BILLINGS, Mont. – The start to the 2015-16 Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's basketball season will arrive this weekend, as the Montana State University Billings men's basketball team heads west to challenge conference opponents Concordia University (Ore.) and Western Oregon University.
 
The Yellowjackets (2-4) will take on the Cavaliers on Thursday evening at 8 p.m. Mountain time, before facing No. 4 Western Oregon on Saturday at the same start time. Live video and statistics for both the game in Portland, Ore., at Cavalier Court and in Monmouth, Ore., at the New P.E. Building will be available via MSUB's Stretch Internet portal here.
 
"We are playing an opponent we aren't familiar with right out of the gate, as it is their first year in the GNAC," MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens commented on facing Concordia. "Every program has excitement when you start league play. All the non-league games build up to that first game, and then everyone realizes that these league games are a lot more important than the games we have been playing."
 
Last weekend, the Yellowjackets hosted three west region teams in a four-team tournament at Alterowitz Gym. MSUB fell to Dominican University of California on Friday 92-74 before a tough, 75-72 loss to Dixie State University on Saturday.
 
"I thought we competed better Saturday night than we did on Friday," Stevens said. "Saturday the guys fought hard, and we had some chances to win down the stretch. We didn't let that game get away from us, and it was a good learning experience for the guys."
 
After this weekend, MSUB has two more non-conference games on its schedule before GNAC play resumes on New Year's Eve. The 'Jackets will play Azusa Pacific University and Northwest University in a tournament hosted by Seattle Pacific University next weekend at Brougham Pavilion. The 'Jackets will also play an exhibition game against Carroll College in Helena, Mont., on Dec. 16 before the holiday break.
 
MATTHEWS AMONG EARLY LEADERS: Early on in the season, junior guard Marc Matthews ranks No. 6 in the GNAC in scoring with 18.7 points per game. Matthews was MSUB's leading scorer against the Red

Storm on Saturday, pouring in 22 points on 4 of 9 from 3-point range. Overall on the season he has topped 20 points in three games, and is shooting 52.4 percent (22-for-42) from long distance. His average of 3.7 makes per game from the arc is the top mark in the league.
 
"Marc offensively has had a phenomenal first six games of the year," Stevens said. "He is very consistent and that is what you expect from a four-year guy. His shooting percentages are high, and he is doing some really good things with the basketball in his hands."
 
ANDERSON AIMING TO SCORE: After his career-high performance of 30 points at the University of Mary last Monday, junior Jace Anderson scored 17 against the Penguins on Friday and added nine more points against the Red Storm Saturday. Anderson also had five assists and three steals in the well-rounded effort in MSUB's last two home games.
 
"We saw a lot of positives, especially in the Dixie State game how we were down but didn't just give up," said Matthews. "Jace and I have to be leaders out there especially for the freshmen."
 
BIG EFFORT FROM EVANS: Redshirt freshman Christian Evans has scored in double figures in his last four games, and most recently finished with a dozen points in 38 minutes against Dixie State. His 6.2 rebounds per game are 10th-best in the GNAC, and his shooting has been solid as well at 50.8 percent from the field, 42.9 percent from the 3-point line, and 72.2 percent from the foul line.
 
PERRY PRODUCING: Putting together two of his best games of the year last weekend was sophomore guard Jordan Perry, who had his two highest rebound totals with six Friday and seven Saturday while scoring 30 total points. Perry also had seven assists against just three turnovers, while playing 55 minutes and making 5 of 6 free throws.
 
JOHNSON MATCHES SEASON HIGH IN BOARDS: Senior Emmanuel Johnson matched his season best in rebounds on Saturday as he grabbed eight and added seven points in 30 minutes against Dixie State. Johnson ranks second on the team with 4.8 rebounds per game this year, and is also averaging 8.8 points per game.
 

BEVERLY'S FIRST DOUBLE-DIGIT EFFORT: True freshman Preston Beverly scored 12 points against the Penguins on Friday, and also added six rebounds in his best effort so far through six collegiate games. Fellow freshman Cade Alcorn scored six points and added five rebounds on Friday, while also contributing a pair of assists against just one turnover.
 
"As a freshman I am really excited," Alcorn said when asked about starting GNAC play this week. "Western Oregon is a really good program and Concordia is new. The GNAC is a really competitive conference, so I am excited to see the level of play."
 
