schute, Ted Gardner Technical fouls: University of Montana Western-None. Montana State Billings-None. Attendance: 734 2:00 1st Score by periods University of Montana Western 37 Montana State Billings 30

2nd

35 32

Total

72 62

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 55

MSUB men welcome former players for Alumni Game Saturday December 13, 2014 In an exhibition contest Saturday evening, the MSUB men’s basketball team takes on former players in the annual Alumni Game at Alterowitz Gym. BILLINGS, Mont. – Taking on a team of former Yellowjackets, the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team played its annual Alumni Game Saturday evening in Alterowitz Gym. The Alumni Team walked away with a narrow 82-80 victory in a high-scoring, closely contested exhibition game. Former MSUB standout Antoine Proctor scored 20 points and had a game-best eight assists. For MSUB, senior Austin Hudson had a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds, Antoine Hosley added a dozen and Jace Anderson had 11. Former players for the Alumni Team were Robby Trabing, Jerett Skrifvars, Cameron Munoz, Mark Hamilton, Ryan Wetzel, Brett Taylor, Mike Berta and Brian Cook. Current MSUB graduate assistant coach Darren Nye also suited up for the Alumni Team. Munoz sank four 3-pointers and had 15 points, while Skrifvars added a dozen points and nine rebounds. COMING UP: The Yellowjackets board an early flight Sunday morning and head to Hawaii for three more non-conference games. First up will be a test against top west region opponent Chaminade, with tipoff set for 10:30 p.m. Mountain time Monday night.

56 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Game 10: December 15, 2014 Chaminade 82, MSU Billings 65

‘Swords outduel ‘Jackets, defeat MSUB 82-65 in Hawaii December 15, 2014 Runs of 10-2 and 16-0 early on propel Chaminade to a double-figure lead, and the Silverswords never give in as they defeat the MSUB men 82-65 Monday night in Honolulu. HONOLULU, Hawaii – A pair of one-sided runs set the tempo early for Chaminade as the host Silverswords pushed past Montana State Billings 82-65 in a non-conference men’s basketball game Monday night at McCabe Gymnasium. The Silverswords jumped out to an early 10-2 advantage, establishing command of the game immediately. Kevin Hu scored six of Chaminade’s first 12 points, and Austin Hudson matched his counterpart’s effectiveness with the Yellowjackets’ first six points of the game in the opening five minutes. A 16-0 Chaminade run moving into the middle of the first half made the score 28-6, as the Silverswords continued to distance themselves. James Harper had five points early on as he and Hu combined for 13 of Chaminade’s first 24. “The slow start really hurt us,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “We played well for the last 32 minutes but we just started the game too slow to have a chance. I was proud of our guys’ effort.” After building the double-digit advantage, Chaminade (4-4) never looked back and shot 47.7 percent from the field in the victory. Hu finished with a game-high 22 points, converting 9 of 12 shots from the floor including 3 of 5 from the foul line. Lee Bailey was close behind with 19 points, and also grabbed four rebounds and had four assists. @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 57

A one-handed throw down by Jordan Perry finally snapped the early scoring spree by Chaminade, and Jace Anderson followed with a three from the corner to make the score 28-11. Antoine Hosley finished a layup on the ensuing possession, as the ‘Jackets put together a 7-0 run of their own to creep back into the game. A 3-pointer by Hosley with 7:05 left cut the deficit to 13 points at 33-20, but Hu answered with another trey to push his point total to 13 in the first half and keep a strong lead in his team’s hands. A pair of Harper free-throws made the score 43-29 with less than two minutes remaining. The Silverswords maintained the edge and carried a 45-34 lead into the locker room. Chaminade came out of the break with its foot on the gas, scoring the first four points of the second period to extend its lead to 15 points. The Silverswords held on to the comfortable lead moving into the middle part of the second half, and a pair of free-throws by Harper made it 60-42 with 14 minutes remaining. Perry was effective creating chances for MSUB in the second, helping spark a 4-0 run by MSUB to keep a comeback within reach at 60-46 with 12 minutes left. Kiran Shastri drilled his second three of the game with seven minutes remaining, as Chaminade opened up a 71-52 edge. MSUB scored at a decent clip through the closing minutes, but Chaminade kept a firm grip on the lead and closed out the win without a serious comeback threat from the ‘Jackets. For the Yellowjackets (1-9), Momir Gataric led the way with 14 points and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Marc Matthews and Hudson each had 10 points, and Emmanuel Johnson was the Yellowjackets’ leader on boards with six. MSUB shot a solid 24-for-54 for 44.4 percent from the field and 14-for-20 for 70.0 percent from the free-throw line. The ‘Jackets were outrebounded 38-28, and Chaminade had 16 assists compared with 11 for MSUB. The Silverswords’ eight steals contributed to 19 Yellowjacket turnovers, and Chaminade outscored MSUB in points off of turnovers 24-15. The teams were dead-even in points in the paint at 42 apiece, and Chaminade held a strong advantage in second-chance points at 21-7. Freshman Jordan Perry. “We went small and that lineup really sparked us,” Stevens said. “We are looking forward to Friday and Saturday for two more chances to get better and ready for GNAC play.” COMING UP: MSUB takes on Hawaii Pacific University on Friday and Ottawa (Kan.) on Saturday to wrap up its final non-conference games of the 2014-15 season. Tip-off against HPU is set for 7:30 p.m. Mountain time with the game against Ottawa slated for a 5 p.m. Mountain time start the next day.

58 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics Montana St.-Billings vs Chaminade 12/15/14 7:30 p.m. at Honolulu, HI (McCabe Gym) Montana St.-Billings 65 • 1-9 ##

25 42 44 02 13 01 03 22 23 24 32

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Gataric,Momir Nelson,Tyler Hudson,Austin Denham,Kendall Matthews,Marc Henderson,Colby Hosley,Antoine Johnson,Emmanuel Anderson,Jace Perry,Jordan Adams,Luke Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 12-30 40.0% 3FG % 1st Half: 2-6 33.3% FT % 1st Half: 8-14 57.1%

f f f g g

4-11 0-0 4-8 0-0 4-10 0-0 3-6 4-8 2-3 3-8 0-0

0-2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-2 0-0 1-1 0-0 1-1 1-2 0-0

24-54

3-8

6-6 0-0 2-4 2-2 2-4 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 2-4 0-0

0 0 0 3 0 1 1 2 1 2 3 1 0 0 0 3 1 2 3 0 0 1 1 0 0 3 3 3 2 4 6 1 0 2 2 0 1 1 2 4 0 0 0 0 5 2 7 14-20 10 18 28 17

2nd half: 12-24 50.0% 2nd half: 1-2 50.0% 2nd half: 6-6 100.0

14 0 10 2 10 0 7 8 5 9 0

A TO Blk Stl

1 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 2 2 0

3 0 1 3 3 2 0 4 0 2 0 1 65 11 19

Min

0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0

1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0

3 200

Game: 24-54 44.4% Game: 3-8 37.5% Game: 14-20 70.0%

32 8 10 29 36 1 12 26 14 31 1

Deadball Rebounds 3,1

Chaminade 82 • 4-4 ##

22 05 14 23 33 01 02 03 10 11 12 15 24

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Louder, Michael Bailey, Lee Kuany, Kuany Hu, Kevin Shastri, Kiran Boyd, De'Von Pu`ulei-Auld, Kahanu Harper, James Mathew, AJ Ware, David Rosen, Amu Sakazaki, Michael Pedroso, Oscar Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 15-32 46.9% 3FG % 1st Half: 4-14 28.6% FT % 1st Half: 11-12 91.7%

f g g g g

2-2 7-11 1-6 9-12 5-12 0-0 0-3 3-7 1-4 3-6 0-0 0-1 0-1

0-0 2-3 0-2 3-5 2-8 0-0 0-1 0-2 0-3 0-2 0-0 0-0 0-0

31-65

7-26

0-0 3-4 0-0 1-2 2-2 0-0 0-0 5-5 0-0 2-2 0-0 0-0 0-0

1 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 2 7 9 0 3 0 3 4 1 4 5 2 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 3 4 2 0 1 1 0 1 2 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 3 2 2 4 13-15 15 23 38 19

2nd half: 16-33 48.5% 2nd half: 3-12 25.0% 2nd half: 2-3 66.7%

Game: 31-65 47.7% Game: 7-26 26.9% Game: 13-15 86.7%

4 19 2 22 14 0 0 11 2 8 0 0 0

A TO Blk Stl

1 4 3 1 1 0 1 2 1 2 0 0 0

2 1 1 4 0 1 2 0 1 1 0 0 2 1 82 16 16

Min

1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 2 0 0 1

9 33 26 18 32 3 13 26 14 17 1 1 7

8 200 Deadball Rebounds 2

Officials: Victor Briscoe. Tony Collazo, Tony Coda Technical fouls: Montana St.-Billings-None. Chaminade-None. Attendance: 70 Score by periods Montana St.-Billings Chaminade

1st

34 45

2nd

31 37

Total

65 82

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MSUB men wrap up non-conference schedule in Hawaii before saying ‘Aloha’ to 2014 December 16, 2014 With a pair of non-conference games on tap this weekend, the MSUB men’s basketball team closes out its slate of 2014 games and will continue with conference action when the calendar turns to January. BILLINGS, Mont. – With two more non-conference games coming up this weekend, the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team will close the 2014 portion of its schedule against Hawaii Pacific University and Ottawa University (Kan.) in the Aloha State. The ‘Jackets opened up the three-game road trip Monday evening with an 82-65 loss to Chaminade University, and will finish up action with back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday. First up with a 7:30 p.m. Mountain time start on Friday will be Hawaii Pacific, and the ‘Jackets will turn around with their game against Ottawa less than 24 hours later on Saturday at 5 p.m. Mountain time. The Yellowjackets (1-9, 0-2 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) are currently enduring a four-game losing skid. The team is being led in scoring by seniors Antoine Hosley and Austin Hudson, who are averaging 13.8 and 13.2 points per game, respectively. Hudson is also the team’s leading rebounder with an average of 6.9 per contest, and he is shooting 54.4 percent from the field on the season. Hosley has been a key factor for the team from long distance, posting a mark of 34.1 percent from the arc and making a team second-best 15 3-pointers. Hosley is also the squad’s most prolific free-throw shooter, converting at a clip of 79.4 percent from the line. Also averaging in double figures are Momir Gataric (11.0 ppg) and Marc Matthews (10.8). Gataric is shooting a strong 52.5 percent from the floor and his 15 assists are second-most on the team. Matthews leads the team in 3-point field goals with 18, and is shooting 33.3 percent on the season from downtown. 60 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Emmanuel Johnson has provided 5.2 rebounds per game for the ‘Jackets, and is shooting an even 50.0 percent from the floor while averaging 21.0 minutes per game. Redshirt freshman point guard Kendall Denham leads the team in minutes with 32.1 per game, and has a team-best 33 assists against just 17 turnovers. Jordan Perry has turned in productive minutes off of the bench for MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens, averaging 4.1 points and 2.6 rebounds in 14.1 minutes. Senior Tyler Nelson, who is the lone Yellowjacket to have started all 10 games, is another key rebounder with 4.8 per game. As a team the ‘Jackets are shooting 44.8 percent from the floor, 32.5 percent from 3-point range and 61.3 percent from the free-throw line. MSUB is being outscored on the season 76.3-69.9, and is nearly even with opponents in the rebound department with a slight 34.1-33.9 deficit.

Freshman Jordan Perry. Friday, Dec. 19 – 7:30 p.m. MTN – Neil S. Blaisdell Center Hawaii Pacific University Sharks 2014-15 Record: 5-2, 2-1 PacWest Head Coach: Darren Vorderbruegge (9th season) Having won back-to-back games against the University of Hawaii Hilo, the Sharks will take on Chaminade University on Wednesday before their encounter with the Yellowjackets Friday evening. The wins over the Vulcans have HPU off to a 2-1 start to its 2014-15 PacWest Conference schedule, after the team fell to No. 23 Brigham Young University-Hawaii 75-61 to open its conference season on Dec. 4. Overall, HPU has won four of its last five games, including a 74-62 win over GNAC opponent Central Washington in mid-November. HPU also took on GNAC foe Seattle Pacific during the GNAC/PacWest Challenge, falling to the Falcons 61-49 in Laie, Hawaii on Nov. 21. Luke Hager has been the standout scorer so far for HPU, averaging 19.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Both figures are team-bests, as the 6-foot-8 forward is shooting 51.5 percent from the floor this season. @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 61

Another offensive key for the Sharks has been Justin Long, who is scoring at a clip of 13.0 points per game. Long leads the team with nine 3-point field goals this season, and is shooting an outstanding 89.7 percent from the free-throw line. Darry Jones Jr. is HPU’s other double-figure scorer with 10.6 points per game. The senior guard is also averaging 5.1 points and has a team-best 18 assists on the year. Although HPU averages just 66.0 points per game, the team’s stingy defense allows only 63.7. The Sharks are being outrebounded 39.0-37.9, and have committed 101 turnovers while generating 95. The team is minimally effective from the perimeter, averaging 5.7 3-pointers and shooting just 29.9 percent from long range. Instead, the Sharks rely on Hager’s strong play underneath and shoot a solid mark of 41.1 percent from the field. From the free-throw line, HPU holds an average of 73.1 percent. The Series: Although the teams have not met since the 2005 season, MSUB holds the all-time advantage in the series with a 10-6 record. The two teams first met in 1999 and played at least once every year until the series was discontinued after 2005. MSUB will look to pull its away record to an even .500 against HPU, as it currently sits at 3-4. The Yellowjackets have won the last five meetings between the two, including three wins in 2005 after two in-a-row in 2004. Saturday, Dec. 20 – 5 p.m. MTN Time – Neil S. Blaisdell Center Ottawa University Braves 2014-15 Record: 8-4 (NAIA) Head Coach: Andy Carrier (25th season) After winning six of its first seven games to open the 2014-15 season, Ottawa has alternated wins and losses over its past six contests. The Braves are coming off of an 86-73 loss to Friends University last Saturday, which came two days after a 90-85 overtime triumph over Southwestern College in Kansas Collegiate Athletic Association play. The matchup against MSUB will be the first NCAA Division II contest of the season for Ottawa, which is stationed in Ottawa, Kan., and competes in the NAIA. The Braves are being led by Marshon Norfleet, who is averaging 17.4 points per game and shooting 40.6 percent from the field. The 6-foot-1 junior guard has also been effective from 3-point range with a mark of 34.3 percent, and is shooting 78.7 percent from the foul line. Adam Hasty (14.2 ppg), and Preston Oakes (13.6) are Ottawa’s other double-digit scorers, and Hasty leads the team with 22 steals and 40 3-point field goals this season. Oakes is shooting 40.2 percent from the floor while grabbing 5.9 rebounds, and Hasty is contributing 4.1 boards with a team-best 63 assists. Doing the heavy lifting underneath are 6-foot-5 Colin Nichols and 6-foot-9 Alex Lundry, who average 6.8 and 6.4 rebounds per game, respectively. Lundry is scoring at a clip of 9.7 points per contest while shooting 51.6 percent from the floor, and Nichols averages 9.3 points while shooting 57.3 percent. Lundry leads the team with 26 blocks, and Nichols is shooting a strong 88.2 percent (15-for-17) on free-throws. As a team the Braves focus on offense, outscoring opponents 78.2-74.8 on the season. Ottawa grabs 40.2 rebounds per game while allowing 38.1, and is shooting a strong 44.1 percent from the field, 35.4 percent from 3-point range, and 71.9 percent from the foul line as a team. The Series: The meeting will be the first-ever between the two teams, and just the seventh time MSUB has played a team from Kansas. In prior meetings against five different Kansas teams, the Yellowjackets are 2-4 and have not played a team from the Sunflower State since taking on Emporia State in January of 2006. 62 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Game 11: December 19, 2014 Hawaii Pacific 73, MSU Billings 45

Hawaii Pacific defeats MSUB men 73-45 December 19, 2014 Antoine Hosley and Momir Gataric score in double figures but MSUB’s offense is quieted in a 73-45 loss to Hawaii Pacific on Friday. HONOLULU, Hawaii – A trio of double-digit scorers including a double-double performance by Luke Hager propelled Hawaii Pacific to a 73-45 victory over Montana State University Billings in a non-conference men’s basketball meeting Friday afternoon in the Neil S. Blaisdell Center. Hager finished with a game-high 17 points and also hauled in 10 rebounds for HPU, which improved to 7-2 on the season. Justin Long chipped in 16 points, two rebounds, a pair of assists and a steal, and John Horowitz added 11 points for the Sharks. “Hawaii Pacific is a very good team,” commented MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “I thought our guys did some good things and shared the ball better offensively, but we just didn’t get shots to fall. We had several lulls where we had a tough time scoring.” Antoine Hosley was the leader for MSUB, finishing with 12 points and a pair of assists. Momir Gataric was also in double-figures with 11 points and grabbed four boards. Marc Matthews connected on a pair of 3-pointers, finishing with eight points, four rebounds, and two steals for the Yellowjackets. The ‘Jackets got off to a quick 6-0 start, but HPU battled back and pulled the score even at 8-8 early on. MSUB hit a dry spell, with the Sharks completing a 10-2 run to take their first lead of the game, 10-8. @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 63

The scoring spree gave HPU momentum, as the Sharks extended their advantage to nine points midway through the first half. Overall in the first period the Sharks shot a whopping 55.6 percent from the floor (15-for-27), while MSUB was at 33.3 percent (9-for-27). Back-to-back threes by Colfax Nordquist and Long got the second half started for HPU, as the Sharks moved ahead by 20 points, 44-24. It was the beginning of a 15-2 run that put the game out of reach for the Yellowjackets (1-10). Darry Jones Jr. had a productive afternoon for the Sharks, finishing with seven points, five assists, four rebounds and a steal in 24 minutes. Horowitz added six boards to go along with his 11 points, and Nordquist finished with nine points, three rebounds, a steal and a block for HPU. The ‘Jackets were outrebounded in the game 42-28, and the Sharks had 16 assists compared to nine for MSUB. On the game HPU shot 51.0 percent from the floor and a strong 86.7 percent from the foul line (13-for-15). MSUB finished shooting 31.7 percent from the field and converted 2 of 4 free-throw attempts. MSUB shot 5-for-17 from 3-point range, compared to a figure of 8-for-22 by HPU from beyond the arc. The Sharks held the advantage on points in the paint, 30-22, and on points off of turnovers 15-12. MSUB was led in rebounding by Emmanuel Johnson, who had seven rebounds, five points and an assist on the evening. Point guard Kendall Denham had a well-balanced game with five points, four rebounds, three assists, and a steal without committing a turnover. “The nice thing is that we get a chance to go out and play again tomorrow,” Stevens said. “We really need to play well and end on a good note before Christmas.” NEXT UP: In its final game of 2014, MSUB takes on NAIA opponent Ottawa (Kan.) Saturday evening at 5 p.m. Mountain time. The ‘Jackets will challenge the Braves inside the Blaisdell Center, in the final of a three-game set in Hawaii.

Sophomore Jace Anderson. 64 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics MSUB vs HPU-MBB 12/19/14 4:30 pm at Honolulu, HI (Neal Blaisdell Center) MSUB 45 • 1-10 ##

02 03 22 25 42 01 13 23 24 32

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Denham,Kendall Hosley,Antoine Johnson,Emmanuel Gataric,Momir Nelson,Tyler Henderson,Colby Matthews,Marc Anderson,Jace Perry,Jordan Adams,Luke Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 9-27 3FG % 1st Half: 4-9 FT % 1st Half: 2-2

33.3% 44.4% 100.0

* * * * *

2-7 5-15 2-3 5-12 0-2 0-1 3-12 0-2 1-5 1-1

1-3 1-3 1-1 0-2 0-1 0-0 2-6 0-1 0-0 0-0

0-0 1-2 0-0 1-1 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-0

19-60

5-17

2-4

2nd half: 10-33 30.3% 2nd half: 1-8 12.5% 2nd half: 0-2 0.0%

1 3 4 4 1 0 1 1 1 6 7 2 2 2 4 0 0 1 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 0 3 3 3 1 1 2 6 22 28 16

A TO Blk Stl

Min

5 12 5 11 0 0 8 0 2 2

3 2 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1

0 0 1 4 2 0 0 0 1 2

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0

9 10

4 200

Game: 19-60 31.7% Game: 5-17 29.4% Game: 2-4 50.0%

33 25 24 33 19 0 25 5 20 16

Deadball Rebounds 0

HPU-MBB 73 • 7-2 ##

01 10 12 15 33 03 04 05 20 23 30 40

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Jones Jr., Darry Nordquist, Colfax Long, Justin Hager, Luke Guy, Clayton Lovachis, Thomas Looney, Connor Lascelles, Rema Sweat, Kevin Morgan, Josh Horowitz, John Garrett, Jordan Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 15-27 55.6% 3FG % 1st Half: 4-10 40.0% FT % 1st Half: 4-5 80.0%

* * * * *

1-6 4-4 6-11 7-11 2-4 0-2 1-1 0-0 0-0 0-4 4-5 1-3

1-3 1-1 4-8 1-2 0-1 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-4 1-2 0-0

4-4 0-0 0-0 2-3 0-0 0-0 2-2 0-0 0-0 0-0 2-2 3-4

26-51

8-22

13-15

2nd half: 11-24 45.8% 2nd half: 4-12 33.3% 2nd half: 9-10 90.0%

0 4 4 0 1 2 3 2 0 2 2 1 1 9 10 1 1 2 3 1 0 2 2 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 4 3 1 5 6 0 1 2 3 1 0 4 4 5 37 42 12

Game: 26-51 51.0% Game: 8-22 36.4% Game: 13-15 86.7%

7 9 16 17 4 0 4 0 0 0 11 5

A TO Blk Stl

Min

5 0 2 3 1 1 2 0 0 2 0 0

1 2 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1

0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

24 17 24 26 18 4 14 22 4 14 16 17

73 16

4 200 Deadball Rebounds 0

Officials: Tom Yoshida, Tony Coda, Lloyd Lee Technical fouls: MSUB-None. HPU-MBB-None. Attendance: 317 Score by periods MSUB HPU-MBB

1st

24 38

2nd

21 35

Total

45 73

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 65

Game 12: December 20, 2014 MSU Billings 73, Ottawa 57

‘Jackets close 2014 with resounding 73-57 win over Ottawa December 20, 2014 Emmanuel Johnson and Jace Anderson combine for 29 points as the MSUB men snap a five-game losing skid with a 73-57 win over Ottawa in Hawaii Saturday evening. HONOLULU, Hawaii – Emmanuel Johnson turned in his biggest game of the season with 15 points and five rebounds, and Jace Anderson added 14 points as the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team snapped a five-game losing skid and closed 2014 with a big 73-57 win over Ottawa Saturday evening inside the Neil S. Blaisdell Center. Kendall Denham also scored in double figures with 10 points, and had a team-best eight assists, five rebounds, a block, a steal and no turnovers for the Yellowjackets. Senior Tyler Nelson came up with nine rebounds and six points, and Momir Gataric finished with nine points, five rebounds and five assists. “I am happy for the guys today,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “Kendall, Jace, and Emmanuel all had really good games. Kendall did a great job leading us, Jace hit some big shots and Emmanuel did a little bit of everything.” MSUB (2-10) got off to a hot start with an 8-0 run to start the game. A 3-pointer by Marc Matthews with 15:08 to go in the first extended MSUB’s advantage to nine points at 14-5, but a 6-0 Ottawa run cut the deficit to just three points midway through the first. 66 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

The game remained tight into the closing minutes of the half, with the Braves drawing within two points on an Alex Lundry layup at 6:34 remaining. MSUB finished the half strongly however using a 15-4 run down the stretch to carry a 40-27 edge into the break. A pair of Johnson layups immediately started the second half for MSUB, which kept control of the double-digit lead. Anderson connected from long distance with 16:14 remaining, making the score 49-36 in favor of the ‘Jackets. A three by Denham two minutes later gave the ‘Jackets their largest lead of the game up to that point at 17 points, 54-37. An ensuing three-minute dry spell by the Braves hurt the team’s chances of mounting a comeback, and MSUB pushed ahead 65-46 on a Nelson layup with 10:10 left. The Yellowjackets finished the game strong down the stretch, as Antoine Hosley capped off the scoring with a jumper inside of a minute remaining. MSUB shot a strong 42.9 percent from the floor in the game and made eight 3-pointers on 28 attempts. The Yellowjackets also had their best game of the season from the foul line, connecting on 11 of 12 shots for a percentage of 91.7. As a team the ‘Jackets outrebounded the Braves 47-37, and had 20 total assists compared with 11 for Ottawa. MSUB received 27 points off of the bench while Ottawa had 19, but the Braves held the advantage in points in the paint (30-28) and points off of turnovers (16-8).

Senior Tyler Nelson.

For the Braves (8-5), Marshon Norfleet had a team-best 15 points and also had three assists while knocking down 11 of 12 free-throws. Lundry and Preston Oakes were the leaders off the glass for Ottawa, each grabbing six rebounds.

Lundry and Logan Bullinger each had three blocks in the game, and the latter also turned in seven points, three rebounds, a steal and an assist. As a team the Braves shot 30.8 percent from the field, and were hampered by a mark of 16.7 percent from 3-point range (3-for-18). For MSUB, Hosley helped with six points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Jordan Perry finished with six points and four boards, and Matthews added five points and three rebounds. “We beat a pretty good team today and I hope we can build off of this as our focus turns to 2015 and GNAC play,” said Stevens. “Even though we have been struggling, the guys have continued to work hard daily. It is nice to have that work be rewarded with a win.” NEXT UP: MSUB resumes its schedule on New Year’s Day with a home Great Northwest Athletic Conference game against Saint Martin’s. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m., and the ‘Jackets will then take on conference-leading Western Oregon on Jan. 3 at 7 p.m.

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 67

Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics MSUB vs OU 12/20/14 2:00 pm at Neil Blaisdell Center Honolulu,HI MSUB 73 • 2-10 ##

02 03 22 25 42 01 13 23 24 32

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Denham,Kendall Hosley,Antoine Johnson,Emmanuel Gataric,Momir Nelson,Tyler Henderson,Colby Matthews,Marc Anderson,Jace Perry,Jordan Adams,Luke Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 16-32 50.0% 3FG % 1st Half: 5-15 33.3% FT % 1st Half: 3-4 75.0%

* * * * *

3-6 4-10 7-9 3-10 1-5 0-0 2-7 5-8 1-5 1-3

2-5 0-5 1-2 0-5 0-0 0-0 1-3 4-6 0-2 0-0

27-63

8-28

2-2 0-0 0-0 3-4 2-2 0-0 0-0 0-0 4-4 0-0

0 5 5 0 1 3 4 1 0 5 5 3 2 3 5 2 4 5 9 3 1 0 1 0 2 1 3 2 0 1 1 3 0 4 4 4 0 5 5 0 3 2 5 11-12 13 34 47 18

2nd half: 11-31 35.5% 2nd half: 3-13 23.1% 2nd half: 8-8 100.0

10 8 15 9 4 0 5 14 6 2

A TO Blk Stl

8 2 0 5 1 1 0 1 0 2

Min

0 3 0 3 0 1 4 1 1 0

1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1

1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

73 20 13

4 200

Game: 27-63 42.9% Game: 8-28 28.6% Game: 11-12 91.7%

34 20 24 25 11 2 18 18 19 29

Deadball Rebounds 1

OU 57 • 8-5 ##

15 31 40 42 50 03 04 12 25 30 32 34 41

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Hasty, Adam Norfleet, Marshon Nichols, Colin Oakes, Preston Lundry, Alex Brown, Zach Gant, Eric Hasty, Alex Bullinger, Logan O'Con, John Newton, Bryan Stackhouse, Dallas Hatchett, Mark Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 12-34 35.3% 3FG % 1st Half: 2-11 18.2% FT % 1st Half: 1-2 50.0%

* * * * *

2-10 2-10 0-3 4-8 4-10 0-2 1-2 2-6 3-6 2-8 0-0 0-0 0-0

2-8 0-3 0-0 0-2 0-0 0-2 0-1 1-2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

20-65

3-18

0-0 11-12 0-1 0-0 1-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-3 1-2 0-0 0-0 0-0

1 4 5 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 2 4 6 2 1 5 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 4 0 0 3 3 2 2 2 4 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 2 8 14-19 14 23 37 10

2nd half: 8-31 25.8% 2nd half: 1-7 14.3% 2nd half: 13-17 76.5%

6 15 0 8 9 0 2 5 7 5 0 0 0

1st

40 27

2nd

33 30

Min

0 3 0 2 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 1

0 3 0 2 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0

1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1

57 11

5 200

Game: 20-65 30.8% Game: 3-18 16.7% Game: 14-19 73.7%

Officials: Ryan Wells, Mike Whitfield, Kurt Hottendorf Technical fouls: MSUB-None. OU-None. Attendance: 56 Score by periods MSUB OU

A TO Blk Stl

Total

73 57

68 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

34 29 13 22 26 13 4 17 23 12 2 1 4

Deadball Rebounds 2

‘Jackets ring in new year with 2 conference contests December 30, 2014 Returning to action this weekend, the MSUB men will take on GNAC opponents Saint Martin’s and Western Oregon as conference action resumes. BILLINGS, Mont. – After winning its final game of 2014, the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball squad gets set to resume action with a pair of Great Northwest Athletic Conference matchups this week at home in Alterowitz Gym. MSUB faces Saint Martin’s University on New Year’s Day with a 7 p.m. tipoff time set for the contest. The Yellowjackets will turn around to face the top team in the conference in Western Oregon University on Saturday at 7 p.m. Both games will feature live video and statistics, available at www.msubsports.com. Ticket prices are available online as well, and children in grades six and under will be admitted for free. The Yellowjackets (2-10, 0-2 GNAC) scored a big 73-57 win over Ottawa University (Kan.) on Dec. 20 to close out a three-game road trip in Hawaii. The victory snapped a five-game losing skid, and gave the ‘Jackets momentum heading into the holiday break. “We are excited to get going again at home,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “We haven’t played at home for a while and this is another GNAC opportunity for us.” Emerging for the Yellowjackets in the team’s most recent game were junior Emmanuel Johnson and sophomore Jace Anderson, who each had season-best point totals of 15 and 14, respectively. “Jace Anderson did some good things, came off of the bench and made some shots for us,” Stevens said regarding Anderson’s performance in the victory. “Emmanuel played really well, doing a lot of good things both rebounding and running a good, solid offense.” @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 69

Moving into a starting role, Johnson is now averaging 5.9 points and a team-best 5.3 rebounds per game. Anderson meanwhile is holding a strong mark of 44.4 percent from 3-point range while averaging 8.5 minutes off of the bench. Freshman point guard Kendall Denham also scored in double figures against Ottawa, contributing 10 points. The Malta, Mont., native leads the team with 44 assists on the season and has committed just 17 turnovers for a GNAC eighth-best 2.6 assist-turnover ratio. “Kendall got aggressive and was looking to score in that game, and he is getting better and better,” Stevens said. Senior Antoine Hosley leads the team with 13.2 points per game and is shooting a team-best 77.8 percent from the foul line. Hosley also has 17 assists on the season and is tied for the team-high with seven steals. Another senior, Tyler Nelson, is the lone Yellowjacket to have started all 12 games this season, and he is averaging 4.8 rebounds per game and shooting 72.2 percent from the foul line. “It’s an exciting time of year, and we felt like that game against Ottawa could be a turning point for us this season,” Nelson said. “We executed really well as a team that game and I feel that we can carry that momentum into these two conference games.” Each averaging in double figures on the season, Momir Gataric and Marc Matthews continue to be driving forces for MSUB’s offense. Gataric sits second on the team with 10.8 points per game and also adds 3.2 rebounds. The junior is also shooting 48.1 percent from the floor and is second on the team with 20 assists. Matthews leads the team in 3-pointers with 21 on the season, and he is also averaging 3.6 rebounds per game and has a team-high seven blocks. Freshman Jordan Perry has also seen an uptick in minutes off of the bench, and is contributing 4.1 points and 2.7 rebounds in 15.2 minutes per contest. As a squad MSUB is scoring 68.1 points per game while allowing 74.4, and the ‘Jackets are narrowly being outrebounded 35.0-34.5 per game. From the floor MSUB is shooting 43.5 percent, and the team is at 31.7 percent from long range and 62.5 percent from the foul line.

