BILLINGS, Mont. – Wrapping up a season-opening three-game road trip on Tuesday, the Montana State University Billings men's basketball team will travel to St. George, Utah to challenge Dixie State University. Tipoff against the Red Storm is set for 7:30 p.m. inside Burns Arena.
 
The Yellowjackets' second game of the week will come on Thursday, as MSUB takes on Rocky Mountain College in its 2014-15 home opener at Alterowitz Gym sponsored by Cellular Plus. Tipoff against RMC is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, and the 'Jackets will wear throwback jerseys in remembrance of the school's former title, Eastern Montana College.
 
Tickets for Thursday's game can be purchased at any of the Cellular Plus store locations for a discounted price of $2. At the door, general admission tickets will be sold for $8.
 
Returning from California last weekend, MSUB opened its season with a pair of losses to Cal State East Bay and Cal State Stanislaus in the Penguin Preseason Conference Challenge hosted by Dominican University.
 
Austin Hudson notched a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds and Gary Gordon topped all players with 22 points, but the effort wasn't enough to overcome CSUEB last Friday in an 86-80, season-opening loss.
 
The next night against CSUS, the 'Jackets let go of a 10-point halftime lead in a 75-68 slip-up against the Warriors. Antoine Hosley scored 34 points over the two-game stretch, and earned all-tournament honors for the Yellowjackets.
 
Momir Gataric scored 23 points and grabbed 10 boards over MSUB's first two games, and also contributed a team-best five assists in a team-high 64 minutes.
 
MSUB was selected to finish fifth in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason coaches' poll, and will host the 2014-15 GNAC men's and women's Basketball Championships.
 
 
Tuesday, November 18 – 7:30 p.m. – Burns Arena
Dixie State University Red Storm
2014-15 Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Jon Judkins, 10th season
2013-14 Record: 21-7, 15-5 PacWest (NCAA West Regional 1st Round)
 
Yet to play a regular season game this year, Dixie State looks to ride the success of last season's second-place PacWest finish and NCAA regional tournament berth.
 
So far in the preseason, DSU defeated Arizona Christian University 76-63 in an exhibition contest on Oct. 27.
 
DSU had three players average in double-figures in scoring a season ago, and the team returns its top-two in Zach Robbins (15.8 ppg) and DeQuan Thompson (14.3). Robbins also led the Red Storm in rebounding with 9.5 per contest, on his way to earning first-team all-PacWest honors as a junior.
 
Thompson was a second-team all-conference pick for DSU head coach Jon Judkins, as he led the team in 3-point shooting with a percentage of 45.4 (49-for-108).
 
Joining Robbins and Thompson as a senior leader this season is Jordan Rex, whose 6.7 rebounds per game were second-most on the team last year. Mason Sawyer and Robbie Nielson are two junior returnees who also figure to play significant roles this year. Sawyer averaged 7.1 points per game and had a team second-most 72 assists last season. Nielson averaged 6.0 points while grabbing 3.1 rebounds per game and logging a dozen blocks.
 
The Series: All-time against the Red Storm MSUB holds a 1-5 record and is 0-2 in away games. The teams have met in each of the last five seasons, with Dixie State having won the previous four encounters.
 
Last Time Out: The teams faced off last year in the Las Vegas Challenge, with the Red Storm emerging the 83-65 victor on Dec. 19, 2013. Tyler Nelson netted nine points and grabbed four rebounds for the 'Jackets, while Thompson finished with 17 points and Robbins with 14 for the Red Storm last winter.
 
Thursday, November 20 – 7 p.m. – Alterowitz Gym
Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears
2014-15 Record (NAIA): 4-1
Head Coach: Bill Dreikosen, 15th season
2013-14 Record: 23-8, 12-4 Frontier Conference
 
Off to a hot start in the 2014-15 season, Rocky Mountain College won its first three games and four of its first five to open the year.
 
Most recently, RMC picked up a big 95-82 win over NAIA top-ranked Vanguard University, rebounding in a big way after a loss to Cal State San Marcos. The Battlin' Bears, ranked No. 22 in the NAIA, defeated MSUB 75-73 in a matchup in the Fortin Center on Nov. 5, a game that counted for RMC but was an exhibition contest for the 'Jackets.
 
Over the team's first five games, three players are averaging in double figures in scoring. Leading the way is Sian Laine, who is averaging 16.7 points per game on 47.6 percent shooting from the field. Malachi Roberts (13.0 ppg) and Tyree Anderson (12.2) are RMC's next two leading scorers, and Anderson's 21 assists are a team-high.
 
Rob Nyby is leading the team in rebounding with 8.3 per game, and Zach Hinton is pulling down 6.4 per contest.
 
As a team RMC is shooting 41.7 percent from the field and 30.7 percent from 3-point range. The Battlin' Bears are outrebounding opponents 44.6-43.0 this season, while averaging 79.8 points per game.
 
The Series: MSUB leads the all-time series 88-79, as the teams have played 167 games dating back to the 1929 season. At home MSUB holds a 51-29 overall mark, and the 'Jackets have won the last two meetings between the teams dating back to the 2012 season.
 
Last Time Out: In the last counting game between the two on Nov. 20, 2013, the 'Jackets collected an 81-72 victory at Alterowitz Gym. Hudson had a big game with 13 points and eight rebounds for MSUB.