BILLINGS, Mont. -- Coming off a pair of home victories to open the 2011-12 season, the Montana State Billings men's basketball team will hit the road this week for their first road tests of the 2011-12 season, taking on Dixie State College on Tuesday (7:30 pm) and Southern Utah on Thursday (7 pm).
 
MSUB (2-0) is coming off a weekend that first saw the Jackets win a thrilling 98-94 overtime match-up against Chadron State College on Friday night to open the season, and then dominate Northern New Mexico 98-77 on Saturday night.
 
The Yellowjackets were led by senior guard Antoine Proctor during the two contests as he averaged 20.5 points and 7.0 rebounds after shooting 45.8 percent (11-24) from the floor and shooting 81.0 percent (17-21) from the line. Proctor scored 27 points in the overtime victory against Chadron St. and backed that up with 14 points on Saturday against Northern New Mexico.
 
Four other players averaged double-digit scoring marks over the weekend as sophomore Preston Richards, averaging 12.0 points, led the way in Saturday's win with a season-high 19 points. Seniors Robert Mayes and Jaxon Myaer are averaging 13.5 and 12.5 points, respectively, while junior Cameron Cusworth is averaging 11.5 points.
 
The Yellowjacket offense has reaped the benefits of their own defensive play as the Jackets have created 58 turnovers (29.0 avg.) in just two games. MSUB holds a plus 9.5 turnover margin and has helped the Yellowjackets eclipse the 90 point mark in their two games this past week and their exhibition games earlier in the season.
 
MSUB is shooting 46.7 percent from the field thus far this season and are hitting 34.5 percent from beyond the arc. The Jackets have struggled from the free throw line, converting only 69.9 percent from the charity stripe.
 
The Dixie State Red Storm enters the week with a 1-1 record after hosting the Clarion Hotels Classic in St. George last weekend. The Red Storm dropped a 58-42 decision to Seattle Pacific before rebounding with a 79-60 victory over Minot State on Saturday night.
 
Dixie State is currently led by Griffon Jones who has averaged 8.5 points in their first two games. Solomon Jensen is the only Red Storm player in double figure rebounds so far, averaging 5.0 boards per game with 10 total boards.
 
DSC is shooting 47.4 percent from the floor and just 59.4 percent from the charity stripe. The Red Storm's balanced scoring attack has averaged 60.5 points per game and is pulling down 32.5 rebounds per contest.
 
The Yellowjackets and Red Storm have met three times prior to Tuesday's contest with Dixie State holding a 2-1 advantage. The two teams met last season in Billings with the Red Storm pulling out a 69-73 victory in overtime. The only win for the Yellowjackets came on Dec. 21, 2009, with a 63-60 victory at home.
 
Southern Utah comes into Thursday's match-up with a 2-1 record and is coming off a 95-78 victory over Bryant University on Sunday. The Thunderbirds are members of the NCAA Division I Summit League.
 
Damon Heuir leads the Thunderbirds with 13.0 points per game and is averaging 2.0 boards per contest. Three other players are currently in double figures, including Ray Jones Jr. who has 11.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
 
Southern Utah is shooting 49.1 percent from the field this season and is 75.0 percent from the free throw line. Opponents are being out-rebounded by SUU 31.3 to 28.7, but are outshooting and outscoring the Thunderbirds on average.
 
In the MSUB and SUU series, MSUB leads 2-1 and are 1-1 in Cedar City. The Thunderbirds won the last meeting on Mar. 1, 1993, by a score of 95-52.
 
Both games have audio, video and live stats all available on their athletics website, or fans can use the links available at msubsports.com on the men's basketball schedule page.