Sophomore Marc Matthews. 70 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Thursday, Jan. 1 – 7 p.m. – Alterowitz Gym Saint Martin’s University Saints 2014-15 Record: 4-8, 1-1 GNAC Head Coach: Michael Ostlund, 2nd season 2013-14 GNAC Finish: 8th (9-17, 6-12 GNAC) Also coming off of a victory in its most recent game, Saint Martin’s snapped a two-game losing skid with a 96-83 win over Northwest Indian College on Dec. 20 at home. The Saints dropped a pair of games at the Las Vegas Holiday Classic, after splitting their first two conference games of the season. Hosting Alaska Anchorage on Dec. 4, SMU fell 75-68 in overtime before defeating GNAC opponent Alaska Fairbanks 67-64 two days later. The Saints began the conference portion of their schedule 1-1, and also defeated soon-to-be GNAC opponent Concordia (Ore.) 73-72 on the road on Nov. 29. SMU features a pair of players who are averaging in double-digits in the scoring department, with Tyler Copp (10.3 ppg) and Trey Ingram (10.1) leading the way. Copp has started 11 of 12 games this season and is shooting 37.3 percent from 3-point range and 76.7 percent from the foul line. The sophomore also ranks second on the team in assists with 36 and has 11 steals. Starting all 12 games for the Saints and averaging 32.3 minutes, Ingram is shooting 41.6 percent from the floor and leads the team in 3-point field goals with 22 on the season (45.8 percent). His 54 assists are a team-high and his average of 4.5 per game is the sixth-best mark across the conference. Tyler Idowu has posted strong numbers for the Saints, averaging 8.7 points and a team-best 5.7 rebounds on the season in eight starts. Brent Counts is another strong post player, shooting a team-best 61.8 percent from the floor while averaging 7.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and collecting a team-high 10 blocks. As a team the Saints pose a similar scoring dynamic to the Yellowjackets, being outscored 73.5-68.9 on the season. SMU is also outrebounded 36.9-35.4, but the team holds a positive assist-turnover ratio at 1.16. The Saints are shooting 42.7 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from 3-point range and 63.9 percent from the free-throw line. The Series: MSUB holds a narrow 12-11 all-time series advantage over SMU, and the Yellowjackets are 7-4 at home against the Saints. The teams have split their meetings over the past two seasons, with MSUB winning the first and losing the second game in both 2012-13 and 2013-14. Overall MSUB has won five of the last seven games between the two teams. Last Time Out: Matthews connected on a pair of 3-pointers and scored 12 points while grabbing five rebounds for the ‘Jackets, but Saint Martin’s separated for an 83-70 win on Feb. 1 in Alterowitz Gym. In the first meeting last season, MSUB held SMU to just 50 points in a 66-50 win in Lacey, Wash., on Jan. 2. Matthews again was a double-figure scorer with 10 points, and he totaled six rebounds in his first-ever game against SMU.

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Saturday, Jan. 3 – 7 p.m. – Alterowitz Gym Western Oregon University Wolves 2014-15 Record: 10-2, 2-0 GNAC Head Coach: Brady Bergeson, 2nd season 2013-14 GNAC Finish: 4th (18-12, 10-8 GNAC) Since losing to Azusa Pacific 81-74 on Nov. 21, Western Oregon has won nine games in-a-row and has assumed the top spot in the GNAC standings. Azusa Pacific was recently selected as the No. 1 team in the west region according to the D2SIDA Men’s Basketball West Region Rankings, as the Cougars received five first-place votes. The Wolves were ranked fourth in the most recent poll, and received the other first-place vote. WOU will take on Seattle Pacific on the road New Year’s Day before traveling to Billings to face the Yellowjackets on Saturday. Leading the way for the Wolves this season has been Andy Avgi, whose 15.1 points per game rank No. 10 in the conference. Avgi also ranks second on the team and ninth in the GNAC with 5.8 rebounds per game, and he is shooting 55.4 percent from the floor. Topping the Wolves in rebounding and ranking second in the conference is Lewis Thomas, who is hauling in 7.4 boards per game and averaging 8.3 points. Junior guard Julian Nichols is also averaging in double-digits for WOU with 11.6 points per game, and his 59 assists and 22 steals are both team-highs. Nichols also leads the team from the foul line with a percentage of 87.1, and he is shooting an even 50.0 percent from the floor. The Wolves’ top perimeter shooter is Jordan Wiley, who has converted 27 3-pointers and holds a percentage of 41.5. Overall the junior is shooting 42.2 percent from the field, 75.0 percent from the foul line and is averaging 9.6 points per game. Devon Alexander is averaging 9.8 points per game, and he joins Avgi, Wiley, and Thomas having started all 12 games for WOU this season. As a team Western Oregon has the fourth-highest scoring offense in the conference at 80.0 points per game, and the second-best scoring defense allowing just 63.7 points per game. The Wolves outrebound opponents at a clip of 39.8-32.2, and the team’s plus-3.33 turnover margin is third-best in the GNAC. WOU shoots 46.9 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from 3-point range and a GNAC-leading 77.9 percent from the foul line. “We have gone on the road and played three really good PacWest teams, and having that experience will help us as we get prepared for Western Oregon,” Stevens said. The Series: Overall MSUB holds a 10-8 series advantage over the Wolves, and the ‘Jackets are an impressive 7-2 at home against WOU. Western Oregon has won the last two meetings between the teams but MSUB has won four of the last six overall dating back to January of 2012. Last Time Out: Western Oregon received 21 points from Wiley and 13 from Alexander to pick up a narrow 8477 win over MSUB in Billings on Jan. 30. Matthews finished with eight points in the game for the ‘Jackets. The first game of 2013-14 between the two was a shootout, as Wiley scored 14 and Avgi added 11 in a 98-90 WOU win in Monmouth, Ore., on Jan. 4.

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For Emmanuel Johnson, ‘Never Give Up’ are words to live by December 31, 2014 Basketball has been one thing constant in the life of Emmanuel Johnson, who starts for the Yellowjackets and is a quiet leader by example as a student-athlete at MSUB. MSUB SPORTS – It will get better. At times it was all Glenert Brown could say to his son to reassure both of them that misfortune and adversity would only be temporary. Living in San Antonio, Texas, Brown lost his job and financial difficulties forced him into an unimaginably tough situation. “We jumped from house to house for a bit, but we eventually ended up out in the rain,” Brown said. “We were in a homeless shelter.” At times Brown and his son didn’t have heat when the days were coldest, didn’t have enough food when the days were longest. Still, Brown pushed through, preaching the same sentiment: It will get better. At times the only bright spot in the day of a teenage Emmanuel Johnson was when he took to the basketball court, a temporary, blissful escape from a seemingly-permanent, harsh reality. @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 73

Brown himself was never a basketball enthusiast or even a player, but he knew that he needed something tangible to reinforce his promise to his son that things would turn around. Most times, that something was basketball. ON THE COURT Growing up on the south side of San Antonio, Johnson remembers being involved in sports from a young age. “I remember being about five and getting into a lot of different sports,” Johnson said. “It was pretty much basketball from the beginning, but I really liked football and baseball early on too.” Early lessons from his father got Johnson hooked on basketball. Brown taught his son how to dribble, and shoot, and always made time to keep him active on a regular basis. Without any brothers or sisters growing up, Johnson gravitated towards some of the older kids in his neighborhood. He quickly adopted the nickname ‘EJ,’ one that has stuck throughout his life. While he wasn’t shy about playing with the older kids, Johnson was always more soft-spoken and utilized his ability as a strong observer. “He was always very quiet growing up, and he never caused any trouble,” remembered Johnson’s grandmother Sylvia Brown. “He has always been well-mannered and a good student as well.” Without a mother figure in his life, Sylvia Brown (Glenert Brown’s mother) took on that role and became one of Johnson’s biggest supporters. “My grandma is pretty much the reason I am the person who I am,” Johnson said. “She is really big on manners and she taught me how to treat people.” Having his grandmother as a neighbor when he and his father lived in an apartment played a big role in shaping Johnson as he developed through middle school. But despite her encouragement and willingness to help raise Johnson, she could not prevent what ended up being the most difficult time in his life. TURNED UPSIDE DOWN A downtown bus stop awaited Johnson’s arrival on a daily basis beginning his sophomore year of high school. It wasn’t the stop closest to the front doors of Brackenridge High, or closest to the homeless shelter that was Johnson’s ultimate destination, but the 15-minute, round-about walk to reach it was the preferred route of travel for the 15-year-old. “It was tough being in high school and trying to keep it away from everybody,” Johnson said. “I would go out of my way to catch the bus just so nobody would see me.” There were sleepless nights along the way, and moments when Johnson felt as though things couldn’t get any worse. In an area infiltrated by gangs and the violence that was associated with them, not a moment passed when Johnson wasn’t alertly aware of his surroundings. An easy escape could have been for Johnson to stop going to school and turn to drugs. It would have been a convenient way out, quietly drifting off into the crowd unnoticed. But even when it felt like rock bottom, in his ear Johnson heard the voice of his father: It will get better.

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“I was always strict and tough on him as a kid, because I couldn’t see myself losing my only son,” Brown said. “I was going through some rough things myself, but since he was born my whole life straightened up. After all we have been through and all we have lost, that young man kept his head together. He didn’t join gangs or turn to drugs and alcohol, and he didn’t lie to me once. I am very proud of him.” “My dad is the reason that I always see a positive side to things,” Johnson said. “He believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself, and he was always there to comfort and motivate me. He is pretty much my backbone.” Instead of giving up hope, Johnson kept getting on the bus every day, determined to stay in school. What he experienced that year was motivation enough for Johnson to find a passion and stick with it. “The highlight of my day was going to work out on the basketball court, and it was how I got away from everything,” Johnson said. REDEMPTION By Johnson’s junior year of high school, he had begun playing on a team in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), one of the most populated competitive basketball organizations in the United States. Up until that point, basketball had been simply a game to Johnson, an activity to occupy his time and keep him active. As he began to fill his now 6-foot-7 frame, the realization of his potential to excel with the sport began to emerge. “Playing on an AAU team, I met a coach named John Collins, who showed me what it would take to play at the next level,” Johnson said regarding a man he cites as one of his biggest mentors. “He started to broaden my game, and it expanded much further from what it was early on in high school.” Through AAU basketball Johnson had the opportunity to travel – something he had never dreamed of doing as a kid. Competing against players from across the state of Texas and as far east as Orlando, Fla., was an eye-opening endeavor for Johnson. “Being in the AAU circuit was a great experience, and it showed me a lot more than what San Antonio had to offer,” Johnson said. “I started to understand how serious basketball was, and moving into my senior year I started to get very serious myself about the idea of playing at the next level.” “I first met Emmanuel in the spring of 2011 when I saw him playing in a high-school game,” Collins remembered. “I thought that he had an opportunity to play college ball, but when I approached him he was skeptical at first. As time went on, he found out that he could really play.” As a junior Johnson began to get offers to play collegiately, which was somewhat of a shock before it became a routine. “I started talking to some coaches that season and at first I felt like my mind was blown,” Johnson said regarding being told he was wanted by college programs. “It was a big deal telling my dad, and it gave me a taste and motivation. I wanted more.”

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Johnson ended up signing late at Frank Phillips College, a two-year junior college in Borger, Texas, in one of the top leagues in the nation, the Western Junior College Athletic Conference. “In high school he was the tallest player, but I told him that he would have to work on his ball handling skills and perimeter game to be successful at the college level,” said Collins. “He is a very smart and skilled kid, and anything you ask of him, he will do. He is a coach’s dream.” While Collins was excited about Johnson’s ability to adapt his game and mature into a college player, his father reflected on what it meant for his son to finish high school strong and simultaneously continue his education and basketball career. “Emmanuel is a young man with drive and determination,” Brown said. “For him to be successful and carry on like he did tells me a lot about his character, his demeanor, and what he is really made of.” MOVING TO MSUB As Johnson made the decision to attend Frank Phillips College, he did so knowing that after two years he’d have another selection to make in picking a new school. “MSUB got onto my map late in my sophomore year, and that’s when I started talking to Coach (Brad) Schmit,” Johnson said regarding being contacted by MSUB’s top assistant. “He seemed really energetic with coaching and helping guys to get better.” Johnson first visited a school in Minnesota that he had his mind set on attending, and although he had the trip scheduled to MSUB as well, he was not looking forward to it. “My dad told me just to come to Billings and try it out,” Johnson said. “When I came here Coach Schmit and I did a workout with just the two of us, and even from that he started teaching me things. My dad helped push me to visit and talking to Coach Schmit and Coach (Jamie) Stevens really sold me on it.” In perhaps the most spread out conference across all of the NCAA Division II level, the travel student-athletes in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference experience is one-of-a-kind. The outer reaches of the conference footprint stretch from Fairbanks, Alaska to Billings, with landmark destinations such as Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia along the way.

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Johnson is one of many student-athletes who take full advantage of the long trips, soaking in new environments and experiencing new cities. Most recently, the Yellowjackets embarked on a three-game road trip to Hawaii, by far marking the furthest west Johnson had ever traveled. “One thing that makes me truly proud is that EJ has had the chance to travel and go to cities that no one in his family has been to before,” Sylvia Brown said. “His whole family is proud and happy that he has been able to travel and see things that we haven’t been able to see.” Twelve games into his career as a Yellowjacket, Johnson has emerged into a starter and is leading the team with a shooting percentage of 55.6 from the field. Overall he is averaging 5.9 points and a team-high 5.3 rebounds, and he has made 6 of 11 3-point field goals so far this season. “Here he is in his third year of college, and he has come through with flying colors,” Johnson’s father said. “He didn’t let past circumstances get to him, and he has been very dedicated as a student and as a basketball player.” “One of the things that drives me is that I really do love this game,” Johnson said. “It is one of the things that helped keep me sane and keep my mind right in high school. It’s just good to know that it is always there for me, and I give everything I have to it. For my grandmother and father to be able to say that their son is a college basketball player adds fuel to the fire.” MY SUPERHERO While the Yellowjackets took a mandatory one-week break from the court over Christmas, Johnson remained in Billings, passing the time in an empty Alterowitz Gym working on his perimeter game. While he could not be home for the holidays, Johnson touched base with his family, sending a sincere text message to his father on Christmas. “He is a young man full of wisdom,” Glenert Brown said. “The message he sent our family was so enlightening that I couldn’t believe it came from him at first. It made me realize how much my son has matured and that he has become something that I was not. My son is really what helped me and made me the type of person I am now, and I can say that with pride and honesty.” As Johnson continues his basketball career and pursues his degree, he hopes to one day work with underprivileged families as a counselor or social worker. It is a fitting profession that Johnson aspires to pursue, as he is a living example of what it means to persevere and remain positive no matter the circumstances. His graduation from high school, graduation from junior college, and current path he is on as a student-athlete at MSUB are all pieces of proof that his father was right all along with the words he continually poured into Johnson’s ear: It will get better. Late in Johnson’s high school career, his father took a seat in the stands of a gym, watching his son compete in an all-star game. The atmosphere was electric, as some of the top talent from across the state had converged onto the same court. Parents’ faces curled uncontrollably into smiles as they thumbed through the game programs and learned the favorite superheroes of the participants as listed in their short biographies. “Hey superhero! Superhero!” It was a voice coming from several rows up that finally drew Glenert Brown to turn his head and find his brother-in-law, grinning and holding up a program. Brown picked up his own program and began turning the pages, finding Batman, Superman, and Flash Gordon listed as the popular picks for various players. When he arrived at his son’s page, Brown quickly trained his eyes to the line, ‘favorite super hero,’ before they quickly filled with tears. Johnson’s response: My father. @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 77

Game 13: January 1, 2015 Saint Martin’s 66, MSU Billings 65

Saints scrape out 66-65 victory over Yellowjackets January 1, 2015 The MSUB men fight back after trailing by double-digits, but come up one point short as Saint Martin’s escapes with a 66-65 Great Northwest Athletic Conference victory Thursday. BILLINGS, Mont. – A strong comeback effort came up just short Thursday evening in Alterowitz Gym as the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team dropped a neck-and-neck Great Northwest Athletic Conference game to visiting Saint Martin’s University, 66-65 on New Year’s Day. With half of a second left on the clock, SMU’s Riley Carel launched a long inbounds pass from the baseline past half court, and time ran out before either team could possess the ball for a final shot. The ‘Jackets trailed by as many as 12 points during the game, but battled back strongly in the second half to test the Saints to their limit. “We dug ourselves a little hole in the first half and although we had a really good second half, it just wasn’t enough,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “I was really happy with our effort and execution in the second half.” Carel carried the SMU offense with 19 points on the evening, including a mark of 7 of 9 from the foul line, and he also had four rebounds and three assists. Carel was the lone Saint to score in double figures, and three different players tied for the team-high in rebounds with five. For the Yellowjackets (2-11, 0-3 GNAC), Momir Gataric was the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game with a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double, and he also added three assists. Kendall Denham tied Gataric for the team high in points as he added 14 and had a game-best five assists. 78 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Junior Emmanuel Johnson had a strong game for the ‘Jackets, with 13 points and seven rebounds, and Jace Anderson connected three times from 3-point range as he also had 13. “We received a great effort from Momir, Kendall, Jace, and Emmanuel,” Stevens said. “All of those guys made some big plays for us.” Denham knocked down an early three – the first of his team-high four on the night – for the first points of the game for the Yellowjackets. The Saints began to distance themselves midway through the first, establishing a 22-11 lead with eight minutes remaining. Back-to-back threes by Anderson cut the spread down to six points, and Denham drilled another three from the corner a few minutes later to help MSUB keep pace. An offensive rebound and put-back by Johnson brought the ‘Jackets to within five points at 29-24. The Saints took a 33-28 lead into halftime, and maintained a narrow advantage into the opening minutes of the second. A Denham three with 13:30 remaining brought MSUB within five points at 45-40, and kicked off a 7-2 Yellowjacket run. An offensive rebound and lay-in by Jordan Perry made the score 54-50 with seven minutes remaining, and an ensuing free-throw by the redshirt freshman made it a one-possession game. Anderson followed with his third 3-pointer of the game to tie the score at 54-54, and Johnson blocked a pair of shots on the Saints’ next possession. Gataric generated a steal as time wound down inside of one minute remaining, and fed a pass forward to Johnson. The junior slammed down a loud, one-handed dunk to make the score 63-61 in favor of the Saints with 40.3 seconds left. Gataric converted a layup on the Yellowjackets’ final possession after Carel made three free-throws in the final 40 seconds, but time was on SMU’s side with the one-point lead and the long inbounds pass from Carel down court was enough to seal the win. The Saints (5-8, 2-1 GNAC) shot 38.2 percent (21-for-55) from the field, 22.2 percent from 3-point range (4-for18), and a solid 76.9 percent (20-for-26) from the foul line. The ‘Jackets held a 35-27 advantage in rebounds, but MSUB committed a dozen turnovers compared to just eight by SMU. The Yellowjackets held strong marks from the field at 46.2 percent (24-for-52) and the 3-point line at 41.2 percent (7-for-17), but converted just 10 of 19 free-throws for a percentage of 52.6. MSUB outscored SMU 37-33 in the second half. “The team stats were really solid in every area except for free-throws,” Stevens said. “The field goal percentages – both offensive and defensive – as well as the rebounding were all in our favor. We are excited about another opportunity on Saturday to play against a really good Western Oregon team.” NEXT UP: The Yellowjackets take on GNAC opponent Western Oregon on Saturday with another 7 p.m. tipoff at home in Alterowitz Gym.

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Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics Saint Martin's vs Montana State Billings 01/01/15 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym - Billings, MT Saint Martin's 66 • 5-8, 2-1 GNAC ##

03 21 22 23 33 10 11 20 24

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Ingram,Trey Copp,Tyler Rogers,Ryan Idowu,Tyler Chatwin,Cameron Carel,Riley Counts,Brent Bianchini,Isaac Bond,Will Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 10-26 38.5% 3FG % 1st Half: 3-9 33.3% FT % 1st Half: 10-12 83.3%

* * * * *

1-4 3-8 0-4 4-8 1-2 6-16 3-6 2-2 1-5

0-1 2-6 0-2 0-0 0-1 0-4 0-0 2-2 0-2

3-4 1-2 0-0 0-0 3-3 7-9 1-1 3-5 2-2

21-55

4-18

20-26

2nd half: 11-29 37.9% 2nd half: 1-9 11.1% 2nd half: 10-14 71.4%

0 1 1 1 0 2 2 2 0 1 1 2 1 4 5 3 1 4 5 2 1 3 4 1 2 3 5 4 1 1 2 1 0 2 2 2 0 0 0 6 21 27 18

A TO Blk Stl

Min

5 9 0 8 5 19 7 9 4

1 1 0 0 0 3 0 2 1

0 2 3 1 0 1 1 0 0

0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1

2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2

5 200

Game: 21-55 38.2% Game: 4-18 22.2% Game: 20-26 76.9%

33 26 11 20 17 29 18 21 25

Deadball Rebounds 8,1

Montana State Billings 65 • 2-11, 0-3 GNAC ##

02 22 23 25 42 03 13 24 32

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Denham,Kendall Johnson,Emmanuel Anderson,Jace Gataric,Momir Nelson,Tyler Hosley,Antoine Matthews,Marc Perry,Jordan Adams,Luke Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 10-28 35.7% 3FG % 1st Half: 4-10 40.0% FT % 1st Half: 4-9 44.4%

* * * * *

5-9 6-10 4-8 6-12 1-1 0-1 1-4 1-5 0-2

4-5 0-0 3-6 0-1 0-0 0-1 0-2 0-2 0-0

24-52

7-17

0 1 1 3 2 5 7 1 0 1 1 4 3 10 13 4 2 2 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 3 2 5 4 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 10-19 11 24 35 20

2nd half: 14-24 58.3% 2nd half: 3-7 42.9% 2nd half: 6-10 60.0%

0-1 1-2 2-2 2-4 1-4 0-0 1-2 3-4 0-0

14 13 13 14 3 0 3 5 0

0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

65 12 12

3 200

Game: 24-52 46.2% Game: 7-17 41.2% Game: 10-19 52.6%

1st

33 28

2nd

33 37

Total

66 65

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5 0 1 3 0 0 1 2 0

Min

3 1 0 3 0 0 2 1 2

Officials: Randy Winn, Greg Morstein, Bob Kokoway Technical fouls: Saint Martin's-None. Montana State Billings-TEAM. Attendance: 348 1:50 Score by periods Saint Martin's Montana State Billings

A TO Blk Stl

37 32 32 37 14 3 12 23 10

Deadball Rebounds 4,2

Game 14: January 3, 2015 Western Oregon 72, MSU Billings 64

MSUB falls to WOU at home, 72-64 January 3, 2015 Four ‘Jackets score in double figures but GNAC opponent Western Oregon holds on for a hard-fought 72-64 win in Alterowitz Gym Saturday night. BILLINGS, Mont. – Four Yellowjackets scored in double figures for the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team, but visiting Western Oregon University prevailed 72-64 in a tough Great Northwest Athletic Conference matchup Saturday night in Alterowitz Gym. The Wolves’ Andy Avgi led all players with 23 points, and Marwan Sarhan chipped in 13 and seven rebounds. Point guard Julian Nichols led all players with seven assists. With the win WOU improved to 11-3 on the season and maintained its position at No. 2 in the GNAC with a mark of 3-1 in conference play. For the ‘Jackets (2-12, 0-4 GNAC) Antoine Hosley led his team with 17 points and Emmanuel Johnson was close behind with 16. Momir Gataric had a strong effort with 13 points, five rebounds and four assists, and redshirt freshman Jordan Perry was selected the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game with a dozen points, nine rebounds and two assists off of the bench. The ‘Jackets kept close throughout the game and into the final stretch of the second half, but the Wolves won a free-throw battle inside the final minute to seal the victory. On the game WOU outrebounded MSUB 33-30 and outscored MSUB 44-30 in the paint. “I was extremely pleased with the effort we showed tonight for the entire 40 minutes,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “Guys were flying around as well as they have all year. Jordan Perry and Emmanuel Johnson were big for us once again. Their energy on both ends was awesome.”

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Johnson drilled a three, blocked a shot and grabbed a rebound within the first two minutes of the game. After Avgi and Jordan Wiley each connected from downtown for the Wolves, Johnson hit another trey from the corner to even the score at 6-6. Avgi converted a pair of quick layups to give the Wolves a five-point lead, but a Gataric reverse lay-in kept MSUB in it early. Perry knocked down a tough shot in traffic, and after an offensive foul on WOU’s next possession, Gataric finished another bucket to make the score 20-18. MSUB matched WOU bucket-for-bucket through the middle of the first half, as the teams battled to a 27-27 deadlock. After a blocked shot, Sarhan tipped in a miss on the other end and just beat the buzzer to give the Wolves a 38-34 halftime lead. The Wolves maintained the narrow advantage coming out of the halftime break, but six-straight points by Perry including back-to-back 3-pointers put the ‘Jackets within two, 52-50. Hosley drove into the lane and was fouled on his finish, resulting in a three-point play that cut the score to 58-57 with 7:15 left. Avgi followed with a strong throw-down on the WOU’s next possession, and the junior knocked down a short jumper to extend the Wolves’ advantage back out to five points. The ‘Jackets battled tough into the closing minutes, and faced a sixpoint deficit with 45 seconds left. After a WOU missed free-throw, Perry grabbed the rebound, brought the ball the length of the court and dished off a pass underneath to Johnson for a quick finish. Missed foul shots hurt the Yellowjackets’ chances in the end however, as the Wolves were 3-for-4 and the ‘Jackets 0-for-2 in the final 40 seconds. Overall MSUB shot 44.1 percent (26-for-59) from the floor and 39.1 percent (9-for-23) from 3-point range, and had 17 assists compared with 14 by WOU. The Yellowjackets’ nine 3-pointers tied for the second-most in a single game this season (10 against Black Hills State on Nov. 29, 2014), but the ‘Jackets converted just 3 of 9 shots from the free-throw line. “Once again, that free-throw line hurt us and we also had some open looks late that we needed to knock down,” Stevens said. “If we play with this kind of effort moving forward however, we can beat anybody on our schedule.”

Freshman Jordan Perry. From the field Western Oregon shot 50.8 percent (30-for-59), but the ‘Jackets did well defending the team from long range at 31.3 percent (5-for-16). The Wolves also struggled from the foul line with a mark of 53.8 percent (7-for-13), but WOU had a 14-9 advantage in steals and had six blocks compared to three for MSUB. AHEAD: The Yellowjackets hit the road next week for more GNAC action against Western Washington and Simon Fraser. MSUB takes on the Vikings on Jan. 8 in Bellingham, Wash., before crossing the border into Canada to face the Clan two nights later. Both games will tip off at 8 p.m. Mountain time, and will feature live video and statistics at www.msubsports.com.

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Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics Western Oregon vs Montana State Billings 01/03/15 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym - Billings, MT Western Oregon 72 • 11-3, 3-1 GNAC ##

00 10 12 22 32 03 05 11 21 33

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Alexander,Devon Nichols,Julian Thomas,Lewis Wiley,Jordan Avgi,Andy Nestell,Nick DupreeTurner,Dezmon Hastings,Adam Schriber,Jordan Sarhan,Marwan Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 17-34 50.0% 3FG % 1st Half: 4-10 40.0% FT % 1st Half: 0-0 0.0%

* * * * *

3-9 0-3 3-8 3-8 11-15 2-2 0-1 1-4 1-1 6-8

2-5 0-1 0-3 1-4 1-1 1-1 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-0

1-3 2-2 2-4 1-2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-2

30-59

5-16

7-13

2nd half: 13-25 52.0% 2nd half: 1-6 16.7% 2nd half: 7-13 53.8%

1 1 2 1 0 5 5 2 0 5 5 2 1 3 4 2 4 1 5 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 3 4 0 0 0 0 2 4 3 7 1 0 0 0 11 22 33 13

9 2 8 8 23 5 0 2 2 13

A TO Blk Stl

4 7 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0

4 5 1 1 3 2 0 0 0 1

72 14 17

2 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 1

5 3 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 1

Min

31 28 25 29 22 6 11 16 7 25

6 14 200

Game: 30-59 50.8% Game: 5-16 31.3% Game: 7-13 53.8%

Deadball Rebounds 4

Montana State Billings 64 • 2-12, 0-4 GNAC ##

02 22 23 25 42 03 13 24

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Denham,Kendall Johnson,Emmanuel Anderson,Jace Gataric,Momir Nelson,Tyler Hosley,Antoine Matthews,Marc Perry,Jordan Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 14-30 46.7% 3FG % 1st Half: 5-11 45.5% FT % 1st Half: 1-2 50.0%

* * * * *

1-3 7-12 1-3 5-8 0-3 7-16 0-3 5-11

1-2 2-4 1-2 1-2 0-0 2-7 0-2 2-4

0-0 0-0 0-0 2-4 0-2 1-3 0-0 0-0

26-59

9-23

3-9

2nd half: 12-29 41.4% 2nd half: 4-12 33.3% 2nd half: 2-7 28.6%

0 3 3 1 0 3 3 3 0 1 1 3 2 3 5 3 3 2 5 1 1 0 1 3 1 2 3 0 5 4 9 3 0 0 0 12 18 30 17

Game: 26-59 44.1% Game: 9-23 39.1% Game: 3-9 33.3%

3 16 3 13 0 17 0 12

A TO Blk Stl

3 2 2 4 1 1 2 2

Min

5 3 0 6 1 2 0 2

0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

2 1 1 0 0 0 1 4

36 34 10 33 21 24 13 29

64 17 19

9 200 Deadball Rebounds 5,2

Officials: Rob Tesch, Bob Holoway, Randy Winn Technical fouls: Western Oregon-None. Montana State Billings-None. Attendance: 521 1:45 Score by periods Western Oregon Montana State Billings

1st

38 34

2nd

34 30

Total

72 64

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2 road GNAC contests coming up for MSUB men January 6, 2015 The Yellowjackets return to the road to challenge GNAC opponents Western Washington and Simon Fraser this week as conference play continues. BILLINGS, Mont. – With a pair of road games this week, the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team continues Great Northwest Athletic Conference action against Western Washington University on Jan. 8 and Simon Fraser University on Jan. 10. Thursday’s game against the Vikings is scheduled for 8 p.m. Mountain time at Sam Carver Gym in Bellingham, Wash. On Saturday, the Yellowjackets will face the Clan, also at 8 p.m. Mountain time in the West Gym on the SFU campus in Burnaby, British Columbia. Both games will feature live video and live statistics, available at www.msubsports.com. The ‘Jackets (2-12, 0-4 GNAC) are coming off two of their most energetic performances of the year, falling to Saint Martin’s by just one point, 66-65, before taking GNAC-leading Western Oregon to the limit in a 72-64 loss last Saturday in Alterowitz Gym. Momir Gataric put up big numbers in both games, with a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double against Saint Martin’s and 13 more points against Western Oregon that earned him GNAC Player of the Week honorable mention notification. On the season, Gataric is averaging 11.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 49.5 percent from the field, and his 27 assists are second-most on the team. Also having a major impact last week were Emmanuel Johnson and Jordan Perry, who have each stepped into key roles for the ‘Jackets. Johnson is averaging 7.1 points and a team-best 5.3 rebounds per game, and his fieldgoal percentage of 56.6 is the highest on the team and ninth-best in the conference. 84 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Perry has been a key contributor off of the bench, turning in a season-best performance of 12 points and nine rebounds last Saturday. Overall he is posting 4.8 points and 3.4 rebounds in 17 minutes per game. Leading the team in scoring is senior Antoine Hosley, who sits at 12.5 points per game and is leading the team with a free-throw percentage of 74.4. Marc Matthews is another top scorer for the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Jackets with 8.9 points per game, and he leads the team with 21 3-point field goals. Freshman point guard Kendall Denham is leading the team with 33.1 minutes per game and in assists with 52 on the season, and his assist-turnover ratio of 2.1 ranks 11th-best in the GNAC. Senior Tyler Nelson has started all 14 games for MSUB, and is grabbing 4.8 rebounds in 22.5 minutes per game. Jace Anderson has earned three starts as of late and is a strong perimeter shooter for MSUB, converting at a mark of 46.2 percent from beyond the arc on the season. As a team the Yellowjackets rank No. 1 in the conference in 3-point field goal defense, holding opponents to a clip of just .320 on the season from long distance. The team also holds a strong mark in defensive rebound percentage, ranking third in the GNAC at 71.1 percent. Overall the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Jackets are outscored 73.6-67.6, and thanks to a stingy rebounding defense that allows just 34.3 per game are nearly even in rebounding (34.3-34.2). From the field MSUB is shooting 43.7 percent, with marks of 33.1 percent from 3-point range and 61.0 percent from the foul line.

