BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings men's basketball squad will look to finish the first half of the conference season on a winning note this Saturday, visiting Seattle Pacific on a one game road trip in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action with tip scheduled for 3:30 p.m. local time.
The Yellowjackets (4-11, 2-6 GNAC) are trying to bounce back after consecutive home losses last week to Northwest Nazarene, who snapped a four game losing skid to the Jackets, and to No.17 Central Washington. On the other side, SPU (10-5, 4-3 GNAC) is trying to put together a three game winning streak after wins over Northwest Nazarene and Simon Fraser a week ago.
DeAndre Chambers leads all scorers with 12.6 points per game, while Robert Mayes leads the team in rebounding with 6.1 boards per contest. Mayes is shooting 52.9 percent on the season from the field.
Again last week turnovers were an issue for the Yellowjackets, turning the ball over on average, 15.0 times per game this season. The Jackets have started to find some sort of rhythm when shooting the ball, holding a 46.4 percent average from the field, but have struggled from three point range, shooting 34.7 percent.
Opponents are shooting just slightly better than the Jackets during the season, hitting 46.6 percent of their shots and shooting 37.3 percent from long distance. An advantage for Yellowjacket opponent's this season has been from the free throw line, out-shooting the Jackets 74.5 percent to 67.4 percent.
The Flacons, playing without their top player Chris Banchero, are led by Jeff Downs. Downs is scoring 15.4 points per contest, while Ryan Sweet leads the team in rebounds per game (6.5). Along with Sweet and Downs, Andy Poling is the third Falcon to average double figures, scoring 11.7 points per game and pulling down 6.3 boards off the glass.
SPU has shot 49.6 percent from the field this season and a respectable 41.5 percent from long range. The Falcons are outscoring their opponents 78.3 points per game to 69.4 points. SPU has also dominated the rebounding category, out-rebounding opponents by +7.9.
Saturday's game will be the 58th meeting all-time between the two schools with SPU holding a 30-27 edge over the Yellowjackets.
The game will be streamed live through the Seattle Pacific athletics website and can be reached through the MSUB men's basketball schedule page. Live stats are also available.
