BILLINGS, Mont. – Returning to action this weekend, the Montana State University Billings men's basketball team takes on nonconference opponent University of Montana Western on Friday before the annual Alumni Game on Saturday.
 
The 'Jackets then face a quick turnaround, boarding a plane to Hawaii on Sunday and taking on NCAA Division II west region top opponent Chaminade on Monday.
 
Tipoff on Friday against UM Western is set for 7 p.m., while Saturday's game against the Yellowjacket alumni will tipoff at 5 p.m. Both games will be in Alterowitz Gym, and the Alumni Game will be part of a doubleheader with the MSUB women's basketball team which plays Jamestown at 7 p.m.
 
In a promotion sponsored by the Yellowjacket Student Athlete Advisory Committee, MSUB will also be accepting donations for the Toys for Tots program, and offering half-price admission to fans who donate a toy upon entrance to either of Saturday's games. All donations of small toys will be passed along to the Toys for Tots program which provides an opportunity for families in need to obtain toys during the holiday season. The Yellowjacket men spent several hours helping organize and sort toys the week of Thanksgiving in a community service effort helping the Toys for Tots program.
 
Against Chaminade on Monday, tipoff is set for 10:30 p.m. Mountain time, and live statistics and audio will be available for the game.
 
The Yellowjackets (1-7, 0-2 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) began conference play last week with a pair of road losses to Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene. MSUB features four players who are scoring in double figures, with senior Antoine Hosley leading the way at 14.1 points per game. Hosley is shooting 40.8 percent from the field, 34.3 percent from 3-point range and a team-best 77.8 percent from the foul line.
 
Senior Austin Hudson has contributed 13.7 points and a team-best 7.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 53.2 percent from the field. Hudson's six steals are also a team high.
 
Momir Gataric (12.0 ppg) and Marc Matthews (10.5) are also scoring in the double-digits for the 'Jackets, and the latter is leading the team from 3-point range at 35.9 percent (14-for-39). Gataric is turning in 3.7 rebounds per game and is shooting a team-best 62.8 percent from the floor.
 
Freshman point guard Kendall Denham is pacing the squad with 23 assists this season, while scoring 5.3 points and averaging 4.3 rebounds per game in his first year. Junior Emmanuel Johnson has been a strong presence underneath for MSUB, hauling in 5.6 rebounds per game while adding 5.4 points.
 
Senior Tyler Nelson is close behind Johnson in terms of rebounding with 5.4 per game, and he is averaging 4.3 points as well.
 
As a team MSUB is being outscored 76.1-71.5 but is managing to outrebound opponents 36.4-34.6. The 'Jackets are shooting 45.9 percent from the floor, 33.6 percent from long range and 60.4 percent from the free-throw line.
 
Friday, December 12 – 7 p.m. – Alterowitz Gym
University of Montana Western Bulldogs
2014-15 Record: 4-3 (NAIA)
Head Coach: Steve Keller, 8th season
 
Having won back-to-back games against Northwest Indian College, the Bulldogs enter Friday's game against the Yellowjackets with a record of 4-3. UMW opened its 2014-15 season with two-straight wins against Walla Walla University and Dickinson State, before dropping its next three counting games.
 
The Bulldogs have five players averaging more than 10 points per game, with Dexter Williams pacing the squad at 12.4. The junior forward's 5.7 rebounds per game are also a team high, as are his 14 steals.
 
Jordan Overstreet is scoring at a clip of 11.9 points per game, and sophomore guard Shyke Smalls is producing 11.3. Overstreet is shooting a strong 86.7 percent from the free-throw line, and Smalls has 19 assists and is shooting 86.4 percent on foul shots.
 
Stephen McCall leads the team in assists with 22 and is averaging 11.0 points per game while shooting 49.2 percent from the field and 92.3 percent on free-throws. The Bulldogs' top 3-point man is Ryan McCarty, who is converting at a percentage of 51.6 from beyond the arc and averaging 10.7 points.
 
Connor Woodill has been a top rebounder for UMW with 5.5 per game, and Quinn Smith is close behind with 4.7 while shooting 53.2 percent from the field in 17.4 minutes (9.0 ppg).
 
The Bulldogs have outscored opponents 86.4-75.4 this season and hold a nearly plus-10 rebound margin at 42.3-32.7. As a team UMW is shooting 48.4 percent from the field, 34.3 percent from 3-point range and 74.3 percent from the foul line.
 
The Series: The all-time series between MSUB and UMW is nearly dead even, with the Bulldogs holding a slight advantage with a 76-74 record dating back to the 1928 season. At home, MSUB holds a strong advantage with a 49-27 mark against UMW.
 
The teams had played one another every season from 1947-1995, before a 12-year interruption to the series. Since being revitalized in 2007, UMW has won three of the four games played between the teams.
 
Last Time Out: The Bulldogs scored a 78-67 win over the Yellowjackets last year, outscoring MSUB 42-33 in the second half to earn the victory. Overstreet poured in 22 points in the win for UMW. For MSUB, Matthews scored 10 points on 2 of 4 from 3-point range, and Nelson grabbed six rebounds.
 
Saturday, December 13 – 5 p.m. – Alterowitz Gym
MSUB Alumni Game
Toys for Tots sponsored by MSUB Student Athlete Advisory Committee – Half-price admission for all fans donating a toy. All toys will be given to the Toys for Tots program, aiding local families in need during the holiday season.
 
Monday, December 15 – 10:30 p.m. MTN – McCabe Gym
Chaminade University
2014-15 Record: 3-4, 1-1 PacWest
Head Coach: Eric Bovaird, 4th season
 
Also beginning conference play last week with a pair of PacWest matchups, Chaminade split games against Hawaii Hilo and BYU-Hawaii in its most recent action. The Silverswords defeated UHH 94-89 on Dec. 4, before losing to No. 23 BYUH 104-87 last Saturday.
 
Although Chaminade holds an overall 3-4 record, three of the team's losses came against NCAA Division I opponents during the EA Sports Maui Invitational. The Silverswords lost games to Pittsburgh, Brigham Young University, and the University of Missouri in three games in mid-November. Before the test against Division I schools, Chaminade opened the season with back-to-back wins against Regis University and Saint Katherine College.
 
Leading the team in scoring has been Lee Bailey, who is putting in 13.1 points per game while leading the team in assists with 26 and steals with 10. Kuany Kuany is scoring 13.0 points per game and leading the team in rebounding with 6.4. The sophomore guard is shooting a strong 47.8 percent from the field and 76.9 percent from the free-throw line.
 
Also in double figures in scoring for Chaminade are Kiran Shastri (12.9 ppg) and Kevin Hu (10.4). Shastri is also averaging 4.3 rebounds, and is shooting a team-best 89.5 percent from the foul line. David Ware has also been effective for the Silverswords with 6.0 points, a dozen assists, and a field-goal percentage of 53.6.
 
As a team Chaminade is averaging 80.1 points per game while allowing 84.3. The team is being outrebounded 41.0-34.0, and is averaging 12.1 assists per game. Chaminade is shooting 44.7 percent from the floor, 37.3 percent from 3-point range and 64.8 percent from the free-throw line.
 
The Series: In 32 all-time meetings between the teams, MSUB holds a 20-12 overall record dating back to 1978. The home team has historically prevailed in the series, as the 'Jackets are a perfect 16-0 at Alterowitz Gym and Chaminade is 12-4 at home against MSUB.
 
The teams have not met since the 2004-05 season, when MSUB won 2 of 3 games between the teams. Chaminade has won three of the last five meetings overall.