Freshman Kendall Denham.

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 85

Thursday, Jan. 8 – 8 p.m. MTN – Sam Carver Gym – Bellingham, Wash. Western Washington University Vikings 2014-15 Record: 7-6, 0-3 GNAC Head Coach: Tony Dominguez, 3rd season 2013-14 GNAC Finish: 2nd (20-8, 13-5 GNAC) The Vikings have dropped three of their last four contests and four of their last six overall, beginning the conference portion of their schedule 0-3 early on in 2014-15. WWU nearly came out on top twice last week, falling 64-60 against Alaska Fairbanks and 62-60 against Alaska Anchorage on arguably the toughest road trip of the season. The losses came after a split at the South Point Holiday Hoops Classic, in which the Vikings lost to Tarleton State 72-65 but defeated Cal State San Bernardino 72-66. WWU opened its conference play on Dec. 6, 2014 with a narrow 122-118 loss at Simon Fraser. On the season WWU is being led in scoring by Jaamon Echols, who is averaging 19.2 points per game and adding 4.4 rebounds. Echols is one of five Vikings to average in double figures, and Ricardo Maxwell (15.5 ppg) and Jeffrey Parker (15.0) are both scoring at least 15. Parker is shooting 47.3 percent from the floor and is contributing 5.8 rebounds per game, while Echols is at 47.5 percent and 4.4 rebounds per game. Anye Turner is another double-digit scorer at 10.2 points per game, and is leading the team and the conference in rebounding with 8.2 per game. His 42 blocks and 3.2 per game are far-and-away the most in the conference, and his total number ranks No. 4 across all of NCAA Division II. Bouncing back after missing last season with an injury, Joey Schreiber has been productive with 11.2 points per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the field. Maxwell leads the team with 41 assists on the season, and his assist-turnover ratio of 2.73 would rank No. 5 in the GNAC if he had played enough games to qualify for the statistical rankings. Parker has been the top man from the arc, converting 37 3-pointers for a percentage of 44.6. As a team the Vikings have the second-highest scoring offense in the GNAC at 84.2 points per game, while allowing 72.4. The Vikings outrebound opponents 42.7-35.6, shoot 47.1 percent from the field, 34.1 percent from 3-point range, and 62.1 percent from the foul line. The Series: All-time against the Vikings the Yellowjackets are 4-17 and have never won on the road (0-10). The ‘Jackets defeated the 11th-ranked Vikings on the road to the 2012 GNAC Championship, winning 82-78 in the semifinals on March 2. Last Time Out: The ‘Jackets walked away with a 102-101 overtime thriller last February in Alterowitz Gym, earning a season split with the Vikings. WWU won the first meeting of the season between the two 84-71 on Jan. 18, 2014 in Bellingham.

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Saturday, Jan. 10 – 8 p.m. MTN – West Gym – Burnaby, B.C. Simon Fraser University Clan 2014-15 Record: 6-5, 1-2 GNAC Head Coach: James Blake, 5th season 2013-14 GNAC Finish: 10th (10-16, 3-15 GNAC) Leading the NCAA Division II in scoring offense with 124.3 points per game, Simon Fraser has employed a newlook strategy that has resulted in an overall winning record so far this season. Despite the high-powered offense, the Clan also allows the most points in Division II at 107.2 per game. SFU also leads the NCAA in 3-point field goal attempts with 493 (44.9 per game), and the next-closest team, Minnesota State Moorhead, has attempted 443 while playing six more games than the Clan. After defeating Western Washington to open its 2014-15 conference slate, SFU dropped a pair of games against Alaska Anchorage (108-86) and Alaska Fairbanks (121-111). Earlier in the season the Clan set a new GNAC single-game scoring record in a 160-99 win over Northwest Indian College, and topped that mark with an ensuing 161-108 win over the Capilano Blues on Dec. 16, 2014. Leading the barrage of scoring for SFU is Sango Niang, who is the top scorer in the conference at 22.1 points per game. Niang’s 183 field-goal attempts lead the conference as well, and his 8.0 assists per game lead the GNAC and rank No. 3 in all of Division II. Ranking No. 2 on the team in scoring is Roderick Evans-Taylor with 16.4 points per game, and his 6.3 rebounds per game lead the team. Justin Cole is averaging 14.0 points, Michael Harper is at 12.5, and Patrick Simon is at 12.1. Adam Westfall has been the top 3-point shooter at 42.9 percent, and is averaging 10.5 points per game. Minutes are spread evenly across the team, with no player averaging more than 26.8 minutes and no player who has played in all 11 games averaging less than 7.5 minutes per game. As a team SFU is outrebounded 47.8-41.5 but generates 28.2 turnovers per game while committing just 16.4. The Clan is shooting 49.6 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from 3-point range and 69.0 percent from the freethrow line. The Series: MSUB is 8-1 overall against Simon Fraser, including a mark of 3-1 on the road against the Clan. The Yellowjackets have won the last seven meetings between the teams, and scored 90 or more points in six of those matchups. Last Time Out: The ‘Jackets won both games last season against the Clan, including a big 100-70 victory on the road the last time the team played in Burnaby. Matthews had 15 points on three 3-pointers in the win last January. At home last season, MSUB picked up a 95-82 victory, as Matthews had 11 points and six rebounds for the ‘Jackets last February.

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Game 15: January 8, 2015 Western Washington 88, MSU Billings 68

Behind Schreiber’s 38, Vikings defeat ‘Jackets 88-68 January 8, 2015 Momir Gataric scores a season-high 25 points but its not enough to overcome 38 by WWU’s Joey Schreiber as the Vikings defeat the Yellowjackets 88-68 on Thursday. BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Joey Schreiber scored 19 points in the first half and finished with a career-high 38 to propel host Western Washington to an 88-68 Great Northwest Athletic Conference men’s basketball victory over Montana State University Billings Thursday evening at Sam Carver Gym. Momir Gataric converted 10 of 14 field goals for the Yellowjackets, and scored a season-high 25 points, and Antoine Hosley chipped in 17 off of the bench for MSUB. For WWU (8-6, 1-3 GNAC), Schreiber’s 38 points were a new program record for a player coming off of the bench and he was one of four players to score in double figures. Jeffrey Parker finished with 17, Mac Johnson had 15 and nine rebounds, and Anye Turner had 11. Schreiber completed a double-double as he also grabbed a dozen rebounds. “Not only did Western make shots, but they played really hard tonight,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “It’s tough to beat a team when they play like that.” After trading the lead back-and-forth early on in the game, Western Washington went on an 11-5 run including three 3-pointers to open the second half and never looked back. The Vikings connected on 11 of 23 shots from long distance in the game (47.8 percent) and 34 of 69 overall from the field (49.3 percent). 88 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

WWU also held a 48-25 advantage in rebounding, and 19 of the team’s 48 came on the offensive side of the ball. “We needed to compete a little bit better at the defensive end and we just didn’t,” Stevens said. When we did get stops, we didn’t get rebounds.” The Yellowjackets (2-13, 0-5 GNAC) tied a season-best with only eight turnovers in the game, and shot 43.8 percent overall from the field (28-for-64). Gataric had half of his team’s 3-pointers, finishing 3-for-5 from long range for nine of his points. From the foul line, MSUB converted 6 of 9 shots, while WWU made 9 of 11. Into the game on an early sub, Marc Matthews got the scoring started for MSUB with a short jumper in the midst of traffic. A turnover on WWU’s ensuing possession led to a fast-break chance for the ‘Jackets, and Matthews slammed home two more points with a dunk for an early 4-3 lead. After another Matthews bucket, the Vikings responded with a 6-0 stretch, and Johnson started the game 4-for-4 from the field to help extend WWU’s lead to 116. A pair of buckets by Hosley capped off a 6-0 run by the Yellowjackets, as MSUB regained a 12-11 lead midway through the first. Schreiber heated up with less than 10 minutes until halftime, knocking down a trey to simultaneously give him 10 points and give his team a 10-point lead. The sophomore didn’t quit there, posting nine more points before intermission en route to his standout performance. Sophomore Marc Matthews. The Vikings carried a 44-29 advantage into halftime, and came out of the break firing to quickly push their edge past 20 points. WWU controlled the pace moving into the late part of the second half, using a 7-1 run to maintain a spread of 20 points. With inside of five minutes to play, the ‘Jackets cut the deficit to 13 points, as Gataric finished a lay-in on a fastbreak. The Vikings responded with a 10-0 run however, capping off their first conference victory of the season. The ‘Jackets were able to generate 15 points off of 15 turnovers and created seven steals compared to just four by WWU. The Vikings finished with 26 assists however, and limited the Yellowjackets to just three second-chance points while scoring 13. Tyler Nelson was the leading rebounder for MSUB with six, and Matthews finished with 10 points after his early surge in the first half. “We are excited to get back to work tomorrow and start preparing for Simon Fraser on Saturday,” Stevens said. NEXT UP: MSUB enters Canada to challenge the top scoring team in the NCAA Division II in Simon Fraser on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. Mountain time at the West Gym on the SFU campus, and live video and statistics will be available online at www.msubsports.com.

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Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics Montana St. Billings vs Western Washington 01/08/15 7:00 pm at Carver Gym - Bellingham, WA Montana St. Billings 68 • 2-13, 0-5 GNAC ##

22 25 42 02 23 03 13 24 32

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Johnson,Emmanuel Gataric,Momir Nelson,Tyler Denham,Kendall Anderson,Jace Hosley,Antoine Matthews,Marc Perry,Jordan Adams,Luke Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 12-32 37.5% 3FG % 1st Half: 2-11 18.2% FT % 1st Half: 3-5 60.0%

f f c g g

0-7 10-14 1-2 1-5 1-4 8-11 4-15 1-3 2-3

0-1 3-5 0-0 0-2 1-3 1-3 1-7 0-0 0-0

0-0 2-2 1-2 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-2 2-3 0-0

28-64

6-21

6-9

2nd half: 16-32 50.0% 2nd half: 4-10 40.0% 2nd half: 3-4 75.0%

1 3 4 3 0 3 3 1 2 4 6 1 0 2 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 1 2 3 1 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 1 3 1 4 7 18 25 14

0 25 3 2 3 17 10 4 4

A TO Blk Stl

Min

2 0 1 3 3 0 1 1 0

0 2 0 3 0 2 0 1 0

1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 0 0 2 0 0 1 3 0

68 11

7 200

Game: 28-64 43.8% Game: 6-21 28.6% Game: 6-9 66.7%

26 34 26 34 13 16 23 22 6

Deadball Rebounds 2

Western Washington 88 • 8-6, 1-3 GNAC ##

10 35 44 02 12 04 05 11 13 20 33

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Turner,Anye Parker,Jeffrey Johnson,Mac Impero,Kyle Javier,Harris Schreiber,Joey Tanis,Chris Hopkins,Mark Scholten,Evan Velasquez,Nick Bowen,Blake Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 18-34 52.9% 3FG % 1st Half: 6-13 46.2% FT % 1st Half: 2-4 50.0%

f f c g g

5-10 6-12 7-11 0-6 0-5 13-21 0-0 1-2 0-0 1-1 1-1

0-0 4-7 0-1 0-2 0-2 6-9 0-0 0-1 0-0 0-0 1-1

34-69 11-23

1-2 1-1 1-2 0-0 0-0 6-6 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

9-11

2nd half: 16-35 45.7% 2nd half: 5-10 50.0% 2nd half: 7-7 100.0

3 4 7 1 1 5 6 2 3 6 9 1 1 2 3 0 2 1 3 1 6 6 12 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 1 3 19 29 48 10

11 4 17 3 15 2 0 7 0 10 38 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 3 0

1st

29 44

2nd

39 44

Min

1 3 1 2 4 3 0 0 1 0 0

5 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0

2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

88 26 15

4 200

Game: 34-69 49.3% Game: 11-23 47.8% Game: 9-11 81.8%

Officials: Toby Doolittle, Steven Somers, Michael Stephenson Technical fouls: Montana St. Billings-None. Western Washington-None. Attendance: 1014 Score by periods Montana St. Billings Western Washington

A TO Blk Stl

Total

68 88

90 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

26 35 26 22 36 34 1 14 2 1 3

Deadball Rebounds 0,1

Game 16: January 10, 2015 MSU Billings 111, Simon Fraser 104

MSUB shoots 69.5 percent from the field, defeats SFU 111-104 January 10, 2015 The Yellowjackets turn in the fourth-highest single-game field goal percentage in program history and hold on down the stretch for their first GNAC victory of the season, 111-104 over Simon Fraser. BURNABY, B.C. – Finishing with the fourth-best single game field-goal percentage in program history at 69.5 percent, the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team picked up a solid 111-104 Great Northwest Athletic Conference road victory over Simon Fraser Saturday evening inside the West Gym on the SFU campus. The Yellowjackets connected on 41 of 59 shots from the field, en route to their highest-scoring game of the season so far. MSUB’s field goal total was a new season high, and the Yellowjackets’ 26 assists tied the team’s season-best. Redshirt freshman Jordan Perry led his team and scored a personal season-best 21 points on 8 of 13 shooting, and also had three rebounds, three assists and a block. Momir Gataric turned in 20 points after scoring 25 against Western Washington on Thursday, and Marc Matthews and Antoine Hosley each had 18. Matthews was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the game, adding eight rebounds, seven assists and a block to his point total. For the Clan (6-7, 1-4 GNAC), the conference’s leading scorer in Sango Niang (22.5 pgg) topped all players with 28 points on 11 of 23 shooting. Justin Cole finished with 21 for SFU, and led the team with eight rebounds.

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With the score knotted at 58-58 at halftime, MSUB used a 12-2 burst to begin the second period to establish momentum. The quick scoring spree helped MSUB control the game in the second half, and the ‘Jackets calmly played through SFU’s late-game press to hold on through the closing minutes. On the game MSUB outrebounded SFU 39-35, but the Clan grabbed 14 offensive rebounds while the ‘Jackets had just five. Forty two of MSUB’s points came off of the bench, and MSUB also outscored SFU 64-53 in the paint. SFU, which entered the game leading the NCAA Division II in scoring (120.7 ppg) and ranking last in points allowed (107.8), lost their fourth game in-a-row. The Yellowjackets (3-13, 1-5 GNAC) snapped a three-game losing skid. After Patrick Simon knocked down the first three of the game for the Clan, the Yellowjackets scored the next 10 points to take control early on. Gataric knocked down the first three for MSUB with 14:56 remaining, keeping the lead in the Yellowjackets’ hands at 19-12. Another trey from Jace Anderson 30 seconds later extended MSUB’s lead to 10 points. Five free-throws contributed to a 9-2 SFU run that got the Clan back into the game midway through the first. Hidde Vos answered a 3-pointer by Matthews with 10:29 left, and a layup by Simon followed to make the score 34-30. Cole converted a layup off of a steal to give SFU its first lead of the game, and Vos drained another three to make it 41-37 with 8:13 left. The score remained close as the first half wound down, and a last-second 3-point attempt by the Clan rattled out at the buzzer with the score reading 58-58. MSUB opened the second period with a 12-2 run, and used the momentum to pull ahead to a 77-71 lead with 13 minutes remaining. The ‘Jackets were able to control the pace of the game moving into the closing minutes, knocking down shots and rebounding well to maintain the advantage. A pair of free-throws by Niang cut the Yellowjackets’ lead back into single digits, making the score 103-94 with 2:08 remaining. The Clan was able to draw it to a two-possession game four times down the stretch, but the Yellowjackets protected the ball and did not have a turnover inside the final minute. Luke Adams was a strong contributor off of the bench for MSUB, with 13 points and four rebounds in 16 minutes of action. Anderson led the team with three 3-pointers, and finished with 11 points in 11 minutes. Tyler Nelson picked up five rebounds for MSUB, and freshman point guard Kendall Denham turned in six assists, five rebounds, a steal and four points. UP NEXT: MSUB returns home for three games, the first of which will be against Alaska Fairbanks next Thursday at 7:30 p.m. That game will be part of a doubleheader with the MSUB women’s basketball team, as will next Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. tipoff against Alaska Anchorage. MSUB Single-Game Field Goal Percentage Records Percent FGs Opponent Date 73.5 36-49 vs. Brown Dec. 30, 1984 71.7 33-46 vs. Alaska Anchorage Jan. 24, 1987 70.8 34-48 vs. Rocky Mountain Dec. 8, 1986 69.5 41-59 at Simon Fraser Jan. 10, 2015 63.5 40-63 vs. Jamestown Nov. 29, 1997

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Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics MSU Billings vs Simon Fraser 01/10/15 7:00pm at Burnaby, BC MSU Billings 111 • 3-13, 1-5 GNAC ##

25 42 02 13 24 03 23 32

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Gataric,Momir Nelson,Tyler Denham,Kendall Matthews,Marc Perry,Jordan Hosley,Antoine Anderson,Jace Adams,Luke Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 23-33 69.7% 3FG % 1st Half: 6-12 50.0% FT % 1st Half: 6-12 50.0%

f f g g g

6-8 2-2 1-4 7-11 8-13 8-10 3-4 6-7

2-3 0-0 1-3 2-5 1-2 0-0 3-4 0-0

6-7 2-7 1-2 2-6 4-8 2-4 2-2 1-2

41-59

9-17

20-38

2nd half: 18-26 69.2% 2nd half: 3-5 60.0% 2nd half: 14-26 53.8%

A TO Blk Stl

0 5 5 5 20 4 6 0 5 5 3 6 0 0 0 5 5 2 4 6 2 2 6 8 2 18 7 3 1 2 3 4 21 3 6 0 2 2 2 18 5 2 0 3 3 1 11 1 0 1 3 4 2 13 0 0 1 3 4 5 34 39 21 111 26 19

Min

0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1

0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0

2 200

Game: 41-59 69.5% Game: 9-17 52.9% Game: 20-38 52.6%

31 19 34 35 27 27 11 16

Deadball Rebounds 10,1

Simon Fraser 104 • 6-7, 1-4 GNAC ##

10 55 00 01 30 03 13 34 44 50

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Harper,Michael Simon,Patrick Niang,Sango Cole,Justin Pankratz,JJ Deflorimonte,Daniel van der Mars,Mathijs Sewani,Gibran Vos,Hidde Sparks-Guest,Denver Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 21-45 46.7% 3FG % 1st Half: 7-21 33.3% FT % 1st Half: 9-10 90.0%

f f g g g

1-4 4-7 11-23 8-18 2-7 3-7 0-0 2-2 4-13 2-3

0-1 1-1 2-9 3-9 0-3 0-2 0-0 0-0 4-13 0-0

A TO Blk Stl

0 1 1 5 7 0 0 3 3 6 5 11 0 3 1 2 3 4 28 5 3 2 6 8 4 21 2 1 2 1 3 2 11 1 0 1 2 3 4 6 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 1 1 3 4 1 4 0 0 1 1 2 1 12 2 1 1 2 3 3 4 2 0 2 0 2 1 37-84 10-38 20-23 14 21 35 31 104 16 10

2nd half: 16-39 41.0% 2nd half: 3-17 17.6% 2nd half: 11-13 84.6%

5-5 2-2 4-4 2-2 7-9 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-0 0-0

Game: 37-84 44.0% Game: 10-38 26.3% Game: 20-23 87.0%

Min

0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

1 0 0 4 0 0 1 1 0 0

19 21 32 29 27 15 16 9 23 9

7 200 Deadball Rebounds 1

Officials: Jerry Meneese, Robert Grant, Morgan Witt Technical fouls: MSU Billings-None. Simon Fraser-None. Attendance: 285 Score by periods MSU Billings Simon Fraser

1st

58 58

2nd

53 46

Total

111 104

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Gataric tabbed GNAC Player of the Week January 12, 2015 After back-to-back 20-point games last week, MSUB men’s basketball junior Momir Gataric earns GNAC Player of the Week honors. PORTLAND, Ore. – After topping 20 points in both games last week, including a season-high 25 against Western Washington last Thursday, Montana State University Billings junior Momir Gataric has been named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference men’s basketball co-Player of the Week announced by the conference office Monday. “Momir has been our most consistent player all year,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “As a transfer, it usually takes a semester to get all the way adjusted. I think Momir is close to going out every week and providing the kind of production we saw last week. This is a great honor for him.” Gataric shot 10-for-14 from the field on Thursday, including 3-for-5 from 3-point range en route to his highest point total of the season. The junior transfer from West Valley College also picked up three rebounds against the Vikings. On Saturday, Gataric scored 20 points in MSUB’s first conference win of the season, a 111-104 triumph over Simon Fraser. Gataric had five rebounds and four assists, and made 6 of 8 shots from the field to contribute to MSUB’s fourth-best single-game shooting percentage in program history of 69.5 percent. On the weekend Gataric was 8-for-9 from the free-throw line and totaled five 3-pointers while playing upwards of 30 minutes in both contests. Gataric is the first MSUB men’s basketball GNAC Player of the Week honoree this season. Gataric, a Sunnyvale, Calif., native is averaging 12.7 points and 4.1 rebounds in his first season with the ‘Jackets, and is shooting 53.7 percent from the field. His 31 assists rank second on the squad, as do his 30.9 minutes per game. Andy Avgi of Western Oregon University was named co-Player of the Week along with Gataric. The Yellowjackets have a 3-game homestand coming up, with games against Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Fairbanks this week at Alterowitz Gym. MSUB will host UAF on Thursday and UAA on Saturday, with both games being the second half of a doubleheader with the MSUB women’s team and starting at 7:30 p.m.

94 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

MSUB men set for 3-straight at home January 13, 2015 Building off of their first conference win of the season, the Yellowjackets return to Alterowitz this week to host GNAC foes Alaska Fairbanks and Alaska Anchorage. BILLINGS, Mont. – Coming off of a strong 111-104 victory over Simon Fraser last Saturday, the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team returns home to Alterowitz Gym this week to host Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponents University of Alaska Fairbanks and University of Alaska Anchorage. The Yellowjackets welcome the Nanooks to town on Thursday with the Seawolves making the long journey to Billings on Saturday. Both games will be part of doubleheaders with the MSUB women’s basketball team, and will tip off at 7:30 p.m. Live video and statistics will be available for both games at www.msubsports.com. Children age sixth grade and under will be admitted free of charge. Five of the Yellowjackets’ next seven games overall will be at home, with a trip west to face Western Oregon and Saint Martin’s interrupting home games against Seattle Pacific and Simon Fraser over the next three weeks. For MSUB (3-13, 1-5 GNAC) junior guard/forward Momir Gataric recently earned GNAC Player of the Week honors, after totaling 45 points and shooting above 72 percent from the field in the Yellowjackets’ two games last week. Gataric is averaging 12.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, and his 31 assists and 30.9 minutes per game each rank second on the squad. Marc Matthews and Antoine Hosley also had big numbers for the ‘Jackets last week, and the two have been MSUB’s other top scorers this season along with Gataric. Hosley had 17 points against the Clan on Saturday and tops the squad with 13.1 points per game. The senior’s 19 3-pointers are second-most on the team this season, and his free-throw percentage of 72.1 leads the team.

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Matthews, the team’s leading marksman from beyond the arc, has knocked down 24 threes and is averaging 9.5 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Against SFU last Saturday Matthews approached a triple-double with 18 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. MORE ON MOMIR: Gataric has now posted his two best single-game scoring efforts in his past two outings, scoring a season-best 25 against Western Washington last Thursday and following with 20 points against SFU Saturday. Over his past four games, he is averaging 18 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting a red-hot 64.3 percent from the floor. He has also converted eight of his last nine free-throws, and six of his last 10 3-pointers. ANDERSON FROM THE ARC: Scoring in double figures for the third time this season in the win over SFU, sophomore Jace Anderson finished with 11 points and had three rebounds. Anderson has now connected on 12 of his last 21 shots from long range, and is shooting a GNAC-best 48.5 percent from beyond the arc and 44.2 percent overall this season. FRESHMAN FINDING FOOTING: Also trending upwards for the ‘Jackets has been freshman guard Jordan Perry, who has scored in double figures in two of his past three games. Against SFU Saturday, Perry had a team-best and personal season-high 21 points, knocking down 8 of 13 shots from the floor. He has also generated seven steals and six assists over the same time span, and upped his season scoring average to 5.9 points per game. STRONG AND STEADY: Senior forward Tyler Nelson has continued his consistency, and is the only Yellowjacket to have started every game this season. He has provided a boost with 4.9 rebounds per game, and has committed just 15 turnovers in 16 games and only one in his last five. DENHAM ON POINT: Stepping into a key role as the starting point guard for the ‘Jackets, freshman Kendall Denham leads the team in minutes with 33.2 per game and in assists with 61 (4.4 per game). With just 30 turnovers on the season, Denham ranks No. 6 in the conference in assist-turnover ratio at an even-2.0. His assist average is the No. 5 mark in the GNAC, and his 13 steals are a team-high. CAREER DAY FOR ADAMS: Posting his first career double-digit scoring performance on Saturday, sophomore Luke Adams connected on 6 of 7 shots, finishing with 13 points and four rebounds to contribute to MSUB’s victory. His scoring and rebounding numbers were both season highs, and he also had a block against the Clan.

Freshman Jordan Perry.

JOHNSON REACHING NEW HEIGHTS: Leading the team in rebounding with 5.2 per game, junior Emmanuel Johnson grabbed four boards and had two assists, a block and a steal last week against WWU. Johnson has emerged into a regular starter for MSUB, scoring 6.7 points and shooting 51.8 percent from the field. STRONG ‘D’ FROM 3: Matching up well with the NCAA’s leading 3-point attempting team last Saturday, the Yellowjackets were able to limit Simon Fraser to just 26.3 percent (10-for-38) from long distance. MSUB continues to lead the conference in defending 3-pointers, holding opponents to just 32.5 percent from downtown on the season.

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Thursday, January 15 – 7:30 p.m. – Alterowitz Gym University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks 2014-15 Record: 5-8, 2-3 GNAC Head Coach: Mick Durham, 4th season 2013-14 GNAC Finish: 3rd (18-10, 12-6 GNAC) As a team Alaska Fairbanks is one of five teams shooting above 70 percent from the foul line. The Nanooks rank No. 8 in the GNAC in scoring at 70.3 points per game and No. 8 in scoring defense, allowing 73.9 points per game. The numbers compare evenly to MSUB, which is even with UAF in scoring at 70.3 points per game and ranks just behind UAF in points allowed at 76.4. UAF is also the second-best team in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage at 37.2, another key factor that will come into play against MSUB’s conference-leading 3-point defense. Facing in-state rival Alaska Anchorage last week, the Nanooks had a four-game winning streak snapped in a 7664 loss to the Seawolves. The defeat came after big home victories over Western Washington and Simon Fraser, as UAF is out to a 2-3 start to the conference portion of its schedule. Offensively the Nanooks are being led by Ashton Edwards, whose 14.5 points per game rank eighth in the GNAC. Edwards also has a team-high 42 assists on the season, and leads the team from 3-point range with 35 conversions in 81 attempts (43.2 percent). Ruben Silvas is also in double figures for UAF, averaging 12.2 points and hauling in a team-best 5.7 rebounds. Edwards and Silvas also rank third and fourth in the conference in free-throw percentage at 87.2 and 86.7, respectively. Silvas’s field-goal percentage of 60.6 is No. 4 in the conference. Another strong post player for UAF is Serbia native Almir Hadzisehovic, who is scoring 9.3 points on 49.5 percent shooting and grabbing 4.5 rebounds. From 3-point range, Adam Griffin is shooting 38.5 percent (25-for-65) for 8.8 points, and Kyle Tomlinson is shooting 34.6 percent (18-for-52) from the arc. Griffin is also connecting from the foul line at a clip of 78.6 percent. Eric Fongue has been a key bench player for fourth-year head coach Mick Durham, averaging 5.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in 18.1 minutes. The Series: The Yellowjackets hold an all-time 39-23 record against the Nanooks and are a strong 26-4 at home against the conference foe. UAF has held the upper hand as of late however, winning the past four games and five of the last six overall dating back to the 2012-13 season. MSUB and UAF have twice met in the first round of the GNAC Championships, with the Nanooks prevailing on both occasions to end the Yellowjackets’ season in each of the last two years. Last Time Out: Nelson picked up eight rebounds in 16 minutes but the Nanooks stifled MSUB’s offense in a 69-59 victory to knock the ‘Jackets out of the GNAC Championships on March 5, 2014. It was the third win of the season for UAF over MSUB, as the Nanooks won in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Feb. 6 88-74 after a 79-70 win in Billings on Jan. 11. Matthews scored 10 points and had five boards in the road loss last season.

