BILLINGS, Mont. -- The official start to the 2011-12 men's basketball season for the Montana State Billings men's basketball squad is this weekend as the Yellowjackets host Chadron State College on Friday (7 p.m.) and Northern New Mexico College on Saturday (3:30 p.m.) at Alterowitz Gymnasium.
 
The Yellowjackets are coming into the season after two exhibition wins over intra-city rival Rocky Mountain College (92-82) and the University of Great Falls (90-69).
 
In those two contests, MSUB averaged 91.0 points per game and were shooting 44.9 percent from the field and 77.4 percent from the line, but the defense forced 52 turnovers and held opponents to an average of 43.1 percent shooting from the floor.
 
During the pre-season, senior Antoine Proctor led the Yellowjackets with 19.0 points per game and he also averaged 4.5 rebounds. The Washington, D.C., native is shooting 51.6 percent from the field with four assists and four steals.
 
Four other Jackets averaged double-figures over those two contests, including Preston Richards who came off the bench to average 13.5 points and 5.0 rebounds. Senior forward Robert Mayes chipped in 12.0 points and a team-high 7.5 rebounds, while seniors Jaxon Myaer and Taylor Stevens average 11.5 and 11.0 points, respectively.
 
Chadron State will also be tipping off their 2011-12 regular season on Friday. The Eagles are coming off a 6-20 record last season and are returning three starters and two other players from the 2010-11 roster.
 
Leading the charge for the Eagles will be RMAC second team selection Kevin McClelland who averaged 14.9 points last season with 2.33 assists per game. Also back is RMAC third team member Moala Tautuaa who averaged 12.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game last year.
 
Last season the Eagles defeated MSUB 87-74 in Chadron on Nov. 27. In that game, McClelland led the way with 21 points and seven rebounds. All-time the Yellowjackets are 6-5 in 11 contests with the Eagles, which dates back to the 1956-57 season.
 
Saturday night's contest with Northern New Mexico will be just the second meeting between the two schools as the Yellowjacket won the first meeting 85-64 during the 2009-10 season at home.
 
Out of the NAIA, Northern New Mexico is winless this season coming into the match-up with a 0-7 record and still has one game to be played on Friday night against NCAA Division I Weber State.  
 
The Eagles dropped a 94-89 decision on Wednesday night to Southwest University away.
 
Friday's game will also be Military Appreciation Night in honor of Veteran's Day. All military personnel with their ID will be admitted FREE to the game. Live stats and a webstream of the game will also be available through msubsports.com.