FULL GAME NOTES

BILLINGS, Mont. – With just six regular season games left in the 2012-13 schedule, the Montana State University Billings' men's basketball team faces a key stretch of the year; the final stretch.

The top six teams in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference qualify for the postseason conference tournament in Lacey, Wash., and the Yellowjackets (12-11, 5-7 GNAC) are currently sixth. They have a one-game cushion over Western Oregon, and are a game-and-a-half behind Central Washington for the fifth spot. MSUB was selected sixth in the conference's preseason coaches' poll.

The fifth-spot in the GNAC tournament is important for MSU Billings. It is the same position it had a year ago before making a stunning run to the conference title, and it currently keeps them on the opposite side of the bracket from the No. 2 team in NCAA Div. II, undefeated Western Washington, until the championship game.

“At this point of the year, every game is important,” MSUB Head Coach Jamie Stevens said. “Obviously, these two games are big considering our current spot in the standings and who our opponents this week are. We will have to play well both nights. Our effort was good last week. I hope we can build off of that this week.”

Montana State Billings dropped a game to then-ranked No. 6 Seattle Pacific for the second time this season last Saturday. The Yellowjackets held on against one of the nation's best defensive teams, but it was the Falcons that took a 78-69 decision away from Alterowitz Gymnasium. Jarrell Crayton led MSUB with 21 points and eight rebounds in the loss.

Crayton is having a Player of the Year-type season. The senior is third in the conference averaging 16 points per game, and is second in the league in rebounds at 7.4 per outing. Not to mention, the transfer from Boise State University is shooting 54.5 percent from the field, which is sixth in the GNAC. He is in the top 10 in six major statistical categories in the conference.

Crayton and the Yellowjackets welcome Northwest Nazarene Thursday. NNU snapped a seven-game losing streak with a win in its latest game, an 81-75 home victory over Simon Fraser. The Crusaders have the second-best free-throw shooter in NCAA Div. II. Jonathan Hawkins has made 68 of his 73 attempts from the line this season. He is one of three players that average double digits for Northwest Nazarene. Kenny Jones leads the Crusaders with an average of 15.1 points per outing. Kevin Rima is scoring 10.3 points, while averaging 7.3 rebounds per game. Jones averages 3.9 assists per contest, and Hawkins dishes out 3.7. NNU is ninth in the conference in scoring per game, and fifth in scoring defense.

“Northwest Nazarene is much better than their current record would indicate,” Stevens said. “They have lost several close games and have played everybody tight. They run great stuff and are really hard to guard. We will need great energy on both ends against them.”

Omar McDade reached 20 points for Montana State University Billings for the second straight game, scoring 21 in a 63-61 come-from-behind win at Northwest Nazarene on Jan. 20. McDade hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 1:42 remaining in regulation. The Yellowjackets closed the contest on an 8-0 run after trailing 61-55 with 4:46 left in the game. McDade made seven of his 15 shots from the field, including 3-of-8 from behind-the-arc. Sam Johnson added 17 points and Crayton had 13. Crayton grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. Kalob Hatcher threw a game-high four assists, and McDade had a game-high three steals. It was the third straight victory for MSU Billings over Northwest Nazarene.

One of the best offenses in the GNAC comes to Billings Saturday, when Central Washington enters Alterowitz. Led by high-scoring Mark McLaughlin, the Wildcats are averaging 86.4 points per game, which is eighth in NCAA Div. II. After being picked third in the conference preseason poll, CWU has a two-game cushion for fifth place currently in the standings. Central opened the season 6-2, with its two losses coming in overtime. They have three of their last five.

McLaughlin is seventh in the country in scoring averaging 23.5 points per outing. Jordan Coby and Kevin Davis are adding 10 points per game. McLaughin, Davis, Brandon McGee, and Nate Walker all lead Central Washington with an average of 5.7 rebounds per outing. The Wildcats have struggled defensively, and is 10th in the conference giving up 81.9 points per game.

McLaughlin and the Central Washington held off a Montana State University Billings' rally on Jan. 18, 89-86. McLaughlin led the Wildcats with 32 points. The junior leads the GNAC in scoring, and he was well over his 23.1 points per game average. He made 14 of his 20 attempts from the field. The Yellowjackets trailed for the majority of the game, including a 17-point deficit at the 16:12 mark of the second half. Trailing 86-75 with just under four minutes left in regulation, MSU Billings made a 10-0 run to close within one with 1:07 remaining in the game. A final MSUB three-pointer as time expired hit the side of the right-side of the rim before missing.

Central Washington is as talented as anybody in the league,” Stevens said. “I think they have the most talented player in the league and we have had trouble with them the last few times out. Again, we will have to play really well to get a victory.”

All women will be admitted into Thursday's men's and women's doubleheader for free as part of “Think Pink Night” in Alterowitz. The annual Breast Cancer Awareness night is highlighted by the MSUB women's basketball team's matchup with No. 9 Western Washington at 7:30 p.m. The EVA Project will sponsor the night, and Jackets and Company will be selling special shirts in the lobby. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to Thursday's games.

The men's tipoff Thursday is scheduled for 5:15 p.m., while Saturday's men's game will follow the women's game at 7:30 p.m. All games will have live video and stats on MSUBSports.com.