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Saturday, January 17 – 7:30 p.m. – Alterowitz Gym University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves 2014-15 Record: 8-7, 4-1 GNAC Head Coach: Rusty Osborne 2013-14 GNAC Finish: 5th (17-13, 10-8 GNAC) Alaska Anchorage enters Thursday’s game against Seattle Pacific with a five-game winning streak, including three-straight victories over GNAC opponents. After running away with a 108-86 win over Simon Fraser on Jan. 1, UAA held off visiting Western Washington in a 62-60 nail-biter on Jan. 3. After last week’s 76-64 win over the Nanooks, UAA is positioned No. 2 in the GNAC standings with a conference record of 4-1. Reigning second-team all-GNAC selection Brian McGill tops the squad and is No. 3 in the GNAC in scoring with 16.4 points per contest. He is shooting 53.9 percent from the floor, 41.3 percent from 3-point range and 77.8 percent from the foul line, and his 91 assists (6.1 per game) rank No. 2 in the conference. Travis Thompson, a first-team all-GNAC pick in 2013-14, is putting up 15.6 points per game which is good for fifth-best in the GNAC. His 44 made 3-pointers are the most in the GNAC, and his percentage of 44.0 from the arc ranks No. 8 in the conference. Kalidou Diouf (12.2 ppg) and Dom Hunter (10.0) are also scoring in double figures for the Seawolves, and the former’s 5.8 rebounds per game pace the squad. Diouf ’s field-goal percentage of 65.9 is the second-highest mark in the conference and it ranks No. 11 across all of the NCAA Division II. Also posting big numbers for the Seawolves is Christian Leckband, who is shooting 50.7 percent from the field and averaging 7.9 points and 3.9 rebounds. As a team UAA ranks No. 2 in the GNAC in free-throw percentage at 73.5 and No. 3 in field-goal percentage at 48.1. The Seawolves’ mark of 36.8 percent from 3-point range is good for third-best in the conference, and the team is No. 2 in rebounding margin at plus-6.9. The Series: UAA holds the upper-hand with an all-time 39-29 mark against MSUB, but the Yellowjackets are 29-5 at home against the Seawolves. The series has been fairly even over the past three seasons, with each team winning three games. MSUB defeated then-No. 15 UAA 74-70 to win the 2012 GNAC Championship tournament, before losing to the Seawolves 80-68 in the first round of the NCAA West Region Championships a week later. Last Time Out: MSUB won both games between the two last season, starting off with a 75-67 win at home on Jan. 9, 2014 and taking care of business in Anchorage, Alaska, with a 75-62 win on Feb. 8. Matthews had 13 points and a pair of steals in the Yellowjackets’ road win over the Seawolves last season.

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Tyler Nelson’s unique journey from Missionary to MSUB Basketball January 15, 2015 After spending two years as a missionary in El Salvador and returning to the United States to attend MSUB, Tyler Nelson is now a senior starter on the men’s basketball team. MSUB SPORTS – When Tyler Nelson first stepped foot in Billings, Mont., to suit up as a basketball player for the Yellowjackets, it was somewhat foreign territory. The Roosevelt, Utah native had arrived on the campus of Montana State University Billings to pick up where he had left off on his basketball career two years earlier, this time calling the confines of Alterowitz Gymnasium home. Playing football and basketball growing up with his five brothers, Nelson developed a competitive edge and learned about teamwork through sports from an early age. His father Gary Nelson had been a two-sport standout at then-Dixie State College in St. George, Utah, where he played football and tennis. Athletics were a natural fit for Nelson, and he quickly developed into a promising college prospect moving into his senior year at Union High School. “I was getting recruited a bit for football, but when basketball came around my senior year I realized how much I loved it,” Nelson said regarding his choice to pursue hoops in college. Today, Nelson is a senior for the Yellowjackets and is the only player on the squad to have started all 16 games this season. His 6-foot-7 presence is a valuable asset to the team, but even bigger are his dedication, commitment and leadership that set an example for all of the players. That leadership has emerged over the course of Nelson’s three years spent at MSUB, but what truly began to draw it out started with a unique journey before he became a Yellowjacket. After his first year of college at Central Wyoming, Nelson embarked on a mission with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to El Salvador that forever changed his perspective on life. @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 99

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE “We were told that when we got there that we were to leave everything behind mentally so that we would be fully engaged in what we were doing,” Nelson said regarding instructions he received before committing to the twoyear mission in Central America’s most densely-populated nation. “It was tough at first but over time I became absorbed in my work and I wasn’t thinking about basketball at all.” Along with his unwavering athletic background, Nelson also had to let go of the one and only language he understood, and had to completely re-learn how to communicate. “At first I had no language and I had no idea what anyone was saying,” Nelson said. “I’d say I started to gain a general grasp around six months and it became easier and easier after that.” While Spanish is the native language in El Salvador, it was a wide range of variations within the language that kept Nelson on his toes as he learned on the fly. “You have a companion on the mission who is with you 24/7, and you would switch to a new location and new companion every six weeks to nine months,” Nelson said. “My first one was from Chile, and he spoke quick, Chilean Spanish that was hard for me to understand. I was able to pick up bits and pieces and it got better after a while.” Getting up to speed enough to hold a conversation was a task within itself, but considering the overall purpose of Nelson’s mission was to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to foreigners, Nelson had to get to a level with the language where he could impart key concepts of his religion to the people in his new home. At times, keeping thoughts of his life in the United States out of his mind was difficult. Where he once took clean clothes, running water and smoothly-paved roads for granted, Nelson found himself learning a new way to approach what had previously been every-day luxuries. “I was living among people who didn’t have anything except for a hut,” Nelson said. “There was no running water or warm water and I had to bathe outside using a bucket. It really changed my perspective and taught me how much I have here (in America).” Through Nelson’s work, he aimed to aid the natives in terms of their spiritual needs to improve their perspective on life despite challenging living circumstances. “We felt that if people accepted and lived by the message we were preaching that they would be happy in their lives regardless of their physical condition or where they were living,” Nelson said. “I saw that change occur in many people and that was the ultimate goal – to become something better, something more.”

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BACK TO THE STATES “I have a deep love for the Hispanic culture and for Latin Americans after living among them. It changed my perspective on life completely.” – Tyler Nelson. By the time Nelson’s two years had elapsed and he boarded a plane back to the states, he carried with him a sense of pride and accomplishment. Despite physical, mental and spiritual exhaustion, Nelson felt that he had given it all he had and served the people to the best of his ability. “It was tough to leave, because I grew to love the people there so much and I wanted to be with them,” said Nelson. “I was a bit torn, but I felt like I was satisfied with the work I had done.” As his life as an American began to come back into focus, clean water and a wide selection of restaurants quickly reminded Nelson of the life he was re-entering. The Spanish language he had worked so hard at to pick up and learn lingered with him, and he remembered having difficulty training his ear back to the English tongue. “I was thinking a lot in Spanish and I was so absorbed in it,” Nelson recalled of his early transition back to U.S. culture. “I almost had to re-learn my English accent. It sounds kind of weird but over time you do start to lose it a bit.” One-by-one, the fundamental functions of everyday-life came back to Nelson, as he began planning his next step. When basketball began to resurface at the front of Nelson’s mind, it was his former coach at Central Wyoming College, Jamie Stevens, that Nelson turned to for an opportunity to return to the court. “I really enjoyed having Tyler at Central Wyoming, and I stayed in touch with his father while he was gone,” said Stevens, who had transitioned into the head coaching role at MSUB during Nelson’s time in El Salvador. “I knew Tyler would be a great person to have in our program at MSUB, and he is a wonderful representative of the kind of person we want to have on our team.” Stevens had been aware of Nelson’s plan to take a hiatus from college to complete his calling, and the sense of familiarity made the transition back to basketball at the NCAA Division II level easier for Nelson. “I had a familiarity with Coach Stevens and his coaching style, and he knew me as a player and how I played so it felt right,” Nelson said with respect to rekindling the relationship. The first time Nelson laced up his shoes and stepped foot on the hardwood since coming back to the U.S. was in the first week of August, and with games beginning three months later that timeframe would be daunting even for a player who was in shape. For someone who hadn’t so much as touched a basketball in two years it seemed downright unrealistic. “I had to go through the grind of the preseason and all of the physical conditioning, and that was tough,” Nelson remembered. “I just felt like it was where I needed to be though, and that I was here for a reason.” TRANSFERRABLE SKILLS Re-entering the realm of basketball at what would normally be the age of a college senior, Nelson knew that he still had three more years to grow and develop within the game he loved. With the type of maturity he displayed from his first day as a Yellowjacket, Stevens knew Nelson would fill in a valuable role as a leader within the team. @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 101

“Tyler was very mature when he arrived here and I think his personality and ability to communicate have really shown over the past three years,” Stevens said. Nelson attributes his current position as a senior leader to the perspective he gained and the leadership roles he held while on his mission. Originally beginning as one of around 200 missionaries, by his second year Nelson had progressed into a group leader and eventually became an assistant to the president of the mission. “When there were problems, I had to be self-sufficient and find solutions, which is a big thing that I learned,” Nelson said. “Within the leadership positions I held during my mission, I can relate them directly to basketball. I had to have people skills, to critical think at times, and I learned how being a good leader effects the people surrounding you.” Along with Nelson’s ability as a problem solver, it is the work ethic he developed and mentality to earn everything he is given that has made him a model player within Stevens’s program. “Tyler has been the hardest worker on every team that he has been on,” Stevens said. “Nobody practices harder and that effort transfers over into the games. He is completely bought in to doing things right in all aspects of his life, including academics, practice and in the weight room. Tyler gives everything he has in everything that he does.” While Nelson and Stevens agree that the senior is not the most vocal leader, it is through Nelson’s actions that he commands respect from his teammates and is able to have an impact on their perspective as well. It is not uncommon for Nelson to pull a teammate aside after practice and share words of encouragement. “I am not the most vocal person, but I feel that I care about my teammates and that they can see that,” Nelson said. “I just like to remind guys that I appreciate what they are doing and that I go out and practice and work hard for them.” THANKFUL FOR MSUB While the real-world experience Nelson had on his mission taught him many things that can’t be learned within a classroom, he remains passionate about completing his degree and continuing his education as a college student. Nelson is completing his course of study with the communications department at MSUB, and is proud of what he represents as a student and an athlete every time he takes the court wearing navy and gold. “I feel that MSUB has helped me a lot in academics, and I have had great professors who really care and are always willing to help,” Nelson said. “That has translated onto the basketball court as well, as I want to give back to MSUB and the campus as a whole. I play to the best of my ability because it is important to show that you respect what you have been given. MSUB has definitely helped me for the better and I am grateful for it.” Playing a major role in shaping Nelson was the way in which his family raised him, as he commented how his parents instilled upon him to always work hard and earn what he gets. Nelson’s five brothers and sister helped challenge him and develop a sense of perseverance. After returning from his mission, Nelson met his wife Lindsey, and the two have since had a son, Jaiden Tyler Nelson who is now seven months old. “I’ve learned that over time life is a balance,” Nelson said. “Being married and having a kid, playing basketball and going to school full time is a challenge. I have always believed that if you put God first and serve him to the best of your ability that He will take care of you. I have been blessed with great things and I am very thankful for it.” 102 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Game 17: January 15, 2015 MSU Billings 83, Alaska Fairbanks 78 (OT)

Behind Anderson’s 27, ‘Jackets persevere past Nanooks 83-78 in OT January 15, 2015 Jace Anderson drills five 3-pointers – two in overtime – en route to a new career high of 27 points to help the Yellowjackets to a big 83-78 GNAC win over visiting Alaska Fairbanks Thursday night. BILLINGS, Mont. – Two final free-throws from sophomore Jace Anderson pushed his career-high point total to 27 and simultaneously sealed a dramatic 83-78 overtime victory for the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team over visiting Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent Alaska Fairbanks Thursday night at Alterowitz Gym. In a game that featured 21 lead changes and 13 ties, it was a four-point play by Anderson to open overtime that gave the final lead to MSUB. “That first possession in overtime was huge, to get that big four-point play,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “That was probably the play that propelled us to that win.” Anderson, who entered the game as the GNAC’s leader in 3-point field-goal percentage at 48.5, connected on 5 of 10 shots from beyond the arc, 8 of 14 overall from the field and 6 of 7 from the foul line. “These guys were really looking for me,” Anderson said regarding the open looks he had from long range. “I felt like every time I got open the ball was right there for me.” “Jace shot it well tonight because he practices hard and plays hard, and when we run actions for him he cuts really hard and sets things up,” Stevens said regarding the sophomore guard. “Tonight he was huge.”

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MSUB (4-13, 2-5 GNAC) held a one-point lead and possession of the ball with less than 15 seconds left in regulation when Almir Hadzisehovic blocked a shot and created a turnover for the Nanooks. The junior forward finished a layup on the other end with three seconds left to make the score 67-66. Sprinting the length of the court with the ball, freshman point guard Kendall Denham managed to fling up a shot and draw a foul with 1.1 on the clock, and after missing the first free-throw he knocked down the second to send the game to the extra period. “I knew I had to bounce back and make that last free-throw,” Denham said. “I was happy I was able to make it and do that for the guys to send the game to OT.” Denham finished with a season-high 16 points and added four rebounds, two assists and a steal. The Malta, Mont., native was 3-for-6 from 3-point range, as he and Anderson combined to make eight of MSUB’s 10 treys on the evening. For the Nanooks (5-9, 2-4 GNAC), Ashton Edwards led all players with 22 points and Hadzisehovic netted 20. Anthony Reese was also in double figures with a dozen points for UAF, and Alex Duncan led his team in rebounds with six. UAF entered the game as the GNAC’s No. 2 team in 3-point field goal percentage (37.2) while the ‘Jackets were ranked No. 1 in 3-point field goal defense (32.5). Holding the Nanooks below their average at 7-for-20 (35.0 percent) contributed to the victory for the ‘Jackets as well. Antoine Hosley gave the ‘Jackets an early 8-7 lead, coming up with a steal and driving hard to the basket for a tough layup. Marc Matthews netted a three out of a timeout, helping MSUB complete a 7-0 run and make the score 11-7. Inside of two minutes until the halftime break, a three by Edwards extended UAF’s lead out to 25-20. Anderson responded with a long-ball of his own, keeping the game within a single possession. Another strong take by Jordan Perry after a Yellowjacket steal evened the game at 25-25. Reese knocked down a triple for UAF, and Hosley finished a layup for MSUB as the teams traded buckets to the tune of 37-37 to open the second half. After a 4-0 run by each team, Momir Gataric generated a turnover that led to a three by Denham to make the score 44-41 with 10 minutes left. Another triple by Denham was sandwiched by two-straight threes by UAF’s Eric Fongue, as the Nanooks nudged ahead 49-47. Anderson’s third three of the game put the lead back in MSUB’s hands 62-61 with less than three minutes remaining. After a pair of made free-throws by Tyler Nelson, Anderson hit a long jumper from the corner and MSUB clung to a 66-63 advantage inside of one minute. Anderson opened overtime with a four-point play, converting a free-throw after being fouled on a 3-pointer. The fifth of the game by the sophomore midway through the 5-minute extra period helped MSUB distance itself, and a pair of Denham free-throws gave MSUB its largest lead of the night at 76-71 with 2:25 left. On the game the ‘Jackets shot 42.6 percent from the field, 32.3 percent from beyond the arc and 80.8 percent (21for-26) from the foul line. MSUB held a 35-28 edge in rebounding including a mark of 10-5 on offensive boards. Hosley (12), Gataric (11) and Perry (10) also scored in double figures for MSUB, and Nelson led the team with 10 rebounds. Anderson was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game for his career performance. The Nanooks shot 51.7 percent from the field and outscored MSUB in the paint 44-28. UAF made 9 of 13 free-throws (69.2 percent) and had 15 assists compared with MSUB’s 11. “Our focus now is Anchorage on Saturday night, and if we can take care of business then we are back in good shape to get into the top-six,” Stevens said. “Now we have a couple of wins under our belt and our attitude going forward has to be for us to make something special happen over our next 11 games.” COMING UP: In another doubleheader with the MSUB women’s team on Saturday, the ‘Jackets welcome Alaska Anchorage for another GNAC contest. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym, following the women’s game against Northwest Nazarene. 104 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics Alaska Fairbanks vs Montana State Billings 01/15/15 7:30 p.m. at Billings, MT - Alterowitz Gym Alaska Fairbanks 78 • 5-9, 2-4 GNAC ##

02 03 11 34 35 13 21 24 40

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Reese,Anthony Duncan,Alex Edwards,Ashton Fongue,Eric Hadzisehovic,Almir Robinson,Reece Tomlinson,Kyle Griffin,Adam Ladines,Isaac Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 11-24 45.8% 3FG % 1st Half: 3-8 37.5% FT % 1st Half: 1-3 33.3%

* * * * *

4-5 1-2 8-19 2-2 9-13 1-2 1-4 1-9 4-4

2-2 0-0 2-9 2-2 0-0 0-0 1-3 0-4 0-0

2-2 0-0 4-5 0-1 2-3 0-0 0-0 1-2 0-0

31-60

7-20

9-13

2nd half: 17-29 58.6% 2nd half: 3-8 37.5% 2nd half: 4-6 66.7%

OT: OT: OT:

0 0 0 5 0 6 6 4 0 5 5 2 0 4 4 4 1 1 2 4 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 3 4 1 1 2 3 0 0 0 0 5 23 28 22

3-7 1-4 4-4

42.9% 25.0% 100.0

12 2 22 6 20 2 3 3 8

A TO Blk Stl

0 4 4 1 3 1 0 2 0

Min

1 0 1 0 3 2 1 3 0

0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0

0 34 2 30 0 401 28 0 29 0 11 0 17 0 20 0 16

78 15 11

3 225

Game: 31-60 51.7% Game: 7-20 35.0% Game: 9-13 69.2%

Deadball Rebounds 2,5

Montana State Billings 83 • 4-13, 2-5 GNAC ##

02 13 24 25 42 03 22 23 32

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Denham,Kendall Matthews,Marc Perry,Jordan Gataric,Momir Nelson,Tyler Hosley,Antoine Johnson,Emmanuel Anderson,Jace Adams,Luke Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 10-25 40.0% 3FG % 1st Half: 2-12 16.7% FT % 1st Half: 3-5 60.0%

* * * * *

3-9 1-4 4-8 4-13 0-0 5-11 0-1 8-14 1-1

3-6 1-2 1-3 0-6 0-0 0-3 0-1 5-10 0-0

0 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 6 3 3 4 7 4 1 9 10 4 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 3 2 5 4 0 3 3 1 0 0 0 26-61 10-31 21-26 10 25 35 19

2nd half: 13-30 43.3% 2nd half: 5-14 35.7% 2nd half: 11-14 78.6%

7-8 0-0 1-2 3-5 2-2 2-2 0-0 6-7 0-0

OT: OT: OT:

3-6 3-5 7-7

50.0% 60.0% 100.0

16 3 10 11 2 12 0 27 2

A TO Blk Stl

Min

2 0 1 4 0 0 1 3 0

2 0 5 2 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1

1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1

83 11

5 225

Game: 26-61 42.6% Game: 10-31 32.3% Game: 21-26 80.8%

36 14 35 37 36 21 8 30 8

Deadball Rebounds 2,1

Officials: Bob Holloway, Ted Garner, Harvey Marshall Technical fouls: Alaska Fairbanks-None. Montana State Billings-None. Attendance: 523 2:09 Score by periods Alaska Fairbanks Montana State Billings

1st

26 25

2nd

41 42

11 16

Total

78 83

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Game 18: January 17, 2015 Alaska Anchorage 70, MSU Billings 62

Strong finish lifts UAA to 70-62 win over MSUB men January 17, 2015 Visiting Alaska Anchorage pulls away down the stretch to hand MSUB a 70-62 GNAC loss Saturday night. BILLINGS, Mont. – Dom Hunter scored 22 points for visiting Alaska Anchorage as the Seawolves collected a 70-62 Great Northwest Athletic Conference men’s basketball victory over Montana State University Billings Saturday night in Alterowitz Gym. A scoring drought that lasted 2:02 in the game’s final four minutes ultimately did the Yellowjackets in, as UAA was able to build a two-possession lead and convert free-throws down the stretch to earn the victory. “This was a really even game, but over the last four minutes we missed shots and they hit a big three in the corner that was the difference,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “Dom Hunter hurt us. We liked how we guarded him but he just made some big shots.” The Seawolves (9-8, 5-2 GNAC) received 14 points from Travis Thompson and 10 from Brian McGill to go along with Hunter’s game-high 22. Sjur Berg led the team in rebounding with nine, and Hunter also had four assists.

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After a career-high 27 points against Alaska Fairbanks on Thursday, MSUB sophomore Jace Anderson connected on 7 of 12 shots including 3 of 7 from 3-point range to lead his team with 19 points. Momir Gataric was also in double figures with 17 points, and he played a well-rounded game with six rebounds, five assists, a steal and no turnovers. “Jace and Momir were both really good tonight,” Stevens said. “Jace hit some big shots, and some off-balance shots too. We have talked to Momir all year about how good he can be when he limits his turnovers, and tonight he did that.” Threes by Kevin Bowman and McGill helped UAA sneak out to an early 8-7 lead, and Tyler Nelson had five points and four rebounds in the first five minutes for the ‘Jackets. A Brad Mears bucket helped UAA to within two points midway through the first, and an offensive rebound by the senior on the next possession led to a three by Hunter to give the Seawolves a 21-20 lead. An Anderson three put MSUB back on top with less than three minutes remaining in the first, making the score 31-29. Failing to score on the final possession of the first half, the Yellowjackets took a 36-35 edge into the locker rooms. McGill connected on a second-chance 3-pointer to open the second period, and Anderson responded with a long jumper to pull the score even at 38-38. Hunter drilled another three for the Seawolves, and Nelson flushed a pair of free-throws to help MSUB stay down by just one, 47-46. A three by Christian Leckband on the Seawolves’ next possession made the spread four, but Gataric picked up an offensive rebound and finished a bucket as MSUB refused to let UAA pull away. Anderson completed a three-point play the next time down the court as MSUB edged ahead 51-50. Thompson and Leckband had threes on back-to-back possessions for the Seawolves, as UAA began to gain momentum into the closing minutes. Gataric finished a layup with 1:48 remaining, but the bucket was the last of the night for MSUB as Hunter and Leckband each made a pair of free-throws in the final minute. On the game MSUB (4-14, 2-6 GNAC) outrebounded UAA 33-30 and won the matchup on points in the paint, 26-16. Kendall Denham had five assists and five points for the ‘Jackets, and Emmanuel Johnson finished with nine points and four boards. As a team the Yellowjackets shot 41.8 percent from the field (23-for-55), 42.1 percent from 3-point range (8-for19), and 61.5 percent from the foul line (8-for-13). The Seawolves connected on 11 of 23 shots from beyond the arc and shot 43.1 percent from the floor overall (22for-51). UAA also benefitted from a free-throw percentage of 75.0, and Thompson was a perfect 8-for-8. Gataric’s effort earned him St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game honors. Nelson finished with seven points and 11 rebounds. “Tyler did exactly what we expect Tyler to do,” Stevens said. “He plays hard all the time and we know what we’re going to get from him. “We are excited about the challenge facing Seattle Pacific next week,” Stevens continued. “They are a great team and a great program, and our guys are excited to play a team of that caliber.” AHEAD: With only one game next week, the ‘Jackets will play host to Seattle Pacific on Jan. 24. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym.

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Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics Alaska Anchorage vs Montana State Billings 1/17/15 7:30 p.m. at Billings, MT - Alterowitz Gym Alaska Anchorage 70 • 9-8, 5-2 GNAC ##

03 11 21 23 30 01 02 13 14 25 44

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

McGill,Brian Thompson,Travis Diouf,Kalidou Parrish,Travis Bowman,Kevin Leckband,Christian Berg,Sjur Hunter,Dom Fain,Derrick Blossom,Boomer Mears,Brad Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 12-25 48.0% 3FG % 1st Half: 5-12 41.7% FT % 1st Half: 6-8 75.0%

* * * * *

4-9 2-10 0-1 0-0 2-5 2-4 3-3 8-13 0-2 1-1 0-3

2-4 2-5 0-0 0-0 1-2 2-3 0-0 3-7 0-1 1-1 0-0

0-1 8-8 0-0 0-0 0-0 2-4 2-3 3-4 0-0 0-0 0-0

22-51 11-23 15-20 2nd half: 10-26 38.5% 2nd half: 6-11 54.5% 2nd half: 9-12 75.0%

2 0 2 1 0 1 1 3 0 0 0 0 1 4 5 3 0 0 0 1 0 5 5 0 1 8 9 3 0 1 1 1 1 3 4 2 0 0 0 1 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 8 22 30 15

10 14 0 0 5 8 8 22 0 3 0

A TO Blk Stl

Min

2 3 0 1 0 1 0 4 1 0 0

1 1 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0

70 12

5 200

Game: 22-51 43.1% Game: 11-23 47.8% Game: 15-20 75.0%

25 34 3 13 17 22 29 30 8 11 8

Deadball Rebounds 2,3

Montana State Billings 62 • 4-14, 2-6 GNAC ##

02 23 24 25 42 03 13 22 32

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Denham,Kendall Anderson,Jace Perry,Jordan Gataric,Momir Nelson,Tyler Hosley,Antoine Matthews,Marc Johnson,Emmanuel Adams,Luke Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 14-30 46.7% 3FG % 1st Half: 5-9 55.6% FT % 1st Half: 3-4 75.0%

* * * * *

2-7 7-12 1-8 6-8 2-7 1-3 0-2 4-8 0-0

1-2 3-7 0-3 2-4 0-0 1-1 0-1 1-1 0-0

0-0 2-4 0-0 3-3 3-6 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

23-55

8-19

8-13

2nd half: 2nd half: 2nd half:

9-25 3-10 5-9

36.0% 30.0% 55.6%

0 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 3 4 7 4 2 4 6 3 4 7 11 4 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 4 4 4 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 10 23 33 22

5 19 2 17 7 3 0 9 0

A TO Blk Stl

5 2 0 5 1 0 1 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0

62 14 11

3 200

Game: 23-55 41.8% Game: 8-19 42.1% Game: 8-13 61.5%

Officials: Bob Holloway, Harvey Marshall, Scott Holland Technical fouls: Alaska Anchorage-None. Montana State Billings-None. Attendance: 728 1:44 Score by periods Alaska Anchorage Montana State Billings

1st

35 36

2nd

35 26

Min

4 0 2 0 0 1 0 2 2

Total

70 62

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38 34 29 35 28 6 7 18 5

Deadball Rebounds 2,1

‘Jackets host Falcons in prime-time GNAC matchup Saturday January 21, 2015 In an all-time series that has historically been dramatic and near-even, the MSUB men’s basketball team plays host to Seattle Pacific this Saturday at 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym. BILLINGS, Mont. – The last time the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team met Seattle Pacific, then-freshman Marc Matthews knocked down a buzzer-beater to lift the Yellowjackets to a 72-70 overtime victory over the then-No. 13 Falcons at Brougham Pavilion in Seattle last February. The triumph by the ‘Jackets snapped an 11-game SPU winning streak, and simultaneously upped MSUB’s winning streak to four games en route to last season’s Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships tournament berth. On Saturday, the Falcons (14-4, 6-2 GNAC) head to Billings for the first meeting between the teams in 11 months, as now-sophomore Matthews and the Yellowjackets get set for their lone GNAC matchup of the week. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym, and live video and statistics will be available via www.msubsports. com. Children age sixth grade and under will be admitted at no charge. “We are excited for the challenge and opportunity to play a team and program the caliber of SPU,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “The last few times we have played them, it has gone down to the wire. We had two overtime games last year and both could have been won by either team.” The Yellowjackets (4-14, 2-6 GNAC) enter Saturday’s game having won two of their last three dating back to a 111-104 road win over Simon Fraser on Jan. 10. Last Thursday, MSUB’s Jace Anderson knocked down five 3-pointers as he keyed a big 83-78 overtime victory over visiting Alaska Fairbanks with a career-high 27 points.

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The sophomore followed with 19 points against Alaska Anchorage last Saturday, but the ‘Jackets went cold scoring just two points over the last four minutes in a 70-62 loss to the Seawolves. Anderson earned honorable mention GNAC Player of the Week for his efforts last week. “Over the last three games we are probably playing as well as we have all year,” Stevens said. “We have settled into a rotation that is playing well together, which has led to our success as a team overall.” The Series: The all-time series between the ‘Jackets and Falcons has been fairly even, with SPU holding a slight 35-30 advantage. Historically, the home team has prevailed in the classic matchup as MSUB is 21-8 at home in Alterowitz and the Falcons are 26-8 at home in Brougham. Over the last three years, MSUB has gone 3-4 against SPU. Last Time Out: Matthews stunned SPU with his overtime game-winner in Seattle last February, as the ‘Jackets snapped a four-game losing skid at the hands of the Falcons with the win. On Jan. 25 last year, Stockton scored 16 points and Penner added 14 as SPU scored a narrow, 92-87 overtime win at Alterowitz.

Junior Momir Gataric.

110 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

The Denham-Anderson connection: From Malta to MSU Billings January 22, 2015 Leading Malta High School to multiple football state championship game appearances as teammates, Kendall Denham and Jace Anderson continue to connect now on the basketball court for the ‘Jackets. MSUB SPORTS – In the fall of 2011 Malta High School junior quarterback Kendall Denham led his team to a perfect 11-0 record leading up to an appearance in the state championship game. More often than not, senior wide-out Jace Anderson was on the receiving end of Denham’s passes, as the two had grown into a dynamic duo by their final year on the gridiron together. Today, Denham is still hitting Anderson with passes, albeit within the confines of Alterowitz Gym as the two are now starters for the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team. “We played basketball against each other in middle school growing up but not in high school since we were in different classes,” Denham said. “My junior year in football is really when our connection moved to the next level.” Both two-sport standouts in high school, Denham and Anderson were teammates through the fall before parting ways in the winter. Anderson attended Whitewater High School, which partnered with Malta to form the football team under head coach Scott King. “As athletes they were both very competitive, and they were as good in practice as they were on Friday nights,” King commented on his former standouts. “If you ask them, they’ll tell you that basketball was their first love.” Anderson was driven to pursue basketball at the highest level he could, ultimately determining that MSUB would be a good fit. Following Anderson’s mentality, Denham was guided dually by his childhood teammate and another familiar face from his hometown who was making a name for herself as a Yellowjacket. @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 111

“I talked to Jace about it, and my sister played here her freshman year too so I had a good connection,” Denham said. “I also talked to (Malta native) Bobbi (Knudsen) quite a bit, and she was helping recruit me to come down here.” After both players redshirted in their first year in the program, 2014-15 marks the rebirth of the two as teammates. Picking up right where they left off in high school, the Denham-Anderson connection has proven to be one of the keys to MSUB’s offense this season. Anderson ranks third in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in 3-point field-goal percentage at 48.0, and Denham ranks seventh in assist-turnover ratio at 1.9. Denham has connected with Anderson for a bucket on eight occasions this season, including two in an 83-78 overtime win against Alaska Fairbanks last week that was a career night for both players. Anderson posted 27 points and made 5 of 10 shots from beyond the arc, and Denham finished with a season-best 16 points on 3 of 6 from long range. “That game was definitely a stepping stone for us, and we feel like now everything is finally clicking,” Anderson said. “Seeing Jace get into rhythm helped to get the other guys going and we all fed off of that,” Denham commented. “We are playing good team ball right now, and we just have to dig deep and do the little things right in the last four minutes to find ways to win.” Next up for the ‘Jackets is a prime-time GNAC contest against Seattle Pacific on Saturday, as MSUB will look to repeat last season’s 72-70, overtime win on a buzzer-beater by Marc Matthews against then-No. 13 SPU. “We have been playing well as a team since Christmas break, and we have been in every single game,” Anderson said. “We are confident that our connection will help lead to more wins.”

