BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings Men's basketball team travels to the Sin City to play in the Dixie State Challenge this weekend at the Orleans Area, Las Vegas Nev.

The Jackets will play Academy of Art University on Wednesday Dec. 18th and then play host Dixie State University on Thursday Dec. 19th.

MSUB is coming off their third annual Alumni game in which the current squad defeated the old guard 106-86.

"This week gives us a great chance to get better," head coach Jamie Stevens said. "Our sole focus is to use our time a practice and during the games to grow as a team and as a program. The opposition this week is very good and we will need to play well to compete against them. It is our last week before GNCA play resumes and we will take this opportunity to get better."

The team's last game that counted towards their record was played against Great Northwest Athletic Conference foe, Northwest Nazarene University (Dec. 7). The Jackets lost that game in a heartbreaker, 63-61. MSUB was led by Marc Matthews who scored a career high 13 points to go with three rebounds. Kalob Hatcher had a game high nine assists to go with five points.

Hatcher is currently 10th in the Nation at the NCAA Division II level in assists averaging 6.6 per contest.

The Academy of Art is currently 2-6 overall and 1-2 in the Pacific Athletic Conference. The Urban Knights last game was against conference opponent Dominican University in which the Knights fell 76-70. The Urban Knights are led by Alex Carmon who is their leading scorer and rebounder averaging 20.0 points per game and 7.8 rebounds and was PAC West freshman of the year last season.

Alexis Moore averages 15.9 points per game and 6.8 rebounds for the Urban Knights. Aaron Akiman is also another key player for the Urban Knights averaging 11.5 points per game and 4.8 rebounds.

Dixie State University is currently 8th in the Nation at the Division II level. The Red Storm were picked as the preseason favorite to win the PAC West, and Zach Robbins was selected as the preseason Player of the Year. Robbins is the All-Time leader in rebounds and blocks for a career at DSU and is averaging 13.9 points per game to go with 8.7 rebounds.

Dalton Groskreutz was also selected on the All-PacWest Preseason Team as well and is ranked in the top ten in five statistical categories All-Time at DSU. He is leading the Red Storm in scoring this season averaging 15.0 points per game.

Point guard Kimball Payne is another key player for the Red Storm. He is the program's All-Time leader in career assists and is currently fourth All-Time in steals. This season he is averaging 9.6 points per game and 4.1 assists. Dequan Thompson averages 14.4 points per game to go with 4.0 rebounds. Garrett Louis is the other player averaging double figures with 13.6 points per game and 4.0 rebounds.

Last season the Red Storm beat the Yellowjackets 90-77 at Alterowitz in Billings Mont. Steven Larson led the Red Storm with 25 points. Derek Owen finished with 12 points, while Robbins had 10. Groskruetz chipped in 19 points. Robbins had a game-high eight rebounds and McKay Massey dished out seven assists. Sam Johnson and Omar McDade both finished with 17 points for MSUB. Danny Desin made five of his six three-point attempts and finished with 15 points. Hatcher had a game-high eight assists.

Dixie State has defeated three GNAC teams this season. The Red Storm beat Central Washington 106-89 then defeated Western Oregon 78-74 and also took down then number two in the Nation Seattle Pacific 90-88 in overtime.

DSU is coming off an 84-82 victory over Point Loma Nazarene University in which the Red Storm had to rally from 17 points down.

The game against Academy of Art will begin at 3:30 P.M. (2:30 P.M. PT) on De.18th. MSUB will then play Dixie State at 7:30 P.M. (6:30 P.M. PT) on De. 19th.

Stats can be found at http://www.sidearmstats.com/dixie/mbball and live video will be available (through pay per view) at http://www.DixieAtheltics.com/showcase .

The Jackets will finish the trip to the South West with an exhibition game against Long Beach State University on Saturday Dec. 21st.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18
Montana State Billings vs. Academy of Art 2:30 p.m. PT

Cal State Dominguez Hills vs. Dixie State 7:30 p.m PT

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19
Cal State Dominguez Hills vs. Academy of Art 1:30 p.m. PT

Montana State Billings vs. Dixie State 6:30 p.m. PT