DENHAM TO TRAVEL WITH TEAM: Sophomore point guard Kendall Denham, who has missed the last four games with an injury, will travel with the team this weekend and will be a game-time decision on the Yellowjackets' roster.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: As a team MSUB averages 74 points per game while allowing 82. The 'Jackets are shooting 43.9 percent from the field, 41.8 percent from 3-point range, and a solid 76.3 percent from the foul line. MSUB is also getting out-rebounded 38.8-28.5.
 
Thursday, December 3 – at Concordia University Cavaliers – 8 p.m. MTN

2015-16 Record: 1-6, 0-1 GNAC
Head Coach: Brad Barbarick, 21st season
2014-15 Record: 25-7, 14-4 CCC
 
Concordia received a mighty test in its first-ever GNAC game, as the Cavaliers fell to reigning regular-season champion Western Oregon University 92-59 on Tuesday evening in Portland.
 
Overall the Cavs have started the season 1-6, with the lone victory coming over Northwest Christian University 71-65 on Nov. 21 at home.
 
Drew Martin is the team's leading scorer and is one of three players averaging in double figures with 12.4 points per game. Latrell Wilson (12.1 ppg) and Tyler Gutierrez (11.3 ppg) are the other leading scorers under 20-year coaching veteran Brad Barbarick.
 
On the glass, 6.0 rebounds per game from Riley Hawken are the most on the team while Martin is close behind with 5.7 boards. Wilson is the squad's best 3-point marksman, shooting 15-for-34 (44.1 percent) from downtown on the year.
 
As a team Concordia scores 64.1 points per game while allowing 88.4, and the Cavaliers get out-rebounded 45.3-33.4. From the field CU is shooting 40.8 percent, from the arc 34.2 percent, and from the foul line 60.0 percent.
 
The Series: The Yellowjackets won the only previous meeting between the teams, collecting a 104-73 win in Billings on Nov. 26, 1998. In the big win, then-junior guard Jamie Stevens broke the MSUB school record for assists in a game with 16 and added 13 points to fuel the win. Now in his fifth year as MSUB's head coach, Stevens' assists record stands to this day.
 
Saturday, December 5 – at No. 4 Western Oregon University Wolves – 8 p.m. MTN
2015-16 Record: 7-0, 1-0 GNAC
Head Coach: Jim Shaw, 1st season
2014-15 Record: 23-7, 15-3 GNAC (1st place)
 
After a non-counting 76-57 exhibition loss to NCAA Division I Oregon State University on Nov. 5, Western Oregon has won seven straight games to start the season and screamed up the National Association of Basketball Coaches top-25 poll to No. 4 in the nation.
 
WOU's average margin of victory is 14.2 points this year, as the Wolves out-score opponents 82.5-68.3. Reigning GNAC Player of the Year Andy Avgi has shown no regression despite spending the fall as a tight end on WOU's football team, as he leads the GNAC in scoring with 24.3 points per game while adding six rebounds.
 
The senior is one of five double-figure scorers on the squad, with Alex Roth adding 13 points, Tanner Omlid and Jordan Wiley at 12 apiece, and Devon Alexander chipping in 10.8. Alexander is right behind Avgi in rebounding with 5.5 per game, while Wiley leads the team in long-distance shooting at 43.3 percent (13-for-30).
 
As a team WOU is shooting 48.6 percent overall, 37.3 percent from 3-point range, and 72.5 percent from the free-throw line. The Wolves hold a plus-4 rebound margin (34.5-30.5), and have 102 assists against 70 turnovers.
 
Picked to finish second in the GNAC preseason coaches' poll, WOU is off to a 2-0 start at home under first-year head coach Jim Shaw.
 
The Series: The Yellowjackets and Wolves have each won 10 games against one another, as the 20-game series dates back to the 1999 season. MSUB is 2-7 on the road alltime in Monmouth, and the Wolves have won the last four meetings overall.
 
Last Time Out: WOU defeated MSUB 72-64 in Billings on Jan. 3 before a 94-74 victory over the 'Jackets in Monmouth on Jan. 29. Johnson scored in double figures in both games for the 'Jackets, while Perry had a dozen points and nine rebounds in the first encounter between the two. Avgi had 23 points in Billings and 13 points in Monmouth in the two games last season.