112 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Game 19: January 24, 2015 Seattle Pacific 60, MSU Billings 44

Falcons stifle Yellowjacket offense in 60-44 GNAC defeat January 24, 2015 MSUB is held to a season-low 44 points in a tough home loss to GNAC opponent Seattle Pacific Saturday evening. BILLINGS, Mont. – Matt Borton scored 15 points and Mitch Penner added 13 as visiting Seattle Pacific University defeated Montana State University Billings 60-44 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men’s basketball matchup Saturday evening at Alterowitz Gym. Despite trailing 35-26 at halftime, MSUB opened the second period strong and pulled to within four points on a layup by Jordan Perry that made the score 39-35 with 16:55 left. The ‘Jackets stayed within striking distance over the next five minutes, as a jumper by Antoine Hosley made it 41-37. Borton finished a layup to cap off an 8-3 SPU run however, which gave the Falcons enough distance to close out the game over the final eight minutes. “Again I was really proud of our guys’ effort tonight,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “We just ran into a really physical team in Seattle Pacific. Credit to them in how they guarded and how they rebounded.” SPU (15-4, 7-2 GNAC) connected on 5 of 13 shots from 3-point range, three of which came out of the hand of Borton. The senior was 6-for-11 overall shooting on the game, and came up one rebound shy of a double-double with nine. Penner was also strong on the boards with eight to go along with his 13 points. Senior guard Riley Stockton finished the evening with eight rebounds and six points, and Cory Hutsen had eight points and a team-best three assists.

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For MSUB (4-15, 2-7 GNAC) Emmanuel Johnson was the leading scorer with eight points, and he also grabbed three rebounds en route to being named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game. Senior Tyler Nelson had a strong game for the ‘Jackets with seven points and five boards, and Perry finished with six points and five rebounds. The Yellowjackets were held to just 34.0 percent shooting from the field (16-for-47) and 25.0 percent from the perimeter (3-for-12). From the foul line MSUB was 9-for-12 on the game. The Falcons were able to control the pace of the game early on, jumping out to a 10-3 lead and moving ahead 17-7 midway through the first. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Johnson with two minutes remaining in the first half helped keep the Falcons’ lead below double-digits, as he answered layups by Borton and Garrett Swanson of SPU. MSUB couldn’t find a way over the hurdle in the second half, as pulling within four points on two occasions proved to be the closest the ‘Jackets came to cutting into SPU’s lead. The 44 points were the fewest of the season for the Yellowjackets, who entered the game averaging 70.6 per contest. SPU entered the game allowing 63.1 points per game, and held the fifth-best scoring margin in the NCAA Division II at plus-18.8. The Falcons also had the second-best rebounding margin in Division II at plus-13.6, and bettered that mark by winning the battle on the boards 38-21 over the ‘Jackets. The ‘Jackets picked up just two offensive rebounds while SPU had 11, but MSUB limited its turnovers to just eight and allowed just two points off of them. Marc Matthews chipped in seven points for the ‘Jackets, and Momir Gataric had four with two rebounds, an assist and a steal. “We can’t wait to get back to work Monday and start getting ready for Western Oregon,” Stevens said. COMING UP: Back on the road next week, the Yellowjackets make the turn into the second half of their conference schedule against Western Oregon and Saint Martin’s. MSUB faces WOU on Jan. 29 and SMU on Jan. 31, with tipoff set for 8 p.m. Mountain time for both tilts.

Sophomore Marc Matthews. 114 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics Seattle Pacific vs Montana State Billings 1/24/15 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym - Billings, MT Seattle Pacific 60 • 15-4, 7-2 GNAC ##

10 12 20 24 34 01 03 04 14 21 33

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Stockton,Riley Carroll,Brendan Borton,Matt Penner,Mitch Hutsen,Cory Leavitt,Bryce Simpson,Sam Parker,Will Rasmussen,Joe Reid,Shawn Swanson,Garrett Team Totals

* * * * *

FG % 1st Half: 14-31 45.2% 3FG % 1st Half: 4-9 44.4% FT % 1st Half: 3-4 75.0%

3-9 1-4 6-11 5-11 2-6 0-0 0-0 0-2 4-5 2-5 1-1

0-2 0-0 3-4 0-3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1 1-1 1-2 0-0

0-0 0-0 0-1 3-6 4-5 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

24-54

5-13

7-12

2nd half: 10-23 43.5% 2nd half: 1-4 25.0% 2nd half: 4-8 50.0%

2 6 8 3 0 3 3 1 2 7 9 3 2 6 8 2 2 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 2 1 1 4 5 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 11 27 38 15

6 2 15 13 8 0 0 0 9 5 2 60

A TO Blk Stl

0 1 0 2 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

1 0 3 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 1 1 7 12

Min

1 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1

1 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0

5 200

Game: 24-54 44.4% Game: 5-13 38.5% Game: 7-12 58.3%

36 24 32 31 30 1 1 15 10 12 8

Deadball Rebounds 3,2

Montana State Billings 44 • 4-15, 2-7 GNAC ##

02 23 24 25 42 01 03 13 22 32

Player

Denham,Kendall Anderson,Jace Perry,Jordan Gataric,Momir Nelson,Tyler Henderson,Colby Hosley,Antoine Matthews,Marc Johnson,Emmanuel Adams,Luke Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 9-23 3FG % 1st Half: 2-6 FT % 1st Half: 6-7

39.1% 33.3% 85.7%

* * * * *

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

0-5 2-4 3-14 2-7 2-4 0-0 2-3 3-5 2-5 0-0

0-1 1-2 0-3 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1 2-4 0-0

2-2 0-0 0-0 0-0 3-5 0-0 0-0 1-1 2-2 1-2

2 5 6 4 7 0 4 7 8 1

1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 0 2 3 0 0 0 0 1 1

0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

1 0 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 0

16-47

3-12

9-12

5 200

2nd half: 2nd half: 2nd half:

7-24 1-6 3-5

29.2% 16.7% 60.0%

0 4 4 0 0 1 1 1 0 5 5 3 1 1 2 2 0 5 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 2 3 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 19 21 14

Game: 16-47 34.0% Game: 3-12 25.0% Game: 9-12 75.0%

A TO Blk Stl

Min

34 21 35 28 24 1 16 15 17 9

Deadball Rebounds 3,2

Officials: Rob Tesch, Matt Mason, Harvey Marshall Technical fouls: Seattle Pacific-None. Montana State Billings-None. Attendance: 628 Time: 1:38 Score by periods Seattle Pacific Montana State Billings

1st

35 26

2nd

25 18

Total

60 44

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 115

MSUB men begin second half of GNAC play on the road this week January 27, 2015 Halfway through the conference portion of the 2014-15 schedule, the MSUB men head to Western Oregon and Saint Martin’s this week for more GNAC action. BILLINGS, Mont. – Nine down, nine to go. It’s the midway point of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule for the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team, which will hit the road this week to take on a pair of West Coast opponents. The Yellowjackets (4-15, 2-7 GNAC) will seek payback against a pair of teams they lost to at home earlier in the season. MSUB is set to take on Western Oregon in Monmouth, Ore., on Thursday before heading to Lacey, Wash., for a meeting with the Saint Martin’s Saints. Both games are scheduled for 8 p.m. Mountain time, and live video and statistics will be available via www.msubsports.com. Most recently, MSUB lost to visiting Seattle Pacific 60-44 last Saturday, as the streaking Falcons picked up their ninth win in their last 10 games. The ‘Jackets have now dropped two straight dating back to a dramatic, 83-78 overtime victory over Alaska Fairbanks on Jan. 15. “We know we have nine games to go and that we will be playing opponents that we have played before,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “It’s a little bit of a new start, and we are excited to go back to work.”

116 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Momir Gataric, who has started 18 of 19 games this season for the ‘Jackets, is the team’s leading scorer with 12.4 points per game. The scoring average is the 15th-best mark in the GNAC, and the junior has made 14 of his last 17 free-throws and is shooting 56.0 percent from the field over his last five games. Tyler Nelson is the team’s leader in rebounding with an average of 5.5 per game, and the senior is the lone player on the team to have started all 19 games. “Tyler is a great team leader,” said freshman Jordan Perry. “He always keeps us together and on the same page, and helps us stay composed.” Perry has continued to see an uptick in minutes, averaging 31.5 over his past four games. The redshirt freshman is also contributing 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds in the same time span. Freshman point guard Kendall Denham ranks eighth in the GNAC in assist-turnover ratio at 1.9. Denham’s 4.1 assists per game is the seventh-best mark in the conference, and he is leading the team with 33.7 minutes per game. The Malta, Mont., native is scoring 5.9 points per game, and leads the team in steals with 16. From 3-point range, Jace Anderson remained No. 3 in the GNAC this week with a percentage of 48.1. The sophomore has started five of the last seven games, a span over which he is averaging 11.6 points and is shooting an even 50 percent from the perimeter. On the season Anderson is averaging 6.5 points, shooting 49.3 percent from the field and 72.2 percent from the foul line. Senior Antoine Hosley joins Gataric as a double-digit scorer for the ‘Jackets, averaging 12.1 points per game. Hosley is shooting 44.9 percent from the floor and a team-best 73.3 percent from the free-throw line. Marc Matthews is next on the scoring chart for MSUB with 8.5 points per game, and his 26 assists are third-most on the team. Junior Emmanuel Johnson is scoring 6.5 points, ranks second on the team in rebounds with 4.7, and has kept his shooting percentage above .500 at 50.5 on the season from the floor. As a team the ‘Jackets are outscored 75.3-69.2, with a shooting percentage of 44.5 from the field on the season. MSUB is also shooting 33.9 percent from 3-point range and 62.0 percent from the foul line. The ‘Jackets are close to even in rebounding margin, allowing 34.7 per game while collecting 33.3. MSUB ranks third in the GNAC in 3-point field goal defense, holding opponents to a mark of 33.8 percent from long range.

Senior Tyler Nelson. @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 117

Thursday, January 29 – 8 p.m. MTN – New P.E. Building – Monmouth, OR Western Oregon University Wolves 2014-15 Record: 16-3, 8-1 GNAC Head Coach: Brady Bergeson, 4th season 2013-14 GNAC Finish: 4th (18-12, 10-8 GNAC) Currently occupying the top spot in the GNAC standings, the Wolves are riding a GNAC-best six-game winning streak heading into Thursday’s game. Most recently, WOU defeated Western Washington 90-87 to snap the Vikings’ 14-game home winning streak dating back to last season. The Wolves’ last lost was against Seattle Pacific on Jan. 1, and the team has won 15 of its last 16 games overall. “It will be a big challenge, they are in first place in our league right now,” Stevens said regarding facing the Wolves. “We are excited about the opportunity to play a really good Western Oregon team on Thursday.” Leading the way for WOU has been Andy Avgi, whose 17.1 points per game are the fifth-most in the GNAC. The junior is shooting 59.5 percent from the field, also the fifth-best mark in the league, and is adding 5.6 rebounds per game. Jordan Wiley and Julian Nichols are also scoring in double figures for the Wolves at 11.5 and 11.4 points per game, respectively. Wiley has been the top 3-point shooter for WOU this season, connecting on 49 of 103 attempts for a GNAC-fourth best percentage of 47.6 from downtown. Nichols is leading the GNAC in free-throw percentage at 90.5, and his 5.8 assists per game are the second-most in the conference. Devon Alexander and Lewis Thomas have also started all 19 games for the Wolves this season, with the former averaging 9.4 points and 3.4 assists per game. Thomas is contributing 7.8 points, and is the team’s leading rebounder with 6.9 per game. Marwan Sarhan has been a consistent contributor off the bench with 8.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and a field-goal percentage of 48.5 on the season. As a team WOU ranks third in scoring at 80.9 points per game and second in scoring defense at 67.1 points allowed per game. The Wolves are the top free-throw shooting team in the GNAC at 77.9 percent, and the team also shoots well from the field (47.7 percent) and from 3-point range (38.4 percent). WOU’s rebounding margin of plus-6.1 ranks No. 2 in the GNAC. Last Time Out: The ‘Jackets played the Wolves tough at home, losing 72-64 on Jan. 3 at Alterowitz Gym. Hosley led MSUB with 17 points and Johnson had a season-best 16, but Avgi trumped them both with 23 points on 11 of 15 shooting to lead WOU to victory. The Series: MSUB holds a narrow 10-9 all-time advantage in the series with WOU, but the Wolves have won the last three meetings between the two.

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Saturday, January 31 – 8 p.m. MTN – Marcus Pavilion – Lacey, WA Saint Martin’s University Saints 2014-15 Record: 5-14, 2-7 GNAC Head Coach: Michael Ostlund, 2nd season 2013-14 GNAC Finish: 8th (9-17, 6-12 GNAC) Currently enduring a six-game losing skid, the Saints will look to rebound against Seattle Pacific on Thursday before Saturday’s meeting with the Yellowjackets. SMU is averaging just 67.3 points per game during the stretch while allowing 78.7. “Saint Martin’s is a big tempo team, and they have done a good job of slowing the game down,” Stevens said. “It will just come down to getting more stops than they do and making more shots at the offensive end.” On the season freshman guard Trey Ingram is leading the team with 10.4 points per game while shooting 44.3 percent from 3-point range. Ingram is the lone player to have started all 19 games for the Saints, and his 3.7 assists are ninth-most in the conference. Also averaging in double-digits in scoring for SMU is Riley Carel, who currently sits at 10.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. Carel ranks second on the team with 57 assists behind Ingram’s 71, and he leads the Saints with 21 steals on the season. Tyler Idowu has provided consistent numbers for SMU, with 8.8 points and a team-best 5.4 rebounds. Ryan Rogers is another strong contributor with 8.1 points and 4.7 boards. Currently leading the GNAC in 3-point field-goal percentage is Isaac Bianchini, who holds a mark of 49.2 from behind the arc. As a team SMU averages 68.3 points per game while allowing 74.7. The Saints shoot 42.6 percent from the field, 37.3 percent from the 3-point arc and 64.7 percent from the foul line. The Saints rank fourth in the GNAC in 3-point field-goal defense, holding opponents to 34.1 percent from the arc. Last Time Out: Four ‘Jackets scored in double figures but MSUB came up one point short in a 66-65 home loss to SMU. Carel led the Saints to victory, connecting on 6 of 16 shots and 7 of 9 from the foul line en route to a game-high 19 points. The Series: With the recent victory by SMU, the all-time series is now even between the teams at 12 wins apiece. MSUB is 7-5 at home against SMU, and 5-7 on the road. SMU has won the last two meetings and three of the last four. MSUB has won five of the last eight dating back to the 2010-11 season.

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Game 20: January 29, 2015 Western Oregon 94, MSU Billings 74

No. 24 Wolves pull away with first-half run, defeat ‘Jackets 94-74 January 29, 2015 WOU storms ahead with a 14-0 run early in the first half and never looks back as the MSUB men fall on the road 94-74 Thursday evening. MONMOUTH, Ore. – A 14-0 run midway through the first half shifted momentum in favor of host Western Oregon and the No. 24 Wolves never looked back as they defeated Montana State University Billings 94-74 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men’s basketball meeting Thursday evening at the New P.E. Building on the WOU campus. A balanced scoring effort contributed to the win for the Wolves, as four different players posted double figures led by 17 from Adam Hastings. Lewis Thomas (14), Andy Avgi (13), and Devon Alexander (10) also scored in double digits for WOU, which remained atop the GNAC standings and extended its winning streak to seven games. For MSUB (4-16, 2-8 GNAC) Antoine Hosley was the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game with a gamehigh 23 points on 10 of 17 shooting from the field. Hosley also had five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Emmanuel Johnson also had a big game for MSUB, with 17 points, a team-best six rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals. Jace Anderson connected on a three on the first possession of the game, helping MSUB pull out to an early 8-2 advantage in the first half. Hosley knocked down a jumper midway through the period as the ‘Jackets held on to the lead at 19-15. 120 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

WOU (17-3, 9-1 GNAC) turned the game around with its big run, and Hastings scored the first seven points during the span. Alexander chipped in with a jumper and a layup, and a trey by Thomas capped off the burst and made the score 29-19 with 10:38 before halftime. Hastings and Thomas started the game a combined 11-for-11 from the field, contributing to WOU’s outstanding field-goal percentage of 62.9 on the night. Hastings finished 7-for-9 and Thomas 6-for-7, and each player hit a pair of threes. No Wolf totaled more than five rebounds, as JJ Chirnside led his team with that total on the boards. Julian Nichols picked up 11 of WOU’s 19 assists, and added four rebounds, four steals and seven points in 24 minutes. MSUB cut the deficit to as little as six points on a Hosley layup with 7:55 left before the break, but WOU was able to extend the lead out to double digits with a 51-35 halftime advantage. The ‘Jackets did not threaten the Wolves’ lead in the second half, as the deficit hovered in the 20-point range throughout the period. On the game, MSUB shot 48.4 percent from the floor (30-for-62), and 38.9 percent from 3-point range (7-for18). The Yellowjackets struggled from the foul line, making 7 of 12 attempts (58.3 percent). Freshman guard Kendall Denham was 3-for-3 from long distance for nine points, and senior Tyler Nelson scored eight and had five rebounds. The teams were nearly even on the boards, with WOU holding a slight 32-31 advantage despite MSUB’s 11-6 edge on offensive rebounds. MSUB committed 14 turnovers to WOU’s eight, and the Wolves capitalized with 17 points off of them. The Wolves’ biggest scoring advantage came in the paint, where WOU scored 56 points compared with 38 by MSUB. WOU also had a 12-4 edge in fastbreak points, and the home team generated nine steals while the ‘Jackets had six. WOU has now won 16 of its last 17 games, and improved to 10-1 at home this season. MSUB leading scorer Momir Gataric (12.4 ppg) was limited to just two points in six minutes with an injury. “We saw a really good Western Oregon team tonight,” said head coach Jamie Stevens. “We will regroup and get ready for Saint Martin’s, and we are looking forward to competing on Saturday.”

Freshman Kendall Denham.

NEXT UP: The ‘Jackets continue the brief road trip with a Saturday game against Saint Martin’s in Lacey, Wash. Tipoff is again scheduled for 8 p.m. Mountain time, inside Marcus Pavilion on the SMU campus.

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Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics Montana State Billings vs Western Oregon 01/29/15 7:00 PM at Monmouth, Ore. - New PE Building Montana State Billings 74 • 4-14, 2-6 GNAC ##

25 42 02 23 24 01 03 13 22 32

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Gataric,Momir Nelson,Tyler Denham,Kendall Anderson,Jace Perry,Jordan Henderson,Colby Hosley,Antoine Matthews,Marc Johnson,Emmanuel Adams,Luke Team Totals

f f g g g

FG % 1st Half: 14-26 53.8% 3FG % 1st Half: 3-6 50.0% FT % 1st Half: 4-7 57.1%

1-2 4-8 3-6 2-5 2-5 0-1 10-17 0-6 7-11 1-1

0-1 0-0 3-3 2-5 0-1 0-1 0-3 0-1 2-3 0-0

0-0 0-0 0-0 2-2 1-2 0-0 3-4 0-0 1-1 0-3

30-62

7-18

7-12

2nd half: 16-36 44.4% 2nd half: 4-12 33.3% 2nd half: 3-5 60.0%

0 1 1 1 3 2 5 1 0 2 2 0 0 1 1 4 2 3 5 1 0 0 0 1 0 5 5 1 0 0 0 1 3 3 6 4 0 2 2 2 3 1 4 11 20 31 16

2 8 9 8 5 0 23 0 17 2

A TO Blk Stl

2 1 0 0 1 0 4 1 3 0

Min

1 1 2 2 3 0 2 1 2 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 2 0

74 12 14

6 200

Game: 30-62 48.4% Game: 7-18 38.9% Game: 7-12 58.3%

6 26 28 22 25 3 23 19 34 14

Deadball Rebounds 2

Western Oregon 94 • 17-3, 9-1 GNAC ##

12 32 00 10 22 03 05 11 20 21 33 40 44

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Thomas,Lewis Avgi,Andy Alexander,Devon Nichols,Julian Wiley,Jordan Nestell,Nick DupreeTurner,Dezmon Hastings,Adam Okundaye,Kelvin Schriber,Jordan Sarhan,Marwan Thompson,Connor Chirnside,JJ Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 22-35 62.9% 3FG % 1st Half: 4-7 57.1% FT % 1st Half: 3-3 100.0

f f g g g

6-7 6-8 5-7 2-6 2-6 1-1 3-4 7-9 0-1 3-4 4-9 0-0 1-2

2-3 0-0 0-1 0-0 1-4 0-0 2-2 2-3 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-0 0-1

0-0 1-1 0-0 3-3 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-1 1-2 0-0 0-0 1-5 0-0

40-64

7-15

7-12

2nd half: 18-29 62.1% 2nd half: 3-8 37.5% 2nd half: 4-9 44.4%

2 1 3 1 0 4 4 2 0 1 1 1 1 3 4 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 4 1 2 3 2 0 0 0 1 1 2 3 2 0 2 2 0 1 1 2 2 0 5 5 2 0 4 4 6 26 32 19

A TO Blk Stl

14 1 13 0 10 2 7 11 5 2 2 3 8 0 17 0 1 0 6 0 8 0 1 0 2 0

0 0 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0

2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

0 0 0 4 2 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0

94 19

9 200

Game: 40-64 62.5% Game: 7-15 46.7% Game: 7-12 58.3%

Officials: Gregg Morstein, Robert Tesch, Jeff Flowers Technical fouls: Montana State Billings-None. Western Oregon-DupreeTurner,Dezmond. Attendance: 487 Western Oregon is ranked No. 24 in the latest NABC Coaches' Poll. Score by periods Montana State Billings Western Oregon

1st

35 51

2nd

39 43

Min

Total

74 94

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22 17 22 24 25 8 19 13 4 15 13 10 8

Deadball Rebounds 2

Game 21: January 31, 2015 Saint Martin’s 75, MSU Billings 64

MSUB men fall to SMU on road, 75-64 Marc Matthews is two off of his season-high with 21 points, but the Yellowjackets squander a halftime lead in a 75-64 GNAC loss to Saint Martin’s Saturday evening. LACEY, Wash. – Marc Matthews led all players with 21 points – and shot 5 of 6 from 3-point range – but it wasn’t enough to overcome a quartet of double-digit scorers for Saint Martin’s as the hosts defeated Montana State University Billings 75-64 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Saturday evening at Marcus Pavilion. “Saint Martin’s played very well in the second half and we did not,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “We had a tough time slowing them down and we couldn’t get stops.” Cameron Chatwin sunk five 3-pointers to account for his 15 points, and Trey Ingram matched the scoring total to pace the Saints in offense on the evening. Tyler Copp shot 5-for-10 from the field and finished with 14 points, and Isaac Bianchini made three 3-pointers for 11 points. In double figures for MSUB alongside Matthews were Antoine Hosley (14) and Jordan Perry (11). Perry grabbed nine rebounds, tying Emmanuel Johnson for the team high. Johnson put together a very solid game overall, adding seven points, three blocks, an assist, and a steal and did not commit a turnover in 30 minutes of action.

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The Saints (6-15, 3-8 GNAC) opened the game with a 6-0 run, but MSUB responded with a 9-2 burst to take an early lead. A layup by Jace Anderson with 11:54 left in the first half gave the ‘Jackets the upper hand, and MSUB held the advantage for the remainder of the period. Back-to-back threes by Matthews with five minutes left in the first gave MSUB its largest lead of the game to that point at 27-18. MSUB remained in control through the closing minutes of the first half, holding a rebounding margin of 17 and a 30-25 lead at the break. Anderson opened the second half with a triple, but SMU put together a 7-0 rally to pull within one point, 33-32. SMU continued to nudge its way back into the game, and a pair of free-throws by Bianchini evened the score at 42-42. The two foul shot conversions kicked off a big 11-0 run that shifted the game into SMU’s hands at 51-42. Johnson drained a trey with 8:37 remaining in the game, but SMU used a 9-2 run to take its largest lead of the game to that point at 64-51. The Saints held on to the double-digit spread into the closing minutes of the game, outscoring MSUB 8-6 over the final four minutes to collect the victory. On the game the Saints shot 45.9 percent from the floor (28-for-61), and a solid 45.8 percent from long distance (11-for-24). The ‘Jackets, meanwhile, converted just 22 of 62 shots for a shooting percentage of 35.5, but were on par with SMU from 3-point range at 43.5 percent (10-for-23). Sophomore Jace Anderson.

Neither team shot well from the foul line as MSUB was 10-for-17 (58.8 percent), and SMU was 8-for-14 (57.1 percent). MSUB held the advantage in rebounding at 40-35, including a 16-10 mark on offensive boards. Both teams took care of the ball well, with MSUB committing six turnovers and SMU only four.

Tyler Nelson picked up seven rebounds in 15 minutes of action. The Yellowjackets played without their second-leading scorer, Momir Gataric (11.8 ppg) who sat out due to an injury sustained on Thursday at Western Oregon. With its fourth-straight loss, MSUB fell to 4-17 overall on the season and 2-9 in GNAC play. Matthews was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game for his effort. SMU snapped a seven-game losing streak with the victory. “We are excited to be heading home, and are looking forward to playing there for the next two weeks,” Stevens said. AHEAD: MSUB returns home to face Simon Fraser and Western Washington next week. The ‘Jackets will face the Clan on Feb. 2 and the Vikings on Feb. 4, with a 7 p.m. tipoff scheduled for both games.

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Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics Montana St. Univ. Billings vs Saint Martin's 01/31/15 7:30 p.m. at Lacey, Wash. - Marcus Pavilion Montana St. Univ. Billings 64 • 4-17, 2-9 GNAC ##

02 22 23 24 42 03 13 32

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Denham,Kendall Johnson,Emmanuel Anderson,Jace Perry,Jordan Nelson,Tyler Hosley,Antoine Matthews,Marc Adams,Luke Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 11-33 33.3% 3FG % 1st Half: 5-11 45.5% FT % 1st Half: 3-5 60.0%

* * * * *

0-6 2-7 3-7 4-8 0-5 5-14 8-11 0-4

0-3 2-4 2-4 1-4 0-0 0-2 5-6 0-0

0-2 1-2 1-2 2-2 2-3 4-6 0-0 0-0

0 3 3 1 3 6 9 2 0 1 1 4 2 7 9 1 5 2 7 4 2 1 3 1 2 2 4 2 1 2 3 0 1 0 1 22-62 10-23 10-17 16 24 40 15

2nd half: 11-29 37.9% 2nd half: 5-12 41.7% 2nd half: 7-12 58.3%

A TO Blk Stl

Min

0 7 9 11 2 14 21 0

1 1 2 2 0 2 1 0

1 0 2 0 1 0 1 1

0 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0

2 200

Game: 22-62 35.5% Game: 10-23 43.5% Game: 10-17 58.8%

33 30 28 32 15 24 26 12

Deadball Rebounds 5,2

Saint Martin's 75 • 6-15, 3-8 GNAC ##

03 10 22 23 33 04 11 20 21

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Ingram,Trey Carel,Riley Rogers,Ryan Idowu,Tyler Chatwin,Cameron Ieronymides,Victor Counts,Brent Bianchini,Isaac Copp,Tyler Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 10-28 35.7% 3FG % 1st Half: 4-12 33.3% FT % 1st Half: 1-4 25.0%

* * * * *

7-13 1-7 1-3 3-4 5-8 2-6 1-5 3-5 5-10

0-3 0-1 1-1 0-0 5-8 0-1 0-0 3-5 2-5

28-61 11-24

1-1 1-2 0-2 1-2 0-0 1-3 0-0 2-2 2-2

8-14

2nd half: 18-33 54.5% 2nd half: 7-12 58.3% 2nd half: 7-10 70.0%

0 3 3 1 2 2 4 5 0 6 6 0 0 4 4 4 0 4 4 2 3 1 4 3 2 3 5 2 0 2 2 0 1 0 1 1 2 0 2 10 25 35 18

Game: 28-61 45.9% Game: 11-24 45.8% Game: 8-14 57.1%

15 3 3 7 15 5 2 11 14

A TO Blk Stl

Min

6 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 4

2 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 3 1 2 1 0 0

0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0

33 28 18 14 23 26 15 22 21

75 16

3 200 Deadball Rebounds 3,1

Officials: Jason Crider, Jay Darren, Jeff Flowers Technical fouls: Montana St. Univ. Billings-Johnson,Emmanuel. Saint Martin's-Carel,Riley. Attendance: 411 Score by periods Montana St. Univ. Billings Saint Martin's

1st

30 25

2nd

34 50

Total

64 75

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‘Jackets back for 2 more GNAC tilts at home February 3, 2015 The MSUB men get set to host Simon Fraser and Western Washington, facing two teams they split games with earlier in the season on the road. BILLINGS, Mont. – Returning home this week to Alterowitz Gym, the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team is set to host Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponents Simon Fraser and Western Washington before heading out on a three-game road trip next week. The Yellowjackets (4-17, 2-9 GNAC) will face the Clan on Thursday before taking on Western Washington two nights later. Both games are scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. and live video and statistics will be available via www. msubsports.com. MSUB is coming off a pair of road losses last week, falling to No. 24 Western Oregon on Jan. 29, 94-74, and losing to Saint Martin’s 75-64 two days later. Senior Antoine Hosley, who leads the team with 12.7 points per game, earned honorable mention GNAC Player of the Week after scoring in double figures in both of the Yellowjackets’ games last week. Hosley led all players with 23 points against Western Oregon, and he also had five boards, four assists and three steals. The Portland, Ore., native followed with a strong, 14-point effort against SMU on Saturday and did not commit a turnover. On the season Hosley is shooting 45.4 percent from the field and is No. 2 on the team in steals with 15.

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Junior Emmanuel Johnson also put together a pair of solid games last week, including a season-high 17 points against WOU on Thursday. Overall in the two-game stretch, Johnson scored 24 points on 9 of 18 shooting – including 4 of 7 from 3-point range – and grabbed 15 rebounds, had four assists, three blocks and three steals against just two turnovers. On the season he is averaging 7.1 points and a team second-best 5.0 rebounds per game. Reaching double figures for the first time in five games, Marc Matthews led his team in scoring with 21 points against the Saints on Saturday. Matthews converted 5 of 6 3-point attempts and shot 8 of 11 overall in the strong effort. The sophomore is providing 8.7 points per game, good for third-best on the squad. Maintaining his spot as the No. 3 shooter from 3-point range in the conference, Jace Anderson hit on 4 of 9 attempts from long distance last week to keep his percentage lofty at 47.5 on the season. Fellow guard Kendall Denham drilled three 3-pointers against the Wolves to account for nine points. The redshirt freshman now ranks No. 11 in the GNAC in assist-turnover ratio at 1.8, and his 33.4 minutes per game are the most in the conference. Senior Tyler Nelson continues to lead the team in rebounding at 5.5 per game, a mark that ranks 10th overall in the GNAC. Freshman Jordan Perry upped his scoring and rebounding averages last week, supplying 16 points and 14 rebounds. Perry is now at 6.2 points per game and 4.1 rebounds, and has started the last six games for the ‘Jackets. The Yellowjackets have played their last two games without second-leading scorer Momir Gataric (11.8 ppg), who suffered an injury after playing six minutes against Western Oregon. As a team MSUB is averaging 69.1 points per game while allowing 76.2, and the ‘Jackets are just one rebound below an even margin, grabbing 33.5 while allowing 34.6. MSUB continues to be one of the premier teams in the GNAC in terms of defending the 3-point shot, allowing a conference third-best percentage of 35.0 from long range.

