FULL GAME NOTES (PDF)
BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings' men's basketball team returns the road Friday for a non-conference matchup at Grand Canyon University (Ariz.).
THE SERIES
* Montana State Billings and Grand Canyon have met 10 times.
* The Antelopes lead the all-time series 7-3.
* MSUB is 0-5 all-time at Grand Canyon.
* Grand Canyon won the last meeting, 77-57, at the GCU Tournament on Dec. 18, 2010.
* MSU Billings won the first meeting on Jan. 26, 1991, but then lost the next five.
* The teams have split the last four meetings.
* The Yellowjackets last win over GCU came in the MSUB Shootout on Nov. 25, 1994, 108-84.
QUICK HITS
- The Yellowjackets are currently first in the GNAC in turnover margin at 6.4, and 12th in NCAA Div. II.
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Kalob Hatcher is 18th in NCAA Div. II in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.58.
- Montana State Billings is currently last in the conference in field goal percentage offense and defense.
- MSUB is 17-1 under
Jamie Stevens when they shoot better than their opponent.
- The Yellowjackets were 5-4 after nine games last season before its postseason run.
- After playing seven of the last eight contests on the road, MSU Billings has one last road game before a five-game home-stand beginning next Monday against Rocky Mountain.
ABOUT THE ANTELOPES
Grand Canyon University has a very balanced offensive attack with five players averaging over eight points per game this season. Joshua Lowery leads the attack with an average of 13 points per outing. He is shooting 46 percent from the field and behind-the-arc. Lowery adds 4.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. He also has a team-high 11 steals this season. Jerome Garrison adds 10.2 points per contest. Braylon Pickrel leads the Lopes with an average of 4.5 rebounds per game. GCU opened the season winning one of its three games at the Disney Classic in Anaheim, Calif., but have reeled off eight straight wins. Seven of those victories came at home. MSU Billings and Grand Canyon have two common opponents. GCU beat Hawaii-Hilo, 74-68, while MSUB won, 67-61. GCU also beat Western New Mexico, 69-58, and the Yellowjackets defeated WNMU, 67-61.
COACH STEVENS ON GRAND CANYON
We're looking forward to the challenge of going down and playing a really good team. They're one of the better teams in the West Region, so it's another chance to go on the road and see what we're made of. It's obviously a difficult week for us with finals, and then getting ready to play a really good team. But, everybody in the country has finals, so that's no excuse. We have to hopefully build off of last week, and go down and play well. We want to use the games in December to get better in GNAC play.
TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK
MSU Billings' is 12th in NCAA Div. II in turnover margin. The Yellowjackets have taken care of the ball very well this season. They lead the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in turnover margin at +6.4. Montana State Billings is forcing an average of 20.0 turnovers per game, the most in the conference. MSUB opponents have turned the ball over 180 times through the first nine games. The Yellowjackets forced 27 turnovers in wins over Hawaii-Hilo and Black Hills State. MSU Billings has only turned the ball over 122 times, an average of committing 13.6 per outing.
YELLOWJACKETS HOLD OFF ALUMNI
The Montana State University Billings' men's basketball team needed a late run to escape with a 102-93 victory over its Alumni team in an exhibition Saturday. The Yellowjackets made 20 of their 45 three-point attempts and shot 47 percent from the field in the win. MSUB also made 10 of its 18 free-throw attempts. The Alumni outshot MSUB finishing 49 percent from the field, making 10 of its 23 shots from behind-the-arc, and 19-of-29 from the free-throw line. MSU Billings had a 43-34 rebound advantage. Montana State Billings finished with four double-digit scorers led by
Sam Johnson's 18 points. The junior was 6-of-8 from the field, including 4-for-6 from three-point range.
Danny Desin made five of his nine shots from behind the perimeter and tallied 15 points.
Brian Ridgeway had 12 points.
Jarrell Crayton recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The senior also had six assists and three steals.
David Arnold dished out a game-high nine assists.
THE LAST TIME OUT
The Montana State University Billings' men's basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak with an 87-73 victory over South Dakota Mines Friday. MSU Billings shot a season-best 54 percent from the field, and made four of its 19 three-point attempts. MSUB was also 17-of-24 from the free-throw line. Both teams shot over 50 percent from the field, as the Hardrockers were 53 percent from the floor. SDMT made five of its 13 shots from behind-the-arc and 16-of-25 from the free-throw line. The Yellowjackets finished with four double-digit scorers led by
Jarrell Crayton's 19 points. The senior was 8-for-12 from the field, and added a game-high nine rebounds.
Sam Johnson and
Omar McDade both scored 16 points, while
David Arnold chipped in 13.
Kalob Hatcher dished out a game-high five assists. Montana State Billings outrebounded the Hardrockers, 26-24, in the game. The Yellowjackets forced 23 turnovers and came away with a season-high 13 steals. Hatcher and Crayton both had three steals. MSUB turned their takeaways into a 34-12 points off of turnover advantage. The Yellowjackets committed 12 turnovers. MSU Billings also held a 44-32 points in the paint advantage. SDMT had a 35-18 bench points advantage.