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Thursday, February 5 – 7 p.m. – Alterowitz Gym Simon Fraser University Clan 2014-15 Record: 8-11, 3-8 GNAC Head Coach: James Blake, 5th season 2013-14 GNAC Finish: 10th (10-16, 3-15 GNAC) Continuing to lead the NCAA Division II in both scoring offense (110.5 ppg) as well as points allowed (105.4), Simon Fraser enters Thursday’s game against the ‘Jackets having won two of its last three. Despite the sky-high scoring numbers, SFU has not reached the 100-point plateau since a 107-103 loss to Northwest Nazarene on Jan. 15. A 97-87 victory for the Clan over Saint Martin’s on Jan. 24 snapped a seven-game losing streak, and SFU gained some momentum by following with a 79-71 win over Alaska Fairbanks on Jan. 29. Most recently, SFU dropped a home contest to Alaska Anchorage 115-98 on Jan. 31. SFU’s 79 points against the Nanooks were by far the fewest in a victory and only four points higher than the team’s lowest overall point total in any game so far this season. As a team SFU leads the GNAC in assists per game with 18.5, and is the only team to average in double-figures in steals with 13.7. SFU’s incredible turnover margin of plus-9.7 leads all of the NCAA Division II and is more than six full points higher than the next-closest GNAC team (Central Washington, plus-3.59). Individually, Sango Niang continues to pace the GNAC in scoring with 23.5 points per game, and his mark ranks No. 9 across all Division II players. Niang also leads the GNAC and ranks seventh in Division II in assists per game with 6.6. SFU’s Patrick Simon is among GNAC leaders in field-goal percentage, ranking sixth with a mark of 59.2 from the field. The Clan has three players in the top-five in the conference in steals per game, including Niang, who leads the pack with 2.3. Roderick Evans-Taylor ranks No. 3 with 2.1 steals per game, and Michael Harper is next in line with 1.9. Last Game: MSUB took advantage of SFU’s lax defense, as Perry’s 21 points led a cast of six double-digit scorers in a 111-104 road win on Jan. 10 in Burnaby, B.C. Gataric added 20 points and Matthews had 18 with eight rebounds as MSUB won the battle on the boards 39-35. Despite the win, MSUB did not slow down Niang, who finished with a game-high 28 points and five assists. The Series: MSUB improved to 9-1 all-time against SFU, and the ‘Jackets have now won the last eight games dating back to February of 2011. The Yellowjackets have never lost to the Clan at home, with a perfect 5-0 mark at Alterowitz entering Thursday’s matchup.

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Saturday, February 7 – 7 p.m. – Alterowitz Gym Western Washington University Vikings 2014-15 Record: 11-10, 4-7 GNAC Head Coach: Tony Dominguez, 3rd season 2013-14 GNAC Finish: 2nd (20-8, 13-5 GNAC) Western Washington picked up a big 80-57 victory over Alaska Fairbanks last Saturday, after losing four of its previous five games. With losses to Western Oregon on Jan. 24 and Alaska Anchorage on Jan. 29, WWU dropped consecutive road games for the first time since the 2010-11 season. The Vikings are led offensively by a trio of players who rank in the top-10 in the conference in scoring. Jaamon Echols (16.9 ppg) and Ricardo Maxwell (16.5) check in at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, and Jeffrey Parker is No. 8 with 15.2 points per game. Parker is the Vikings’ top shooter from the perimeter, ranking sixth in the GNAC in 3-point field-goal percentage at 45.4 and third in made 3-pointers with 59 total and an average of 2.8 per game. On the boards, senior Anye Turner has been a force with a league-leading 8.1 per game. The 6-foot-7 forward also leads the conference and ranks sixth in all of Division II with 3.05 blocks per game. Mac Johnson is another key post player for WWU, who is shooting a GNAC fourth-best 59.7 percent from the field. As a team the Vikings rank third in the GNAC in scoring margin at plus-8.7 and second in rebounding margin at plus-5.7. Thanks in large part to Turner’s big numbers, WWU also leads the league in blocked shots with 5.6 per game, and the Vikings are No. 2 in offensive rebounds with 14.5 per game. Last Game: WWU received a career night from sophomore forward Joey Schreiber, who drilled 13 of 21 shots including 6 of 9 from 3-point range for 38 points in an 88-68 win over MSUB. Gataric had a season-best 25 points in the game for the ‘Jackets, but the effort was overshadowed by Schreiber’s heroics and three other double-digit scorers as the Vikings defended their home court on Jan. 8 in Bellingham, Wash. The Series: MSUB is now 4-18 all-time against the Vikings, and WWU improved to 11-0 at home with the win last month. The teams have split the last two meetings, with MSUB picking up a big 102-101 overtime win over WWU on Feb. 13, 2014 at Alterowitz.

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Game 22: February 5, 2015 MSU Billings 85, Simon Fraser 78

‘Jackets hold off Clan late, pick up 85-78 GNAC victory February 5, 2015 Simon Fraser cuts a 17-point second-half deficit to a single point, but MSUB finishes strong and holds on for the 85-78 GNAC win Thursday. BILLINGS, Mont. – Visiting Simon Fraser cut into a 17-point second-half deficit and pulled within one point down the stretch, but the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team persevered and held on for a big 85-78 Great Northwest Athletic Conference victory Thursday night at Alterowitz Gym. Sango Niang of SFU drilled a 3-pointer with less than two minutes remaining that cut the score to 76-75, but the Yellowjackets refused to relinquish the lead. MSUB converted 7 of 8 free throws – including a 4-for-4 effort by Kendall Denham – in the final 1:08 to prevent the Clan from coming back. “Our guys made some good basketball plays down the stretch,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “Our guys hit some free throws and got some stops, and we rebounded the ball incredibly well tonight.” Yellowjacket senior Tyler Nelson finished with a career-high 13 points, and added 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. Eight of Nelson’s 10 rebounds were offensive, as the Yellowjackets’ 45-21 edge in boards and 13-2 advantage in offensive rebounds keyed the victory. “Guys were putting up some shots that I could rebound, and I was able to grab some boards,” Nelson said. “We were efficient and our guys made some big-time plays down the stretch that ultimately helped us win the game. It was a total team effort and everyone was bought in. We outrebounded them as a team by 20, and I think that was the big stat.”

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Matching his second-highest point total of the season, Jace Anderson led five MSUB players who scored in double figures with 19 total, and Emmanuel Johnson was close behind with 18. Kendall Denham finished with 14 points and Jordan Perry had a double-double with a dozen points and 10 boards. “Jace made some big plays down the stretch, and he created his own shots,” Stevens said. “Tyler played his tail off with eight offensive rebounds, and that is big time.” With the win MSUB improved to 5-17 on the season and 3-9 in GNAC play. The Yellowjackets are still very much in contention for a berth in the GNAC Championships, as the team is currently in a three-way tie for seventh place and just two games out of sixth place. The top-six teams at the end of the regular season earn a berth in the GNAC Championships, hosted by MSUB March 4-7 at Alterowitz Gym. For SFU (8-12, 3-9 GNAC), Sango Niang led all players with 26 points as he topped his conference-leading average of 23.1 on the season. Niang also had four rebounds and five assists, and finished shooting 10-for-16 from the floor. Roderick Evans-Taylor connected on 6 of 12 shots for 15 points, and Justin Cole and Hidde Vos were also in double figures for the Clan with 12 points apiece. The win was the second of the season for MSUB over the Clan, which entered the game as the No. 1 team in the NCAA Division II in scoring offense at 110 points per game. The point total of 78 was the second-lowest of the season by SFU, and the ‘Jackets halted a four-game losing skid. “At the 11 minute mark they came out of the press and started playing us man-to-man, and that’s something we hadn’t seen out of them all year,” Stevens said. “They had been pressing and pressing, and after we got them out of it we played the last 10 minutes kind of like a normal game.” Carrying a 48-41 advantage into halftime, the Yellowjackets began to distance themselves with a 10-5 run to open the second period. MSUB led by as much as 63-46, but the Clan cut the deficit to 10 points on a three by Niang midway through the second. Evans-Taylor sank a deep three from the corner that brought the score within seven at 72-65, and the junior followed with a fast-break dunk the next time down to make it a two-possession game with seven minutes left. SFU kept chipping away until it was within a single point, but after a three by Niang with 2:02 remaining, the Clan scored just one point the rest of the way. While Nelson and Perry each had double doubles, Johnson was just one rebound away with nine and Denham was two off with eight. Perry and Anderson tied for the team high with four assists apiece, and Marc Matthews had six points, four boards and a pair of steals for MSUB. The ‘Jackets shot well from the field on the night at 46.4 percent (26-for-56), and a strong percentage of 77.8 from the foul line (28-for-36) was another big factor. From long range, MSUB made 5 of 19 attempts. SFU was slightly below MSUB in shooting percentage at 44.8 (30-for-67), and the Clan connected on 11 of 29 shots from beyond the arc (37.9 percent). From the foul line SFU made 7 of 11 attempts (63.6 percent). No player had more than four rebounds for SFU, but the Clan held true to their GNAC-leading turnover margin of plus-9.7 by giving the ball up just nine times compared with 18 by MSUB. On the game the Yellowjackets outscored the Clan in the paint 42-34 and held a 12-9 advantage in assists. Nelson was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game for his career-effort. The ‘Jackets played without their two leading scorers in Antoine Hosley (12.7 ppg) and Momir Gataric (11.8) who were each sidelined with injuries. “We are looking forward to facing Western Washington next, they are really talented,” Stevens said regarding his team’s next matchup. “We are going to have to play really well, and we are going to go out there and fight our tails off.” NEXT UP: The Yellowjackets continue GNAC play on Saturday, hosting Western Washington at 7 p.m. in Alterowitz Gym. @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 131

Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics Simon Fraser vs Montana State Billings 02/05/15 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym - Billings, MT Simon Fraser 78 • 8-12, 3-9 GNAC ##

00 01 05 10 55 03 13 30 33 34 44 50

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Niang,Sango Cole,Justin Evans-Taylor,Rod. Harper,Michael Simon,Patrick Deflorimonte,Daniel van der Mars,Mathijs Pankratz,JJ Westfall,Adam Sewani,Gibran Vos,Hidde Sparks-Guest,Denver Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 16-38 42.1% 3FG % 1st Half: 6-16 37.5% FT % 1st Half: 3-6 50.0%

* * * * *

10-16 5-13 6-12 1-6 2-5 2-3 0-0 0-4 0-2 0-1 4-5 0-0

3-7 1-5 2-4 1-4 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-2 0-0 4-5 0-0

30-67 11-29

3-5 1-2 1-2 2-2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

7-11

2nd half: 14-29 48.3% 2nd half: 5-13 38.5% 2nd half: 4-5 80.0%

1 3 4 4 0 2 2 4 0 4 4 3 0 2 2 4 0 4 4 5 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 19 21 28

A TO Blk Stl

26 12 15 5 4 4 0 0 0 0 12 0

5 0 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

5 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2 12 200

Game: 30-67 44.8% Game: 11-29 37.9% Game: 7-11 63.6%

1 4 2 0 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0

Min

35 31 25 25 23 5 5 11 13 5 19 3

Deadball Rebounds 4

Montana State Billings 85 • 5-17, 3-9 GNAC ##

02 22 23 24 42 13 32

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Denham,Kendall Johnson,Emmanuel Anderson,Jace Perry,Jordan Nelson,Tyler Matthews,Marc Adams,Luke Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 15-30 50.0% 3FG % 1st Half: 5-11 45.5% FT % 1st Half: 13-18 72.2%

* * * * *

2-4 7-10 6-13 3-12 5-7 2-9 1-1

1-3 0-1 3-9 0-1 0-0 1-5 0-0

26-56

5-19

1 7 8 0 0 9 9 2 0 2 2 4 4 6 10 3 8 2 10 2 0 4 4 2 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 28-36 13 32 45 13

2nd half: 11-26 42.3% 2nd half: 0-8 0.0% 2nd half: 15-18 83.3%

9-9 4-8 4-4 6-8 3-4 1-2 1-1

14 18 19 12 13 6 3

A TO Blk Stl

2 1 4 4 0 1 0

0 1 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 1 1 2 0

85 12 18

4 200

Game: 26-56 46.4% Game: 5-19 26.3% Game: 28-36 77.8%

Officials: Kevin Flatow, Ted Gardiner, Bruce Corson Technical fouls: Simon Fraser-None. Montana State Billings-None. Attendance: 448 1:50 Score by periods Simon Fraser Montana State Billings

1st

41 48

2nd

37 37

Min

6 4 4 3 0 1 0

Total

78 85

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37 36 31 32 33 28 3

Deadball Rebounds 6,3

Game 23: February 7, 2015 Western Washington 75, MSU Billings 65

Late comeback effort falls short as Vikings score 75-65 win over ‘Jackets February 7, 2015 MSUB opens the second half with an 8-0 run to pull within two points, but WWU responds with a late surge of its own to ensure a 75-65 GNAC win Saturday night. BILLINGS, Mont. – Anye Turner scored 16 points and added 13 rebounds to complete a double-double as visiting Western Washington picked up a 75-65 victory over Montana State University Billings in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Saturday evening at Alterowitz Gym. Trailing at the half 35-26, MSUB opened the second half with an 8-0 run thanks to two 3-pointers and a layup by Jace Anderson. The ‘Jackets kept pace with the Vikings early on in the second, and a layup by Emmanuel Johnson with 11:17 cut the deficit to three points at 45-42. An ensuing 12-0 run by WWU however proved to be the turning point, as the Yellowjackets did not have an answer during the scoring spree late in the second half. “I am really proud of the guys’ effort tonight,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “We were a little bit short handed due to injuries but the guys out there really played their tails off against a very talented Western Washington team.” Jace Anderson led the Yellowjackets (5-18, 3-10 GNAC) with 18 points on 8 of 16 shooting, and he added two rebounds and two assists. Marc Matthews was also in double figures in scoring for the ‘Jackets with 11 points, and Jordan Perry led the team with 10 rebounds.

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“Jace, Marc and Jordan all did some nice things on the offensive end,” Stevens said. “Western’s size and athleticism caused us issues but those guys did a nice job of getting us some production.” Freshman point guard Kendall Denham also had a nice game for MSUB, with seven points, six rebounds and three assists. Tyler Nelson played 30 minutes for the ‘Jackets, finishing with seven points and six boards. Five total Vikings reached double figures in scoring, as Mac Johnson and Kyle Impero had 12 and Joey Schreiber and Ricardo Maxwell each had 10 to join Turner’s team-high 16. Turner, who entered the game as the GNAC leader and No. 4 player in all of Division II in blocks per game with 3.14, finished with four on the night. The Vikings held a 35-29 edge in rebounding on the game, and had 13 assists compared with 10 by the ‘Jackets. The game was nearly even in points in the paint as WWU had 42 and MSUB had 40, but the Vikings scored 10 second-chance points while the ‘Jackets had four. MSUB remained within striking distance despite the late push by the Vikings, with the deficit hovering around 10 points into the late minutes. With 4:10 remaining, Marc Matthews drained a triple from the top of the arc to cut the score to 62-54. MSUB got as close as eight points at 71-63 on a layup by Anderson inside of a minute left, but the ‘Jackets ran out of time. WWU (13-10, 6-7 GNAC) first began to pull away in the first half with 12:30 before the break. Leading 11-10, a layup by Blake Bowen was sandwiched by threes from Impero and Schreiber as an 8-0 run gave the Vikings a nine-point advantage. Overall from the field WWU shot 47.5 percent (28-for-59) and held a 41.7 percent (5-for-12) mark from the 3-point line. The Yellowjackets shot 44.3 percent from the field (27-for-61) and 30.0 percent from long distance (6-for-20). Sophomore Marc Matthews.

The teams entered Saturday’s game with the lowest two free-throw percentages in the conference, and WWU finished 14-for-22 (63.6 percent) while MSUB was 5-for-8 (62.5 percent).

Anderson was selected the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game as his point total led all scorers. MSUB was without Antoine Hosley for the second-straight game, and Momir Gataric scored seven points in 13 minutes before exiting with an injury. AHEAD: Next week the ‘Jackets make the long trip to Alaska to take on Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Fairbanks. The Yellowjackets and Seawolves face off at 10 p.m. Mountain time on Feb. 12, with the matchup against the Nanooks two nights later at the same time.

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Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics WWU vs MSUB 02/07/15 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym - Billings, MT WWU 75 • 13-10, 6-7 GNAC ##

01 10 12 35 44 02 04 11 33

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Maxwell,Ricardo Turner,Anye Javier,Harris Parker,Jeffrey Johnson,Mac Impero,Kyle Schreiber,Joey Hopkins,Mark Bowen,Blake Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 15-31 48.4% 3FG % 1st Half: 4-9 44.4% FT % 1st Half: 1-4 25.0%

* * * * *

4-9 7-12 1-4 2-6 5-9 5-10 3-7 0-1 1-1

0-0 0-0 1-3 0-2 0-0 1-1 3-5 0-1 0-0

2-2 2-3 2-2 2-2 2-5 1-2 1-4 0-0 2-2

28-59

5-12

14-22

2nd half: 13-28 46.4% 2nd half: 1-3 33.3% 2nd half: 13-18 72.2%

1 2 3 3 2 12 14 2 0 2 2 1 1 0 1 3 1 4 5 2 2 2 4 3 0 3 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 3 0 0 0 0 8 27 35 15

10 16 5 6 12 12 10 0 4

A TO Blk Stl

Min

1 2 6 0 1 0 1 0 2

3 0 1 3 1 0 0 0 0

0 4 0 0 3 0 0 0 0

1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1

75 13

5 200

Game: 28-59 47.5% Game: 5-12 41.7% Game: 14-22 63.6%

35 33 28 17 32 27 17 5 6

Deadball Rebounds 4,2

MSUB 65 • 5-18, 3-10 GNAC ##

02 13 22 23 24 25 42

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Denham,Kendall Matthews,Marc Johnson,Emmanuel Anderson,Jace Perry,Jordan Gataric,Momir Nelson,Tyler Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 11-30 36.7% 3FG % 1st Half: 3-7 42.9% FT % 1st Half: 1-1 100.0

3-8 5-10 3-8 8-16 3-9 3-6 2-4

1-3 1-3 0-2 2-8 2-4 0-0 0-0

0-0 0-0 1-2 0-0 0-0 1-1 3-5

27-61

6-20

5-8

2nd half: 16-31 51.6% 2nd half: 3-13 23.1% 2nd half: 4-7 57.1%

0 6 6 4 1 0 1 4 2 1 3 3 0 2 2 2 1 9 10 2 0 1 1 0 1 5 6 3 0 0 0 5 24 29 18

Game: 27-61 44.3% Game: 6-20 30.0% Game: 5-8 62.5%

7 11 7 18 8 7 7

A TO Blk Stl

3 0 1 2 3 1 0

Min

0 0 4 2 2 1 1

0 1 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 1 0 1 0 0

38 19 32 35 33 13 30

65 10 10

2 200 Deadball Rebounds 3,3

Officials: Bruce Corson, Loren Messerly, Craig Cyr Technical fouls: WWU-None. MSUB-None. Attendance: 324 1:45 Score by periods WWU MSUB

1st

35 26

2nd

40 39

Total

75 65

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Yellowjackets head to Alaska for farthest road trip of season February 11, 2015 Getting set to take on Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Fairbanks, the MSUB men’s basketball team is headed to the Last Frontier as GNAC play winds down. BILLINGS, Mont. – Three of the final five Great Northwest Athletic Conference matchups for the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team are road games, and the Yellowjackets will begin the trek with a long trip to Alaska to face Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Fairbanks this weekend. MSUB (5-18, 3-10) will challenge the Seawolves on Thursday at the brand new Alaska Airlines Center, before heading to Fairbanks on Saturday to face the Nanooks in the Patty Center. Thursday’s game is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. Mountain time, while Saturday’s will have a special early start time of 3 p.m. Mountain time. Both games will feature live video and statistics via www.msubsports.com. “We are looking forward to our last two-game road trip of the year,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “We felt like we played well last week and did a lot of good things. We definitely want to build off of last weekend’s effort.” MSUB is on the road again next week, for a single game against Seattle Pacific that will be broadcast on ROOT SPORTS as the GNAC Game of the Week. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. Mountain time at Brougham Pavilion in Seattle, and more details will follow in next week’s preview.

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The Yellowjackets split a pair of games during their most recent home stand, defeating Simon Fraser 85-78 and falling to Western Washington 75-65. In the win over the Clan, senior Tyler Nelson recorded his first career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. The point total was a career high for the forward, who earned honorable mention GNAC Player of the Week for his effort. Nelson remains the team’s leader in rebounding at 5.7 per contest. “Tyler has done one thing every day since he has been in this program and that is work hard,” Stevens said. “He helps our team in a large number of ways, and when his stats are good people start to see the results of his hard work.” Jace Anderson also had a big game against SFU, hitting three 3-point field goals and scoring 19 points. The sophomore followed that performance up with a team-best 18 points in the loss to Western Washington on Saturday. On the season, Anderson has upped his scoring average to 7.8 points per game and is shooting 43.6 percent from beyond the arc. Senior Antoine Hosley, who has missed the last two games with an injury, will be back in action this week and represents the team’s top scorer with 12.7 points per game. Marc Matthews had a productive game last weekend against the Vikings with 11 points, and on the season he is averaging 8.7 points and 3.0 rebounds. Right behind Anderson in scoring against Simon Fraser was Emmanuel Johnson, who shot 7-for-10 from the field Sophomore Jace Anderson. and recorded a season-best 18 points. The junior came up one rebound shy of a double-double, and also had an assist and a block. Johnson is averaging 7.5 points and 5.1 rebounds in his first season in the program. As a team, the ‘Jackets are averaging 69.7 points per game and are shooting 44.4 percent from the field. From 3-point range MSUB holds a mark of 34.1 percent and from the foul line the team is at 62.8 percent. MSUB remained nearly even in rebounding, averaging 33.8 per game while allowing 34.0. Among conference leaders, MSUB ranks No. 2 in 3-point field goal percent defense, holding opponents to a mark of 35.3. The ‘Jackets also rank highly in defensive rebound percentage, at 71.6 percent which is third-best in the GNAC. Individually, Nelson’s rebounding total of 5.7 ranks No. 9 in the conference, and Anderson ranks eighth in 3-point field-goal percentage (43.6). MSUB will play the remainder of the season without double-digit scorer Momir Gataric (11.6 ppg), who sustained a season-ending injury against Western Washington on Saturday. The Yellowjackets will be without starter Kendall Denham for Thursday’s game and without starter Jordan Perry for both games. Denham and Perry are each currently serving suspensions for a violation of team rules. @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 137

Thursday, February 12 – 9 p.m. MTN – Alaska Airlines Center University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves 2014-15 Record: 13-9, 9-3 GNAC Head Coach: Rusty Osborne, 10th year 2013-14 GNAC Finish: 5th (17-13, 10-8) Riding a current four-game winning streak, the Seawolves currently occupy the No. 2 spot in the GNAC standings with a conference record of 9-3. UAA has won five of its last six overall, and 10 of its last 12 dating back to mid-December. The Seawolves are led by a pair of standout seniors in Travis Thompson and Brian McGill. Thompson’s 16.8 points per game rank fifth in the GNAC, and McGill’s 15.3 rank eighth. McGill is also No. 3 in the conference in assists with 5.4 per game and Thompson is No. 2 in 3-point field goals per game with 3.1. Kalidou Diouf is another double-digit scorer with 10.8 points per game, and his field-goal percentage of 63.3 ranks second in the conference. A key role player for the Seawolves, Dom Hunter has come off of the bench in 11 games and is averaging 13.5 points in 23.5 minutes. In terms of rebounding, Diouf and Sjur Berg are tied for the team high with 5.5 per game, and Travis Parrish has been effective starting 15 of 22 games and averaging 3.6 rebounds. As a team the Seawolves have the second-best free-throw percentage at 75.7 and the team ranks No. 4 in fieldgoal percentage at 47.0. UAA is also second in the GNAC in assists with 17.7 per game and No. 1 in assist-turnover ratio at plus-1.4. UAA averages 78.5 points per game while allowing 72.1, and the Seawolves outrebound opponents 34.9-30.5. Last Time Out: MSUB scored just four points in the final 4:03 of regulation as UAA pulled away down the stretch in a 70-62 victory. The game was neck-and-neck from the start, but the Yellowjackets went cold in the crucial final five minutes. Anderson poured in 19 points on 7 of 12 shooting, and Gataric added 17 for the ‘Jackets last time out. Hunter scored 22 for the Seawolves however, and Thompson (14) and McGill (10) were also in double figures. The Series: With the loss last time out MSUB is now 29-40 all-time against UAA. At home MSUB is 22-10, and on the road the Seawolves hold a commanding 29-5 record. This will be the first time for the ‘Jackets playing in the brand new Alaska Airlines Center, a $10 million facility that was completed and opened prior to the 2014-15 academic year.

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Saturday, February 14 – 3 p.m. MTN – Patty Center University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks 2014-15 Record: 5-15, 2-10 GNAC Head Coach: Mick Durham, 12th year 2013-14 GNAC Finish: 3rd (18-10, 12-6 GNAC) A narrow 74-72 loss to Alaska Anchorage on the road last week extended Alaska Fairbanks’s losing streak to eight games. The Nanooks have three players scoring in double figures, with Ashton Edwards leading the way with 14.3 points per game. Ruben Silvas is averaging 12.2 points and is pacing the squad in rebounding with 5.7 per game, and Almir Hadzisehovic is close behind with 11.6 points and 5.0 boards. Edwards is currently leading the GNAC in free-throw percentage, having converted 52 of 58 attempts on the season for a mark of 89.7 percent. Silvas is close behind Edwards at No. 4 in the GNAC with a free-throw percentage of 86.7, and he holds the No. 3 field-goal percentage in the GNAC at 60.6. From long distance, Eric Fongue has been one of the top contributors for the Nanooks, shooting at a clip of 41.3 percent and averaging 6.7 points. The Nanooks average 69.9 points per game and allow 75.1, and are about two rebounds below even as they allow 37.2 and collect 35.3. UAF ranks No. 3 in the GNAC in field-goal percent defense, holding opponents to a mark of 43.4 percent from the field. UAF also ranks highly in defending against the 3-point shot, currently sitting fourth at 35.4 percent. Last Time Out: Anderson posted a career night with 27 points on 5 of 10 shooting from beyond the arc, as MSUB forced overtime and stormed to victory at home in Alterowitz Gym. Edwards had 22 points and Hadzisehovic added 20 for UAF, but the ‘Jackets persevered to win their second game in-a-row on Jan. 15. The Series: The victory snapped a four-game losing streak for the ‘Jackets against the Nanooks, and avenged last season’s first-round loss in the GNAC Championships. Overall MSUB is now 40-23, 27-4 at home and 11-17 on the road against UAF.

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Game 24: February 12, 2015 Alaska Anchorage 82, MSU Billings 68

Matthews scores career-best 25, MSUB falls to UAA 82-68 February 12, 2015 MSUB takes a two-point lead into halftime but UAA rallies in the second half as the Yellowjackets fall to the Seawolves 82-68 in GNAC play Thursday night. ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Marc Matthews scored a career-high 25 points and made all 12 of his free-throw attempts, but four double-figure scorers including 23 from Travis Thompson helped host Alaska Anchorage to an 82-68 Great Northwest Athletic Conference men’s basketball victory over Montana State University Billings Thursday evening at the Alaska Airlines Center. Matthews had 14 of his points by halftime, and the ‘Jackets clung to a narrow 34-32 lead at the break. One of four made treys on the night from Thompson started the second half and kicked off an 8-2 run for the Seawolves that changed the game’s momentum. UAA led by as many as 15 points, as the ‘Jackets could not recover from surrendering the lead and fell to 5-19 overall and 3-11 in GNAC play with the loss. For UAA (14-9, 10-3 GNAC), Derrick Fain ended the night with 18 points and also had four 3-pointers. He and Thompson combined for eight of UAA’s 12 makes from beyond the arc, as the Seawolves shot 52.2 percent from long range in the win. “It was a tale of two halves,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “We played harder and rebounded really well in the first half, but the second half was the exact opposite. They shot it well and we struggled to get much going. Our guys played really hard, and I am proud of that.” Brian McGill scored 14 points for UAA, and tied Boomer Blossom for the team-high in assists with five. UAA doubled MSUB’s tally in the assist column, winning that battle 26-13. 140 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

The ‘Jackets had an excellent game overall from the foul line, connecting on 22 of 26 shots for a percentage of 84.6 on the night. Emmanuel Johnson posted eight of those makes, and finished with 17 points, five rebounds, an assist and a block. Also in double figures for MSUB was Antoine Hosley, who scored 10, had three rebounds and two assists in his first game back after an injury. Tyler Nelson was the game’s leader in rebounding with a dozen, but the ‘Jackets were outrebounded by the Seawolves 3532. Jace Anderson matched Matthews for the team high with four assists. The teams traded off taking the lead early on in the game, and Hosley scored fourstraight points with 13 minutes left as the score pulled even at 15-15. The ‘Jackets crept ahead on a jumper by Matthews with 7:21 left that made the score 26-21, and MSUB took its largest lead of the game when the sophomore netted two foul shots that made the score 32-26 three minutes before the break. Senior Tyler Nelson. UAA’s run to open the second half shifted control into its hands, and a three by Dom Hunter midway through upped the spread to double-digits at 57-46. MSUB cut the lead down to nine on several occasions down the stretch, but the Seawolves maintained at least a three-possession edge through the remainder of the game to seal the win. The game was even in terms of points in the paint, with UAA holding a slight 24-22 edge. While MSUB committed just 11 turnovers, UAA bettered that mark with seven. The Seawolves turned MSUB’s giveaways into 13 points, but the ‘Jackets held a 19-15 edge in second-chance points. The ‘Jackets received just four points off of the bench while UAA benefitted from 23. Hunter was also a double-digit scorer for UAA with 10 points, and he had four assists and a pair of steals. Blossom was the team’s leading rebounder with six, and Christian Leckband totaled two blocks. Overall from the field UAA shot 43.8 percent (28-for-64) compared with 42.9 percent (21-for-49) by MSUB. From 3-point range MSUB shot just 26.7 percent (4-for-15). The Seawolves made 14 of 19 shots from the foul line and Thompson finished 7-for-8. Matthews was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game for his career scoring effort. NEXT UP: The ‘Jackets face Alaska Anchorage on Saturday in a special 3 p.m. Mountain time tipoff at the Patty Center. Live video and statistics will be available at www.msubsports.com.

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Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics Montana State Billings vs Alaska Anchorage 02/12/14 7 pm at Alaska Airlines Center - Anchorage, AK Montana State Billings 68 • 5-19, 3-11 GNAC ##

22 42 03 13 23 01 32

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Johnson,Emmanuel Nelson,Tyler Hosley,Antoine Matthews,Marc Anderson,Jace Henderson,Colby Adams,Luke Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 13-33 39.4% 3FG % 1st Half: 3-12 25.0% FT % 1st Half: 5-5 100.0

f f g g g

4-7 2-2 4-12 6-13 3-10 0-1 2-4

1-2 0-0 0-1 1-6 2-5 0-1 0-0

21-49

4-15

8-10 0-0 2-2 12-12 0-2 0-0 0-0

3 2 5 3 5 7 12 5 0 3 3 1 2 1 3 3 0 1 1 3 0 2 2 1 1 0 1 4 1 4 5 22-26 12 20 32 20

2nd half: 8-16 50.0% 2nd half: 1-3 33.3% 2nd half: 17-21 81.0%

17 4 10 25 8 0 4

A TO Blk Stl

1 0 2 4 4 2 0

Min

1 2 1 2 3 1 1

1 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 1 0 0

68 13 11

1 200

Game: 21-49 42.9% Game: 4-15 26.7% Game: 22-26 84.6%

34 35 29 38 38 13 13

Deadball Rebounds 2

Alaska Anchorage 82 • 14-9, 10-3 GNAC ##

23 44 03 11 14 01 02 13 25 30

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Parrish,Travis Mears,Brad McGill,Brian Thompson,Travis Fain,Derrick Leckband,Christian Berg,Sjur Hunter,Dom Blossom,Boomer Bowman,Kevin Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 12-31 38.7% 3FG % 1st Half: 4-9 44.4% FT % 1st Half: 4-6 66.7%

f c g g g

0-2 1-3 5-11 6-10 7-13 2-5 3-7 4-11 0-1 0-1

0-0 0-0 1-2 4-5 4-7 1-3 0-0 2-5 0-0 0-1

2-2 0-0 3-4 7-8 0-0 0-0 1-2 0-0 1-3 0-0

4 0 4 3 0 1 1 0 0 5 5 4 2 0 2 4 3 2 5 0 1 4 5 4 2 1 3 1 0 0 0 2 4 2 6 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 4 28-64 12-23 14-19 17 18 35 21

2nd half: 16-33 48.5% 2nd half: 8-14 57.1% 2nd half: 10-13 76.9%

2 2 14 23 18 5 7 10 1 0

A TO Blk Stl

Min

4 1 5 3 4 0 0 4 5 0

0 0 3 0 0 2 0 2 0 0

1 1 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 0

2 0 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 0

82 26

7 200

Game: 28-64 43.8% Game: 12-23 52.2% Game: 14-19 73.7%

15 10 33 27 29 17 19 28 19 3

Deadball Rebounds 4

Officials: Damon Bruland, Bill McNew, Reece King Technical fouls: Montana State Billings-None. Alaska Anchorage-None. Attendance: 729 Great Northwest Athletic Conference game Score by periods Montana State Billings Alaska Anchorage

1st

34 32

2nd

34 50

Total

68 82

Last FG - MSUB 2nd-01:31, UAA 2nd-02:30. Largest lead - MSUB by 6 1st-02:42, UAA by 15 2nd-07:10. MSUB led for 10:36. UAA led for 27:59. Game was tied for 00:38.

Points MSUB UAA

In Paint 22 24

Off T/O 7 13

2nd Fast Chance Break 19 0 15 0

Score tied - 3 times. Lead changed - 10 times.

142 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Bench 4 23

Game 25: February 14, 2015 Alaska Fairbanks 87, MSU Billings 65

Nanooks pull away in second, MSUB men fall 87-65 in Fairbanks February 14, 2015 Marc Matthews tops the 20-point mark for the second-straight game, but the ‘Jackets can’t overcome 15 3-pointers by the Nanooks in an 87-65 loss Saturday afternoon. FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Five Nanooks scored in double digits and Alaska Fairbanks made 15 of 23 attempts from 3-point range as UAF rolled to an 87-65 Great Northwest Athletic Conference men’s basketball victory over visiting Montana State University Billings Saturday afternoon at the Patty Center. The Nanooks (6-16, 3-11 GNAC) shot 61.2 percent from the field overall (30-for-49), but the ‘Jackets were also well above average at 50.0 percent (24-for-48). Marc Matthews scored 20 points for the second game in-a-row, following Thursday’s career-best 25 with 20 on 5 of 9 accuracy from 3-point range. Jace Anderson also netted 20 points for the ‘Jackets on 4 of 8 from downtown, as the duo accounted for nine of MSUB’s 12 3-pointers on the day. For UAF, Anthony Reese and Kyle Tomlinson both scored 15 points, with Reese shooting 3-for-3 from long range and Tomlinson shooting 4-for-6. Ashton Edwards and Rashaad Allen each also hit three 3-pointers, and the former finished with 13 points and the latter 11. Alex Duncan also had 13 points for UAF, and kicked in a team-best four rebounds. “Give credit to Alaska Fairbanks,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “They shot the ball about as well as a team can shoot it. It kind of got contagious and every guy for them seemed to be hot. Offensively we played okay, but unfortunately we just didn’t have any answers on the other end.” @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 143

The teams traded buckets out of the gate, battling to the tune of 9-9 by the 16:19 mark. A Tomlinson layup was followed by treys from Edwards and Allen that built UAF’s lead to 17-9. The ‘Jackets (5-20, 3-12 GNAC) responded with a jumper by Anderson and a three by Matthews for a 5-0 run, and a three by Anderson with 9:31 remaining cut the deficit to two points, 19-17. UAF began to pull away as halftime neared, as another three by Allen gave the Nanooks a 10-point lead, 35-25. Matthews hit a three for MSUB, but Tomlinson answered with one of his own as UAF maintained control with 4:15 before the half. With five seconds left on the clock, Reese connected from long range, giving UAF a 12-point 48-36 lead as the teams headed for the locker rooms. After a layup by Reese to open the second half, MSUB scored seven-straight points to cut the spread to seven. Back-to-back threes by Tomlinson and Reese midway through the second extended UAF’s advantage to 13 at 61-48, and Allen added another trey with 10:47 left to make it 65-48.

Sophomore Jace Anderson.

The Yellowjackets went nearly seven minutes without scoring, a drought that helped the Nanooks pull away inside of 10 minutes to play. On the game MSUB held a 24-21 edge in rebounding, but the Nanooks had 19 assists compared with MSUB’s 11. UAF shot 75.0 percent from the foul line (12-for-16) while MSUB finished at 71.4 percent accuracy (5-for-7). Tyler Nelson was the leading rebounder for the ‘Jackets with seven, and Matthews was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game for the second game in-a-row. “We are looking forward to getting back to Billings and getting some extra practice this week as we prepare for Seattle Pacific,” Stevens said. NEXT WEEK: The Yellowjackets face Seattle Pacific on Feb. 21 in a game featured on ROOT SPORTS. Tipoff is at 4 p.m. Mountain time at Brougham Pavilion on Saturday in Seattle.

144 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics Montana State Billings vs Alaska 02/14/15 1:00 pm at Fairbanks, Alaska Montana State Billings 65 • 5-20, 3-12 GNAC ##

42 02 13 22 23 01 32

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Nelson,Tyler Denham,Kendall Matthews,Marc Johnson,Emmanuel Anderson,Jace Henderson,Colby Adams,Luke Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 13-26 50.0% 3FG % 1st Half: 7-12 58.3% FT % 1st Half: 3-4 75.0%

3-5 4-7 7-15 3-6 7-13 0-1 0-1

f g g g g

0-0 2-4 5-9 1-2 4-8 0-1 0-0

24-48 12-24 2nd half: 11-22 50.0% 2nd half: 5-12 41.7% 2nd half: 2-3 66.7%

0-0 2-3 1-2 0-0 2-2 0-0 0-0 5-7

3 4 7 4 0 4 4 2 0 0 0 2 3 2 5 1 0 1 1 3 0 1 1 1 2 2 4 2 0 2 2 8 16 24 15

6 12 20 7 20 0 0

A TO Blk Stl

0 3 0 3 4 1 0

1 2 0 3 3 1 0 1 65 11 11

Min

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 200

Game: 24-48 50.0% Game: 12-24 50.0% Game: 5-7 71.4%

33 38 38 37 37 7 10

Deadball Rebounds 1

Alaska 87 • 6-16, 3-11 GNAC ##

34 35 02 03 11 12 13 21 24 31 40 50

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Fongue,Eric Hadzisehovic,Almir Reese,Anthony Duncan,Alex Edwards,Ashton Allen,Rashaad Robinson,Reece Tomlinson,Kyle Griffin,Adam Touray,Farimang Ladines,Isaac Renfro,John Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 16-27 59.3% 3FG % 1st Half: 8-12 66.7% FT % 1st Half: 8-10 80.0%

f f g g g

1-5 3-6 5-5 5-7 5-7 4-5 0-0 5-8 2-4 0-1 0-1 0-0

1-3 0-0 3-3 0-1 3-4 3-3 0-0 4-6 1-2 0-1 0-0 0-0

0-0 2-3 2-4 3-3 0-0 0-0 2-2 1-2 0-0 0-0 0-0 2-2

30-49 15-23 12-16 2nd half: 14-22 63.6% 2nd half: 7-11 63.6% 2nd half: 4-6 66.7%

1 0 1 3 1 2 3 1 1 2 3 2 0 4 4 3 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 0 2 2 0 1 0 1 5 16 21 13

Game: 30-49 61.2% Game: 15-23 65.2% Game: 12-16 75.0%

3 8 15 13 13 11 2 15 5 0 0 2

A TO Blk Stl

Min

1 2 3 5 3 3 0 1 1 0 0 0

1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

0 2 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0

16 23 34 28 25 15 5 24 11 1 15 3

87 19

7 200 Deadball Rebounds 2,1

Officials: Jeremy Pletnikoff, Rob Tesch, Mike Bernatz Technical fouls: Montana State Billings-None. Alaska-None. Attendance: 308 Score by periods Montana State Billings Alaska

1st

36 48

2nd

29 39

Total

65 87

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 145

MSUB men featured on ROOT SPORTS in GNAC tilt against Seattle Pacific February 17, 2015 The lone game of the week for the MSUB men’s basketball team will be featured on ROOT SPORTS, as the ‘Jackets head to Seattle to face the Seattle Pacific Falcons on Saturday at 4 p.m. Mountain time. BILLINGS, Mont. – A special broadcast is on tap this weekend for the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team, as the Yellowjackets will square off against Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent Seattle Pacific on the ROOT SPORTS network, on Saturday at 4 p.m. Mountain time. Saturday’s game can be viewed on Charter channel 23, Dish Network channel 426 and on DirecTV channel 687. Channels for other cable providers can be found by visiting www.rootsports.com, clicking on ‘Northwest’ and then ‘Channel Listings’ to find ROOT SPORTS. “Our guys are excited about the opportunity to be on ROOT SPORTS and play against a very good SPU team,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “Our record is not great but I am proud of how the guys have continued to work hard and get better as the year has gone on. I expect our guys to come out on Saturday and for our final two home games the following week, and play with the same effort and enthusiasm as they have for the whole year.” The MSUB Alumni Association will host a watch party at Hooligan’s in downtown Billings, where pizza will be provided starting at 3:30 p.m., a half hour before tipoff. To RSVP to the watch party, please contact the MSUB Alumni Association by calling 406-247-5780 or emailing: sbrockel@msubillings.edu. After Saturday’s tilt against SPU, the Yellowjackets will wrap up their 2014-15 season next week with home games against Northwest Nazarene (Feb. 26) and Central Washington (Feb. 28).

146 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

The Yellowjackets (5-20, 3-12 GNAC) are looking to snap a three-game losing skid in what will be their final road contest of the season Saturday. Most recently, MSUB dropped a pair of road games against Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Fairbanks, losing to the Seawolves 82-68 last Thursday and to the Nanooks 87-65 on Saturday. Marc Matthews posted career numbers against UAA, scoring a personal-best 25 points. The sophomore added 20 points against UAF on Saturday, and earned honorable mention GNAC Player of the Week for his scoring outburst last week. On the season Matthews is now averaging 9.8 points per game and shooting an even 40.0 percent from the floor. He is also kicking in 2.9 rebounds per contest. Jace Anderson had his second 20-point game of the year on Saturday, making 4 of 8 3-pointers and shooting 7-for-13 overall from the floor against the Nanooks. Anderson has upped his scoring average to 8.3 points per game, and his percentage of 44.0 from long distance ranks seventh in the GNAC. Junior Emmanuel Johnson had a big game against UAA on Thursday with 17 points and five rebounds, and he improved his season averages in those categories to 7.9 and 5.1, respectively. Senior Tyler Nelson also upped his rebound numbers to a team-best 6.0 per game, after grabbing a career-high 12 against the Seawolves. Nelson’s rebounding average ranks ninth in the GNAC. As a team MSUB is outscored 76.9-69.4 on the season and holds a nearly-even rebounding margin at minus-0.2. From the field MSUB shoots 44.5 percent, from 3-point range 34.7 percent and from the foul line 64.0 percent. The ‘Jackets are coming off one of their best free-throw shooting performances of the season, as the team sank 22 of 26 shots – including a perfect 12-for-12 line from Matthews – against UAA on Thursday. Overall in the two games in Alaska, MSUB shot 81.8 percent from the foul line. ROOT SPORTS/GNAC Game of the Week Saturday, Feb. 21 – 4 p.m. MTN – Royal Brougham Pavilion Seattle Pacific University Falcons 2014-15 Record: 18-7, 10-5 GNAC Head Coach: Ryan Looney, 6th season 2013-14 GNAC Finish: 12-15, 8-10 GNAC With a GNAC Championships berth already secured, the Falcons are looking to build off of a pair of big road wins last week against Alaska Fairbanks and Alaska Anchorage. SPU defeated the Nanooks 74-64 last Thursday and slipped past the Seawolves 73-72 in overtime on Saturday. The victories snapped a three-game losing streak by SPU, which lost home games to Western Washington and Simon Fraser the week before. Recently named GNAC Player of the Week, Cory Hutsen continues to lead the team in scoring with 15.8 points per game. The mark ranks sixth in the GNAC, and the senior is also grabbing 4.3 rebounds and shooting 58.1 percent from the field in 28.9 minutes. Also scoring in double figures for SPU are Mitch Penner and Matt Borton, who are averaging 13.7 and 10.4 points per game, respectively. Penner is hauling in 5.4 rebounds per game and is second on the team in assists with 53. Borton’s 6.6 rebounds per game rank second on the squad and fifth overall in the GNAC.

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 147

Leading the team in rebounding with 6.7 and scoring 9.5 points per game is senior guard Riley Stockton. The nephew of NBA Hall of Famer John Stockton has 100 assists on the season, and his average of 4.0 per game ranks fifth in the conference. From long range, Shawn Reid is a force for the Falcons, shooting a GNAC-third best 46.4 percent to help account for his 9.5 points per contest. Brendan Carroll and Bryce Leavitt have each seen action in starting roles this season as well. Carroll is averaging 7.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 15 starts, and Leavitt is shooting 53.1 percent from the field and 84.2 percent from the foul line in 10 starts and 14.1 minutes per game. The Falcons boast the top scoring defense in the conference, holding opponents to 65.1 points per game. That combined with a GNAC-fourth best 80.2 points offensively gives SPU the top scoring margin in the conference at plus-15.1. SPU also has the top field-goal percentage at 51.5, and the second-best field-goal percentage defense allowing opponents to shoot a stingy 43.2 percent. The Falconsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; rebounding margin of plus-12.2 is more than twice as high as the next-closest team in the conference, and it ranks second in all of the NCAA Division II. Last Time Out: Seattle Pacific picked up a 60-44 victory over the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Jackets in Billings on Jan. 24, holding MSUB to its lowest point total of the season. Borton finished with 15 points and nine rebounds and Penner added 13 points and eight boards for the Falcons, and no Yellowjacket reached double-digits in scoring in the loss. The Series: MSUB is now 30-36 all-time against the Falcons, including marks of 21-9 at home and 8-26 on the road. SPU has won five of the last six meetings between the teams, with a big 72-70 road win by MSUB last season halting a four-game SPU winning streak in the series.

148 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Game 26: February 21, 2015 Seattle Pacific 81, MSU Billings 59

Yellowjackets fall to Falcons on ROOT SPORTS, 81-59 February 21, 2015 Marc Matthews reaches 20 points for the third-straight game but the Yellowjackets have trouble scoring against the GNAC’s top defense in an 81-59 loss to Seattle Pacific on ROOT SPORTS. SEATTLE – Matching a feat they accomplished the last time the two teams met, Cory Hutsen and Matt Borton were the top scorers for the Seattle Pacific Falcons with 20 points apiece as the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team fell 81-59 Saturday afternoon in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game at Royal Brougham Pavilion televised on ROOT SPORTS. Reaching the 20-point plateau for the third game in-a-row was Marc Matthews, who finished with a game-high 21 on 8 of 17 shooting for the Yellowjackets. The sophomore was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game, converting a pair of 3-pointers and all three of his free throws while adding an assist. Senior Tyler Nelson tied Emmanuel Johnson for the team high in rebounds with five, and the latter also finished in double digits with 10 points. Senior Antoine Hosley had 15 points in 23 minutes off the bench for the ‘Jackets, who fell to 5-21 overall and 3-13 in GNAC play with the loss. For SPU (19-7, 11-5 GNAC) Borton made it a double-double as he added 10 rebounds to his point total. Mitch Penner and Riley Stockton had seven rebounds apiece, and Shawn Reid was also a double-figure scorer with a dozen points on 4 of 7 shooting. “Seattle Pacific is a very good team,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “They were a tough matchup for us because of their size and physicality, but our guys still played well. The first four minutes and last four minutes of the first half were really the difference in the game.” @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 149

Penner set the tone with a 3-pointer to open the game, and SPU went on an 8-0 run before MSUB’s first basket came on a Johnson layup at 17:04. Both teams went cold for a stretch of more than 3:30 in the first half, as a layup by Bryce Leavitt with 11:06 left was the last scoring until a Matthews jumper with 7:35 to go. SPU’s lead was no less than five for the remainder of the first half, and it reached 21 points by halftime as a Reid layup with 10 seconds left made the score 43-20 in favor of the Falcons. The ‘Jackets struggled cutting into SPU’s lead in the second, as the Falcons held comfortably to an advantage that hovered around 20 points throughout the second. A jumper by Borton with 8:06 left in the game extended the spread out to 25 points at 69-44. On the game the Yellowjackets were held to a field-goal percentage of just 36.1 (22-for-61) while SPU shot an outstanding 53.4 percent (31-for-58). The Falcons also dominated the glass, outrebounding the Yellowjackets 4525. The Yellowjackets protected the ball well with just three turnovers while generating nine on the game, but SPU won the battle in the paint with 40 points compared to just 26 by MSUB. “Our guys continued to fight hard for the entire game, we just got beat by a good team today,” Stevens said. COMING UP: MSUB closes its 2014-15 season next week with home games against Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington. Both games will tip off at 7 p.m. and the game against the Wildcats on Feb. 28 will be MSUB’s Senior Night as Hosley and Nelson will be honored.

Senior Tyler Nelson.

150 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics MSU Billings vs Seattle Pacific 02/21/15 3:00 p.m. at Brougham Pavilion (Seattle, WA) MSU Billings 59 • 5-21, 3-13 GNAC ##

22 42 02 13 23 03 24

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Johnson,Emmanuel Nelson,Tyler Denham,Kendall Matthews,Marc Anderson,Jace Hosley,Antoine Perry,Jordan Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 8-30 3FG % 1st Half: 0-6 FT % 1st Half: 6-8

26.7% 0.0% 75.0%

f f g g g

5-10 2-7 1-6 8-17 1-6 5-12 0-3

0-1 0-0 0-2 2-6 0-2 2-3 0-0

22-61

4-14

0-0 2-3 0-0 3-3 0-0 3-4 3-5

3 2 5 2 1 4 5 3 2 1 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 1 3 1 1 2 1 2 3 5 4 2 2 4 11-15 11 14 25 16

2nd half: 14-31 45.2% 2nd half: 4-8 50.0% 2nd half: 5-7 71.4%

A TO Blk Stl

Min

10 6 2 21 2 15 3

0 0 3 1 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 1 1 1

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 0 1 0 1 1 0

4 200

Game: 22-61 36.1% Game: 4-14 28.6% Game: 11-15 73.3%

33 37 31 32 31 23 13

Deadball Rebounds 1

Seattle Pacific 81 • 19-7, 11-5 GNAC ##

24 34 01 10 20 03 04 12 14 21 22 23 33

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Penner,Mitch Hutsen,Cory Leavitt,Bryce Stockton,Riley Borton,Matt Simpson,Sam Parker,Will Carroll,Brendan Rasmussen,Joe Reid,Shawn Morse,Eric Poulsen,EJ Swanson,Garrett Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 16-23 69.6% 3FG % 1st Half: 2-4 50.0% FT % 1st Half: 9-11 81.8%

f f g g g

4-9 10-14 3-3 3-7 6-10 0-0 1-4 0-0 0-2 4-7 0-0 0-1 0-1

1-3 0-0 1-1 0-3 0-1 0-0 0-2 0-0 0-1 1-2 0-0 0-0 0-1

31-58

3-14

0 7 7 2 3 2 5 2 0 6 6 1 1 6 7 2 5 5 10 2 0 2 2 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 3 0 3 16-19 14 31 45 15

2nd half: 15-35 42.9% 2nd half: 1-10 10.0% 2nd half: 7-8 87.5%

0-1 0-0 0-0 1-2 8-9 0-0 0-0 0-0 2-2 3-3 2-2 0-0 0-0

Game: 31-58 53.4% Game: 3-14 21.4% Game: 16-19 84.2%

A TO Blk Stl

Min

9 20 7 7 20 0 2 0 2 12 2 0 0

3 1 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 2 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0

0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

31 31 27 38 23 8 12 2 8 16 1 1 2

2 200 Deadball Rebounds 2

Officials: Randy Winn, Kirk Grothaus, Scott Rulon Technical fouls: MSU Billings-None. Seattle Pacific-None. Attendance: 304 ROOT SPORTS TV Score by periods MSU Billings Seattle Pacific

1st

22 43

2nd

37 38

Total

59 81

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 151

MSUB men close 2014-15 season at home this week; Senior Night Saturday February 23, 2015 With two more games on its 2014-15 schedule, the MSUB men’s basketball team closes the season at home against Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington this weekend. BILLINGS, Mont. – Two games remain on the schedule for the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team, as the Yellowjackets will return home to Alterowitz Gym to close the season against Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington this week. MSUB (5-21, 3-13 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) will play host to the Crusaders on Thursday evening at 7 p.m., before welcoming the Wildcats on Saturday at the same start time. The game against CWU will serve as MSUB’s Senior Night, and Tyler Nelson and Antoine Hosley will be honored before the game. Live video and statistics will be available for both games at www.msubsports.com. “Our entire week of preparation is really twofold,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “One, we want to get our young guys some more GNAC experience and we especially want to play well as we close out our season and begin preparing for 2015-16. More importantly, we really would like to send Tyler and Antoine out on very high notes. They have both been very strong representatives of our program and have sacrificed a lot for their teammates and coaches. We appreciate everything they have done and although we don’t have a great record, we will do everything in our power this week to send our seniors out on a good note.” The Yellowjackets were featured on ROOT SPORTS last week against Seattle Pacific, falling to the Falcons 81-59 in their fourth-straight defeat. Marc Matthews reached the 20-point plateau for the third-straight game, leading all players with 21 in Seattle. 152 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

With the recent surge in scoring, Matthews upped his season average to double figures at 10.2 points per game, and he is shooting 40.5 percent from the floor overall on the season. The sophomore is also tied for the team lead in made 3-pointers with 40. Scoring 15 points against SPU was Hosley, whose 12.7 points per game lead the team. The senior from Portland, Ore., is shooting 44.6 percent from the field and ranks second on the team with 16 steals this season. Averaging 8.1 points for the ‘Jackets, sophomore Jace Anderson continues to be the team’s leader in 3-point fieldgoal percentage at 43.0. He is also shooting a team-best 73.3 percent from the foul line, and holds a strong 46.2 percent mark from the field overall. Leading the team and ranking No. 17 in the conference in field-goal percentage, Emmanuel Johnson holds a strong mark of 51.3 percent from the floor. The junior is also averaging a team-second best 5.1 rebounds per game, and leads the team with 13 blocks. Nelson is the team’s leader in rebounding with 6.0 per game, a figure that ranks ninth in the GNAC. The senior has started all 26 of the Yellowjackets’ games this season. Freshmen Jordan Perry and Kendall Denham are averaging 6.4 and 6.3 points per game, respectively, and the former is third on the team in rebounding with 4.7 boards. Denham continues to lead the GNAC in minutes played with 33.8 per game, and ranks No. 9 in the conference in assist-turnover ratio at 1.7. Overall, the Yellowjackets are shooting 44.1 percent from the field, 34.5 percent from 3-point range and averaging 69.0 points per game this season. MSUB shoots just 64.3 percent from the free-throw line, but over the team’s last five games that number has stood at 77.1 percent.

Freshman Jordan Perry.

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 153

Thursday, February 26 – 7 p.m. – Alterowitz Gym Northwest Nazarene University Crusaders 2014-15 Record: 12-14, 10-6 GNAC Head Coach: Dave Daniels, 4th season 2013-14 GNAC Finish: 9th (7-19, 5-13 GNAC) Recently clinching their first-ever berth in the GNAC Championship tournament, the Crusaders will enter Thursday’s game having won their last two. Currently in a battle for seeding in the GNAC tournament, NNU picked up a big 100-93 win over Alaska Anchorage last Saturday after slowing down Alaska Fairbanks in a 6756 win last Thursday. Among four double-digit scorers for NNU is Erik Kinney, whose 14.8 points per game are the most on the team and the ninth-most in the GNAC. Kinney is also a force on the boards with 6.6 rebounds per game, and his 41 steals are the most on the team. Alex Birketoft (13.1 ppg), Kevin Rima (12.0 ppg) and Aubrey Ball (10.6 ppg) are also double-figure scorers for the Crusaders. Briketoft is the No. 2 free-throw shooter in the GNAC at 87.0 percent, and he also ranks eighth in the conference in field-goal percentage at 57.1. Rima leads the team and ranks No. 2 in the GNAC with 7.5 rebounds per game, and Birketoft is right behind with 7.3 boards. As a team NNU ranks No. 3 in the GNAC from the foul line at 74.6 percent, and No. 2 in rebounding defense with 30.6 per game. The Crusaders out-rebound their opponents on average 33.8-30.6, and the team has the third-most blocks per game in the conference with 3.8. NNU shoots 47.3 percent from the field including 37.4 percent from 3-point range. Last Time Out: The teams faced each other on the opening weekend of GNAC play, with the Crusaders collecting a narrow 59-57 victory at home inside Johnson Sports Center. Rima was the leading scorer for NNU with 16 points, and he added eight rebounds. Kinney finished with a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double, as NNU outrebounded MSUB 34-27 in the game. Hosley and Momir Gataric were each in double figures in scoring for the ‘Jackets, with 12 and 10 points, respectively. The Series: MSUB leads the all-time series between the teams 16-14 and has a 10-6 record at home against the Crusaders. NNU has now won the last three meetings between the two, including wins of 63-61 and 66-60 last season that snapped a four-game winning streak for the ‘Jackets in the series.

154 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Saturday, February 28 – 7 p.m. – Alterowitz Gym – Senior Night Central Washington University Wildcats 2014-15 Record: 16-7, 11-5 GNAC Head Coach: Greg Sparling, 20th season 2013-14 GNAC Finish: 7th (12-14, 8-10 GNAC) Getting set to challenge Seattle Pacific on Thursday, Central Washington will enter the game having won three in-a-row and four of its last five games overall. The Wildcats will face the Yellowjackets on the back end of their road trip, after taking on the Falcons Thursday. CWU will then remain in Billings for next week’s GNAC Championships, as the Wildcats have clinched one of the six conference berths. Last week, CWU picked up a big 80-67 win over Alaska Anchorage and followed with a 75-66 triumph over Alaska Fairbanks. Leading the charge for the Wildcats this season has been Dom Williams, whose average of 19.9 points per game ranks No. 2 in the conference. His 3.5 assists per game are the eighth-most in the GNAC, and he is shooting 45.2 percent from 3-point range. Gary Jacobs (11.8 ppg), Joseph Stroud (11.4 ppg), and Jordan Russell (10.6 ppg) are also averaging in double-digits in scoring this season. Stroud is the team’s leading rebounder with 5.5 boards per contest, and his 65 blocked shots rank second in the conference. Jacobs is shooting 81.6 percent from the foul line, and Russell is a 40 percent marksman from 3-point range. The Wildcats have the fourth-best scoring margin in the GNAC at plus-6.7, and the team averages 79.0 points per game. CWU allows opponents to grab 37.3 rebounds per game while only picking up 34.7, but the Wildcats shoot 47.4 percent from the field while holding opponents to just 42.6 percent. Last Time Out: In the first GNAC game of the season, CWU picked up an 88-79 victory over the Yellowjackets at Nicholson Pavilion in Ellensburg, Wash. Williams unleashed for 31 points and also had five assists, and Jacobs added 14 for CWU. For the Yellowjackets, Matthews finished the game with 17 points and nine rebounds, and Hosley added 16 points in the loss. The Series: MSUB is now 5-15 all time against CWU, with a record of 1-9 in road games. At home, MSUB has a record of 3-5 against the Wildcats. CWU has won two games in-a-row and eight of the last 10 between the two dating back to the 2010-11 season.

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 155

Trio of Yellowjacket men earn academic all-conference honors February 24, 2015 Luke Adams, Jace Anderson and Tyler Nelson are each honored by the GNAC as academic all-conference selections, after each posting grade point averages north of 3.20. PORTLAND, Ore. – Among the 19 total men selected to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference men’s basketball academic all-conference team, three of them – Luke Adams, Jace Anderson and Tyler Nelson – were from Montana State University Billings as announced by the conference office Tuesday. It was the second-straight year that Nelson earned the honor, and it was a first-time award for Adams and Anderson who became eligible for the academic all-conference team for the first time this season. A senior from Roosevelt, Utah, Nelson is the team’s leader in rebounding with 6.0 boards per game and is also scoring 4.3 points. He is the lone player to have started all 26 games for the Yellowjackets this season. Anderson is a sophomore from Whitewater, Mont., and is the team’s top 3-point shooter at 43.0 percent on the season. He is averaging 8.0 points per game and is shooting 46.2 percent from the field overall. Adams, an Anchorage, Alaska native has seen time in 17 games and is averaging 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. A total of 56 student-athletes overall between men’s and women’s teams earned the award from the conference, and among schools MSUB had the third-most combined student-athletes with four women’s players joining the Yellowjacket men’s trio. 2015 GNAC Academic All-Conference MSUB Men’s Basketball Luke Adams, SO., Finance, 3.23 GPA, Anchorage, AK Jace Anderson, SO., Finance, 3.56 GPA, Whitewater, MT *Tyler Nelson, SR., Public Relations, 3.61 GPA, Roosevelt, UT *-repeater 156 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Game 27: February 26, 2015 Northwest Nazarene 91, MSU Billings 67

Crusaders pull away with 91-67 win over Yellowjackets February 26, 2015 Erik Kinney scores a team-high 19 for NNU as the Crusaders roll to a 91-67 victory over the MSUB men’s basketball team in Billings on Thursday. BILLINGS, Mont. – Erik Kinney scored a team-high 19 points and led a quintet of double-digit scorers for the Crusaders as Northwest Nazarene picked up a convincing 91-67 Great Northwest Athletic Conference men’s basketball victory over host Montana State University Billings Thursday evening at Alterowitz Gym. Emmanuel Johnson had a game-high 20 points and added five rebounds for the Yellowjackets, who fell to 5-22 overall and 3-14 in GNAC play with the loss. Antoine Hosley scored 10 points in the first four minutes of the second half and finished with 14 points for MSUB, and Jordan Perry added 13 and five boards. Kevin Rima finished with 16 points and six rebounds for the Crusaders, who shot 54.7 percent from the floor and outrebounded the ‘Jackets 35-22. Bouna N’Diaye and Alex Birketoft each had a dozen points for NNU, and the former led the team with seven rebounds. Birketoft was a perfect 4-for-4 from 3-point range, and Pol Olivier finished with 11 points for NNU. With the victory, NNU improved to 13-14 overall and 11-6 in conference play. “Even though our record has not been good this year, our guys have continued to fight hard in every game,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “That being said, we needed to compete better tonight, and I as a coach needed to get our team ready to compete better.” @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 157

The Crusaders started off with a 7-0 run, but a three by Kendall Denham followed by a mid-range jumper from Johnson pulled the ‘Jackets within four, 9-5. Johnson drilled a three on the Yellowjackets’ next possession, but Birketoft answered with a trey to keep NNU’s cushion at six points, 14-8. Kinney threw down an emphatic dunk, and then generated a steal on the next possession that led to two more points as the Crusaders rallied for an 8-0 run. Johnson interrupted the streak with a layup for MSUB, but NNU continued the scoring spree, which ended up being a 13-2 outburst to give the ‘Saders a 28-12 advantage. By halftime, NNU had established a 14-point, 42-28 lead. Hosley scored the first 10 points of the second half for the ‘Jackets, but NNU matched his effort and maintained its double-digit lead. A three by N’Diaye with 10 minutes left put the game out of reach, giving the Crusaders their largest lead of the night to that point at 6844. The Crusaders kept their foot on the gas the rest of the way, pulling ahead and securing the victory. On the game MSUB shot 45.3 percent from the field, making 24 of 53 shots including 8 of 24 from 3-point range. The ‘Jackets were also 11-for16 from the free-throw line, while NNU was just 11-for-19. The Crusaders converted 10 of 24 shots from 3-point range, and had 38 points off of the bench compared with 15 by MSUB. The Yellowjackets committed 13 turnovers while the Crusaders had just nine, and NNU turned MSUB’s mishaps into 18 points. The Crusaders were also strong underneath the basket, outscoring the ‘Jackets in the paint 46-28. Johnson was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game. Senior Antoine Hosley. “With senior night coming up, we are excited about the chance to end our season on a better note,” Stevens said. “I think we will come out Saturday and play and compete much better.” NEXT UP: The ‘Jackets host Central Washington in the team’s season finale on Saturday, with a 7 p.m. tipoff at Alterowitz Gym. MSUB will honor its two graduating seniors, Hosley and Tyler Nelson, in a pregame ceremony on Senior Night.

158 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics Northwest Nazarene vs Montana State Billings 02/26/15 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym - Billings, MT Northwest Nazarene 91 • 13-14, 11-6 GNAC ##

00 02 03 05 21 01 04 12 30 34

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Birketoft,Alex Kinney,Erik Ball,Aubrey Wright,Mike Rima,Kevin N'Diaye,Bouna Olivier,Pol Hering,Matyas Shedrick,David Helgesen,Todd Team Totals

* * * * *

FG % 1st Half: 16-32 50.0% 3FG % 1st Half: 5-11 45.5% FT % 1st Half: 5-7 71.4%

4-7 7-11 2-6 0-3 8-11 5-12 4-5 2-3 2-4 1-2

4-4 0-0 1-2 0-3 0-1 1-6 2-3 1-2 1-3 0-0

0-0 5-5 1-2 0-0 0-1 1-2 1-4 0-1 2-2 1-2

0 4 4 0 1 3 4 1 1 2 3 4 1 1 2 1 3 3 6 0 3 4 7 0 0 1 1 3 0 2 2 2 0 3 3 4 1 2 3 1 0 0 0 35-64 10-24 11-19 10 25 35 16

2nd half: 19-32 59.4% 2nd half: 5-13 38.5% 2nd half: 6-12 50.0%

12 19 6 0 16 12 11 5 7 3

A TO Blk Stl

Min

2 2 0 4 1 1 1 5 1 0

0 0 0 0 2 4 0 1 1 1

0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1

1 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 2 0

91 17

6 200

Game: 35-64 54.7% Game: 10-24 41.7% Game: 11-19 57.9%

20 19 17 21 24 25 19 22 18 15

Deadball Rebounds 6,2

Montana State Billings 67 • 5-22, 3-14 GNAC ##

03 22 23 24 42 02 13 32

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Hosley,Antoine Johnson,Emmanuel Anderson,Jace Perry,Jordan Nelson,Tyler Denham,Kendall Matthews,Marc Adams,Luke Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 9-24 3FG % 1st Half: 5-14 FT % 1st Half: 5-7

37.5% 35.7% 71.4%

* * * * *

5-10 7-11 1-6 4-8 1-2 3-6 2-8 1-2

2-5 2-3 1-6 2-4 0-0 1-3 0-3 0-0

2-2 4-4 0-0 3-5 0-0 1-1 1-2 0-2

24-53

8-24

11-16

2nd half: 15-29 51.7% 2nd half: 3-10 30.0% 2nd half: 6-9 66.7%

0 0 0 1 0 5 5 4 0 0 0 4 1 4 5 5 0 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 0 4 4 3 2 2 4 0 0 0 0 4 18 22 20

Game: 24-53 45.3% Game: 8-24 33.3% Game: 11-16 68.8%

14 20 3 13 2 8 5 2

A TO Blk Stl

0 2 1 2 0 3 3 0

Min

0 4 3 3 0 2 1 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0

18 35 21 31 25 34 27 9

67 11 13

4 200 Deadball Rebounds 3,3

Officials: Mike Bernatz, Al Leonard, Ted Gardner Technical fouls: Northwest Nazarene-None. Montana State Billings-None. Attendance: 388 1:40 Score by periods Northwest Nazarene Montana State Billings

1st

42 28

2nd

49 39

Total

91 67

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 159

Game 28: February 28, 2015 Central Washington 104, MSU Billings 99 (OT)

Hosley first in GNAC history to score 50, CWU hangs on in OT 104-99 February 28, 2015 Antoine Hosley becomes the first player in GNAC history to score 50 points in a game, but Central Washington holds on in overtime to defeat MSUB 104-99. BILLINGS, Mont. – Antoine Hosley set a Great Northwest Athletic Conference single-game scoring record with 50 points on Senior Night, but visiting Central Washington held off Montana State University Billings 104-99 in overtime Saturday night at Alterowitz Gym. Dom Williams ended the game with 33 points for the Wildcats and Joseph Stroud added 24, as CWU improved to 17-8 on the season and 12-6 in GNAC play. The Wildcats opened the overtime period strong, using a 7-0 run to jump out to a 92-85 lead. The Yellowjackets fought back but the early deficit proved to be too much as the Wildcats took command inside of two minutes in the extra period. “I am proud of how hard our guys fought after being in a lull over the last four games,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “I thank the guys for the effort they gave me throughout the season. We lost a lot of close games, but they still fought their tails off. I am glad Antoine and Tyler could end their careers with really good individual nights.” 160 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

The teams were nearly even on the game in shooting percentage, with CWU at 47.9 percent and MSUB at 47.0 percent from the floor. The Wildcats made just 4 of 16 3-point field goal attempts (25.0 percent), while MSUB made 5 of 14 (35.7 percent). The Wildcats opened the second half with a 13-4 run, taking a 48-46 lead with 15 minutes remaining. Williams helped the ‘Cats extend their advantage, scoring five-straight points with a layup and a three that made the score 57-49. The ‘Jackets fought back, and a three by Jordan Perry with 9:15 remaining tied the score at 61-61. Williams finished a layup on the next possession, but Jace Anderson hit a huge four-point play to give MSUB a 65-63 edge. Tyler Nelson hit a pair of big free throws with 1:30 remaining in regulation to pull MSUB within one, 79-78. The senior then grabbed a big rebound on the next possession, and Hosley finished a layup to give the ‘Jackets a onepoint lead. Two more makes from the line by Emmanuel Johnson were followed by one free throw from Williams as the teams pulled even at 84-84. A last-second layup by the ‘Jackets was blocked, and time expired before CWU could launce a half-court heave. Nelson finished the game with 10 points and nine rebounds, and Johnson tacked on a dozen points and eight boards for the ‘Jackets. MSUB out-rebounded CWU on the game 36-35, but the Wildcats had 15 assists compared with MSUB’s eight. Hosley opened the game strong, making five of his first seven shots and scoring 12 points early. Nelson grabbed four early boards and had four points as MSUB’s seniors helped their team keep pace at 17-17 midway through the first. MSUB took a 42-35 advantage into the locker room, with Hosley having scored 24 first-half points. The Portland, Ore., native was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game, as he also had seven rebounds and a pair of assists. On the game, Hosley made 16 of 25 shots including 2 of 3 from 3-point range and 16 of 18 from the foul line. His 16 makes from the field were two away from the GNAC record of 18, held by Gerrit Eades of Saint Martin’s in a game against Alaska Anchorage on Feb. 9, 2002. SENIOR NIGHT: MSUB seniors Hosley and Nelson were honored in a pregame ceremony before playing the final game of their careers. THE BUZZ: The previous GNAC record for points in a game was 47, set by Ryan Diggs of Western Washington on March 10, 2006…Hosley became the third player in MSUB history to score 50 points in a game, tying Markus Hallgrimson for the third-best single game mark in school history…Hallgrimson also had a 51-point game, and Reece Gliko holds the MSUB all-time record with 54 points against Southern Oregon State on Dec. 28, 1996… Hosley’s 16 makes from the field were two away from the GNAC record of 18, held by Gerrit Eades of Saint Martin’s in a game against Alaska Anchorage on Feb. 9, 2002…his 16 made free throws were three away from the single game record of 19, which is also held by WWU’s Diggs and Seattle Pacific’s Chris Banchero. GNAC Single Game Scoring Records Points Name School Opponent Date 50 Antoine Hosley MSU Billings Central Washington 2/28/2015 47 Ryan Diggs Western Washington Humboldt State 3/10/2006 46 Gerrit Eades Saint Martin’s Alaska Anchorage 2/9/2002 46 Austin Nichols Humboldt State Seattle Pacific 2/20/2003 46 Sango Niang Simon Fraser Central Washington 1/17/15 GNAC BBALL: Alterowitz Gym will next play host to the 2014-15 GNAC Basketball Championships, which are scheduled for March 4-7, 2015. Tickets for the men’s and women’s tournaments are available online, and final schedules will be made available once seeding is finalized at the conclusion of Saturday’s games.

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Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics Central Washington vs Montana State Billings 02/28/15 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym - Billings, MT Central Washington 104 • 17-8, 12-6 GNAC ##

01 03 04 22 23 00 05 10 32 44

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Rodgers,Marc Roppo,Joey Dawn,Terry Stroud,Joseph Williams,Dom Vaughn,Julian Jacobs,Gary Peake,Jalen Matthews,Devin Rademacher,Drake Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 14-35 40.0% 3FG % 1st Half: 1-10 10.0% FT % 1st Half: 6-12 50.0%

* * * * *

3-8 4-6 2-7 9-14 7-17 1-1 0-4 0-0 5-10 4-6

0-1 0-0 0-4 0-0 4-8 0-0 0-1 0-0 0-1 0-1

35-73

4-16

0-2 0-1 2-4 6-8 15-18 1-2 0-0 0-0 6-7 0-0

A TO Blk Stl

3 1 4 1 6 2 2 0 2 1 8 0 1 9 10 4 6 1 0 4 4 5 24 1 0 1 1 2 33 2 1 3 4 4 3 0 0 1 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 4 6 2 16 9 1 2 3 2 8 0 0 0 0 30-42 10 25 35 25 104 15

2nd half: 15-30 50.0% 2nd half: 2-5 40.0% 2nd half: 17-20 85.0%

OT: OT: OT:

6-8 1-1 7-10

75.0% 100.0 70.0%

1 1 0 1 3 1 2 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

2 10 230

Game: 35-73 47.9% Game: 4-16 25.0% Game: 30-42 71.4%

0 1 4 1 3 0 1 0 0 0

Min

20 30 30 28 41 20 11 5 27 18

Deadball Rebounds 7,6

Montana State Billings 99 • 5-23, 3-15 GNAC ##

02 03 22 24 42 01 13 23 32

Total 3-Ptr Rebounds FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA Off Def Tot PF

Player

Denham,Kendall Hosley,Antoine Johnson,Emmanuel Perry,Jordan Nelson,Tyler Henderson,Colby Matthews,Marc Anderson,Jace Adams,Luke Team Totals

FG % 1st Half: 16-30 53.3% 3FG % 1st Half: 1-5 20.0% FT % 1st Half: 9-11 81.8%

* * * * *

3-5 16-25 4-12 3-11 2-3 0-0 1-5 2-5 0-0

0-1 2-3 0-2 1-3 0-0 0-0 1-2 1-3 0-0

2-2 16-18 4-5 0-0 6-8 0-0 3-4 1-1 0-0

31-66

5-14

32-38

2nd half: 13-29 44.8% 2nd half: 4-5 80.0% 2nd half: 12-15 80.0%

0 2 2 4 1 6 7 5 1 7 8 5 2 5 7 3 2 7 9 5 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 30 36 30

OT: 2-7 28.6% OT: 0-4 0.0% OT: 11-12 91.7%

A TO Blk Stl

8 50 12 7 10 0 6 6 0

4 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0

2 7 2 2 1 0 2 1 0

0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

8 17

3 230

Game: 31-66 47.0% Game: 5-14 35.7% Game: 32-38 84.2%

Officials: Mike Bernatz, Al Leonard, Kevin Flatow Technical fouls: Central Washington-Vaughn,Julian; Jacobs,Gary; Rodgers,Marc. Montana State Billings-None. Attendance: 336 2:30 A. Hosley sets new GNAC single game record with 50 points Score by periods Central Washington Montana State Billings

1st

35 42

2nd

49 42

20 15

Min

Total

104 99

162 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

42 42 37 40 27 0+ 24 18 0+

Deadball Rebounds 4,3

After record-setting 50 points, Hosley picked GNAC Player of the Week March 2, 2015 Antoine Hosley is the first in conference history to score 50 points and is named the GNAC Player of the Week on Monday. PORTLAND, Ore. – In the final game of his college career, Montana State University Billings men’s basketball senior Antoine Hosley set a Great Northwest Athletic Conference record with 50 points, and has been selected as the GNAC co-Player of the Week the conference announced Monday. “I was happy that Antoine could finish his career the way he did,” said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “It was fun to watch him play hard on both ends and be rewarded for that effort on Saturday.” Hosley converted 16 of 25 shots from the field and 16 of 18 from the foul line in a 104-99 overtime loss to Central Washington on Saturday in the Yellowjackets’ final game of the 2014-15 season. Hosley had 24 points by halftime, and set the record on the back end of a pair of free throws by scoring his 48th point with 1:25 left in overtime. Hosley also had seven rebounds and a pair of assists in the game against the Wildcats. Last Thursday, Hosley scored 14 points in a 91-67 loss to Northwest Nazarene, as he totaled 64 points overall in the two games. With the big game, Hosley’s scoring average jumped from 12.7 points to 14.2 points, a figure that ranks No. 11 in the GNAC. A graduate of Jefferson High School in Portland, Ore., Hosley transferred to MSUB after a year at Utah Valley University, and was previously a student-athlete at North Idaho College and the University of Washington. The previous mark was held by Ryan Diggs of Western Washington, who scored 47 points against Humboldt State on March 10, 2006. In the history of the conference, there have been 25 other 40-point games, including one this season by Sango Niang of Simon Fraser who scored 46 on Jan. 17 against Central Washington. Hosley’s 16 made field goals were two shy of tying the GNAC single game record, which is held by Gerrit Eades of Saint Martin’s University. His 16 makes from the free-throw line were three short of the single game record, which is also held by WWU’s Diggs. Hosley’s 50-point game was the fourth in MSUB history, as he tied Markus Hallgrimson’s mark set on Feb. 12, 2000 against Western New Mexico for third-most in program history. Hallgrimson also holds the No. 2 all-time single game scoring mark of 51 points, which he set against Chaminade the week before he scored 50 in February of 2000. MSUB’s all-time record is 54 points, which was set by Reece Gliko in a game against Southern Oregon State on Dec. 28, 1996. Stevens was the point guard for the Yellowjackets in Gliko’s historic performance. Hosley was the second MSUB men’s basketball player to win the GNAC Player of the Week honor this season, as junior Momir Gataric was singled out for the week of Jan. 5-11 when he scored 45 points and shot 72.7 percent from the field in two games.

@MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 163

Anderson earns all-conference honors for Yellowjacket men’s basketball March 2, 2015 MSUB sophomore Jace Anderson is selected as an honorable mention all-GNAC pick by the conference on Monday. PORTLAND, Ore. – Representing the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team on the Great Northwest Athletic Conference all-conference team, sophomore guard Jace Anderson has been selected to the honorable mention squad announced by the conference office Monday. “This is a well-deserved honor for Jace,” commented MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. “He has a great work ethic, and he is in the gym more than anybody on our team. His effort has paid off with a solid year and this is a great honor. Any recognition in a league like the GNAC is a tremendous accomplishment.” Anderson, a Whitewater, Mont., native, finished his second season in the Yellowjackets’ program averaging 7.8 points per game and shooting 44.8 percent overall from the field. From 3-point range, Anderson shot 41.2 percent which ranked No. 13 in the conference. Averaging 19.1 minutes in 14 starts and 26 games played, Anderson also had 34 assists which ranked him fourth on MSUB’s squad. Against Alaska Fairbanks on Jan. 15, Anderson unleashed for a career-best 27 points, as he converted 5 of 10 shots from long distance and helped the ‘Jackets to a dramatic overtime home victory. It was one of eight games this season in which Anderson scored in double figures, and he also had four or more assists on three occasions. The best stretch of the season for Anderson came over three games from Jan. 10-17 in which he scored 57 points and had 10 rebounds. He emerged into a starter for the ‘Jackets by season’s end, starting 10 of the team’s last 11 games. Andy Avgi of Western Oregon was selected as the GNAC Player of the Year, his teammate Julian Nichols was the GNAC Newcomer of the Year, and the Wolves’ head coach Brady Bergeson was the GNAC Coach of the Year after leading WOU to the regular-season title. Riley Stockton of Seattle Pacific was picked as the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year, and Alex Birketoft of Northwest Nazarene was voted the GNAC Freshman of the Year. 164 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

MSUB men’s basketball season review March 9, 2015 The Yellowjackets look to build on the 2014-15 season with a young core of talent and head into 2015-16 with a steady group of experienced players. BILLINGS, Mont. – Combining the talents of several key young players and upperclassmen with leadership, the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team gained valuable experience as a whole this season and has several key building blocks in place to hit the ground running in 2015-16. The Yellowjackets (5-23, 3-15 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) wrapped up their season with a 104-99 overtime loss to Central Washington on Feb. 28, closing the year with six-straight losses. Senior Antoine Hosley made history in his final collegiate game, scoring a GNAC record 50 points on Senior Night at Alterowitz Gym against the Wildcats. Other season highlights included back-to-back wins over Simon Fraser and Alaska Fairbanks on Jan. 10 and Jan. 15, respectively. Against SFU, the Yellowjackets shot 69.5 percent from the field, the fourth-best single game shooting percentage in school history in the 111-104 victory. Carrying that momentum into the home game against the Nanooks, the Yellowjackets held on for a dramatic 83-78 overtime victory behind a career-high 27 points from sophomore Jace Anderson. The shooting guard was an honorable mention all-GNAC selection as he represented MSUB on the all-conference team. MSUB competed well in almost all of its games, losing two conference contests by two or fewer points and eight games by 10 or fewer points. In a home game against the Clan on Feb. 5, the ‘Jackets held the NCAA Division II leading offense to just 78 points in an 85-78 victory. For the week of Jan. 5-11, junior Momir Gataric scored 45 points and shot 72.7 percent from the field over two games and was named the GNAC Player of the Week. Hosley also earned conference Player of the Week honors after his record-setting performance in the season finale. @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 165

On the season, Hosley and Gataric were the team’s leading scorers with 14.2 and 11.6 points per game, respectively. The ‘Jackets lost Gataric to a season-ending injury on Feb. 7, a crucial blow that impacted the team offensively and defensively. “Momir was our MVP all year long, until he was injured,” said Stevens. “After he went down, we lost a guy who could consistently get the ball to the basket. He has some tough months ahead of him, but he will rehab hard and should be ready for 2015-16.” In addition to his 11.6 points, Gataric shot 51.6 percent from the field and hauled in 3.9 rebounds. The diverse guard/forward started 19 games before being injured, and added a team-second best 44 assists. His season high in scoring was a 25-point effort on the road against Western Washington on Jan. 8, and he posted a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double at home against Saint Martin’s on New Year’s Day. Hosley’s 50-point game tied the third-best single-game mark in the MSUB record books, as he became the first to reach the half-century mark since Markus Hallgrimson scored 50 on Feb. 12, 2000. Hallgrimson also holds the No. 2 mark with 51 points on Feb. 5, 2000, and Reece Gliko is the all-time leader with 54 points against Southern Oregon State on Dec. 28, 1996. While Gataric and Hosley led the charge in scoring, MSUB relied on a core of younger players filling in key roles as starters. Freshman Kendall Denham led the conference in minutes played, averaging 34.2 in 24 starts for the ‘Jackets. In his first season, the Malta, Mont., native averaged 6.4 points and 3.5 rebounds, while leading the team with 88 assists. Denham shot 37.7 percent from 3-point range, and a team-second best 74.5 percent from the foul line. He scored in double figures on five different occasions, and had a season-high 16 points in MSUB’s overtime win against UAF. Denham also had a season-best eight assists in a 73-57 win over Ottawa University on Dec. 20, 2014 in Hawaii. Anderson complemented Denham as the team’s two guard, averaging 7.8 points and making a team-high 42 3-pointers while shooting 41.2 percent from downtown. Anderson also shot 44.8 percent from the field, and 74.2 percent from the foul line.

Senior Antoine Hosley.

Anderson scored in double figures eight times, twice reaching the 20-point plateau. His best stretch came from Jan. 10-17, when he scored 57 points and added six assists over three games. Jordan Perry, another freshman, emerged into a key player starting 10 games and playing in 24 while averaging 6.7 points and 4.8 rebounds in 23.3 minutes. Marc Matthews was the third-leading scorer on the squad, starting 12 games and playing in all 28 while averaging 9.9 points and 2.9 rebounds. Matthews scored at least 20 points in each of MSUB’s final three road games of the season. “Kendall, Jace, Marc and Jordan were put in a situation where they were expected to log a ton of minutes,” Stevens said. “I thought they performed admirably considering their lack of experience in a league like the GNAC.” 166 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

Perry’s season high in scoring came against Simon Fraser on the road, when he made 8 of 13 shots for 21 points. He grabbed 10 rebounds in back-to-back games against Simon Fraser on Feb. 5 and Western Washington on Feb. 7. Taking on a major leadership role for MSUB was senior Tyler Nelson, who completed his four-year career by averaging 4.5 points and a team-best 6.0 rebounds while starting all 28 games. Nelson shot 41.6 percent from the field overall and his rebounding average was ninth-best in the GNAC. “Tyler has been the classic program guy for us every year,” Stevens said. “He works harder than anybody, and he takes care of business off the court and in the classroom. It was great to see him have success on the court this year as well. Tyler will be great at whatever he decides to do in his life.” Nelson was one of three Yellowjackets to earn academic all-conference honors, as he was joined by Anderson and sophomore Luke Adams. The senior earned the honor for the second year in-a-row. On Feb. 5, Nelson recorded his first-ever double-double, scoring a career-best 13 points and adding 10 rebounds in MSUB’s win over Simon Fraser. Another junior college transfer who slotted in as a big player for the ‘Jackets was junior Emmanuel Johnson, who averaged 8.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in his first year in the GNAC. Johnson started 14 games and played in 27, shooting 50.8 percent from the floor and chipping in a team-best 14 blocks. “Emmanuel was the most improved player in the program from September until now,” Stevens said. “He has really worked hard on his game and his best basketball is still ahead of him.” Johnson logged 10 games in which he scored in double-digits, with his season-high coming against Northwest Nazarene on Feb. 26 as he poured in 20 on 7 of 11 shooting. Johnson also had a season-best 14 rebounds against the University of Great Falls in an 89-84 double overtime loss on Nov. 25, 2014. As a team the Yellowjackets ranked eighth in the GNAC in scoring offense with 70.0 points per game and ninth in scoring defense allowing 78.5. MSUB averaged 32.7 rebounds per game while allowing 34.1, checking in as the league’s sixth-best rebounding defense. From the field MSUB shot 44.3 percent, from 3-point range 34.5 percent, and from the foul line 65.7 percent. The Yellowjackets averaged 11.46 assists and 12.68 turnovers per game, and had 3.85 steals and 1.71 blocks per game as well. With eight veterans set to return to the squad next season, the ‘Jackets will look to add in a quality recruiting class and redshirt freshman Christian Evans. “We have a nucleus of six guys back that played a lot of minutes this year,” Stevens said. “Christian is having a great redshirt year and we expect him to be a very good player moving forward.” So far, Stevens has announced the signing of California natives Cade Alcorn (Fresno) and Preston Beverly (Wildomar), who will both be expected to compete for playing time immediately. “The signing of Cade and Preston in the fall was very big for our program,” Stevens said. “Both guys will be expected to come in as true freshmen and earn minutes.”

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2014-15 MSU Billings Men's Basketball Montana State Billings Combined Team Statistics (as of Mar 07, 2015) All games RECORD: ALL GAMES CONFERENCE NON-CONFERENCE

3 44 25 13 22 23 12 24 02 42 32 01

Player

Hosley,Antoine Hudson,Austin Gataric,Momir Matthews,Marc Johnson,Emmanuel Anderson,Jace Gordon,Gary Perry,Jordan Denham,Kendall Nelson,Tyler Adams,Luke Henderson,Colby Team Total.......... Opponents......

TEAM STATISTICS SCORING Points per game Scoring margin FIELD GOALS-ATT Field goal pct 3 POINT FG-ATT 3-point FG pct 3-pt FG made per game FREE THROWS-ATT Free throw pct F-Throws made per game REBOUNDS Rebounds per game Rebounding margin ASSISTS Assists per game TURNOVERS Turnovers per game Turnover margin Assist/turnover ratio STEALS Steals per game BLOCKS Blocks per game ATTENDANCE Home games-Avg/Game Neutral site-Avg/Game

OVERALL 5-23 3-15 2-8

HOME 3-10 2-7 1-3

Total 3-Point min avg fg-fga fg% 3fg-fga 3fg%

gp-gs

25-6 9-9 20-19 28-12 27-14 26-14 8-4 24-10 25-24 28-28 19-0 10-0

531 210 583 700 701 497 158 558 854 709 175 29

28 28

5705 5705

21.2 23.3 29.2 25.0 26.0 19.1 19.8 23.3 34.2 25.3 9.2 2.9

MSUB 1960 70.0 -8.5 700-1580 .443 179-519 .345 6.4 381-580 .657 13.6 916 32.7 -1.4 321 11.5 355 12.7 -2.9 0.9 108 3.9 48 1.7 7453 13-573 -

Score by Periods 1st 2nd Montana State Billings 922 992 Opponents 1034 1113

133-286 49-90 82-159 97-245 91-179 69-154 17-37 56-155 47-137 42-101 17-33 0-4

.465 .544 .516 .396 .508 .448 .459 .361 .343 .416 .515 .000

OT OT2 Totals 41 5 1960 41 10 2198

.310 .000 .293 .331 .452 .412 .000 .302 .377 .000 .000 .000

F-Throw ft-fta ft%

* *

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

63-82 21-39 56-95 42-60 31-46 23-31 24-33 35-53 41-55 41-69 4-17 0-0

Date 11/14/14 11/15/14 11/18/14 11/20/14 11/25/14 11/29/14 12/4/14 12/06/14 12/12/14 12/15/14 12/19/14 12/20/14 01/01/15 01/03/15 01/08/15 01/10/15 01/15/15 1/17/15 1/24/15 01/29/15 01/31/15 02/05/15 02/07/15 02/12/15 02/14/15 02/21/15 02/26/15 02/28/15

.768 .538 .589 .700 .674 .742 .727 .660 .745 .594 .235 .000

off

Rebounds def tot avg

NEUTRAL 1-2 0-0 1-2

pf dq

to blk stl

7 35 42 1.7 44 1 33 31 2 20 42 62 6.9 34 3 2 20 5 22 56 78 3.9 49 1 44 53 3 20 60 80 2.9 47 1 37 29 10 42 98 140 5.2 66 1 28 45 14 4 22 26 1.0 55 1 34 26 0 6 20 26 3.3 24 0 11 17 0 37 78 115 4.8 66 2 28 43 6 8 80 88 3.5 48 1 88 52 1 58 109 167 6.0 84 4 8 22 3 8 28 36 1.9 23 0 4 9 4 1 4 5 0.5 3 0 4 5 0 24 27 51 1 3 700-1580 .443 179-519 .345 381-580 .657 257 659 916 32.7 544 15 321 355 48 804-1718 .468 204-553 .369 386-549 .703 279 675 954 34.1 540 - 382 275 107 OPP 2198 78.5 804-1718 .468 204-553 .369 7.3 386-549 .703 13.8 954 34.1 382 13.6 275 9.8 1.4 176 6.3 107 3.8 7223 12-579 3-93

26-84 0-3 12-41 41-124 19-42 42-102 0-2 13-43 26-69 0-6 0-0 0-3

AWAY 1-11 1-8 0-3

Opponent vs Cal State East Bay vs Cal State Stanislaus at Dixie State ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF GREAT FALLS BLACK HILLS STATE at Central Washington at Northwest Nazarene UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA WESTE at Chaminade at HPU-MBB vs OU SAINT MARTIN'S WESTERN OREGON at Western Washington at Simon Fraser ALASKA FAIRBANKS ALASKA ANCHORAGE SEATTLE PACIFIC at Western Oregon at Saint Martin's SIMON FRASER WWU at Alaska Anchorage at Alaska at Seattle Pacific NORTHWEST NAZARENE CENTRAL WASHINGTON

* = Conference game

168 | @MSUBMBB | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book

L L L L Lo2 W L L L L L W L L L W Wot L L L L W L L L L L Lot

16 6 7 13 14 6 4 14 20 5 2 1

pts

avg

355 119 232 277 232 203 58 160 161 125 38 0

14.2 13.2 11.6 9.9 8.6 7.8 7.3 6.7 6.4 4.5 2.0 0.0

108 1960 176 2198

70.0 78.5

Score 80-86 68-75 56-78 69-73 84-89 79-61 79-88 57-59 62-72 65-82 45-73 73-57 65-66 64-72 68-88 111-104 83-78 62-70 44-60 74-94 64-75 85-78 65-75 68-82 65-87 59-81 67-91 99-104

Att. 120 102 1737 1504 647 324 1074 209 734 70 317 56 348 521 1014 285 523 728 628 487 411 448 324 729 308 304 388 336