BILLINGS, Mont. – After winning four straight games and six of the last seven, the men's basketball team at Montana State University Billings is preparing for its final game of December against Dickinson State University. The Yellowjackets play the Blue Hawks on Tuesday, December 17 at 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gymnasium in a non-conference game, finishing off a six game homestand which began on November 23.
 
Fresh off a 96-85 win over rival Rocky Mountain College, MSU Billings has early momentum in its 2018-19 campaign. The 'Jackets are 6-3 overall and 2-0 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Dickinson State is 3-6 and competes in the North Star Athletic Association. With conference matchups set to resume in early January, Tuesday night will be an opportunity for MSUB to go undefeated in December.
 
"With one more game before break, I think the team will be excited to play this last one," commented head coach Mick Durham. "It's more about us than them, just making sure we stay sharp because we want to keep our confidence level high heading into the break. We took a couple days off for finals but now we are back to practicing and I'm hoping we can finish December strong."

LAST TIME OUT: Four players had 10 or more points for Montana State Billings and the Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears led for just two minutes to open the game before MSUB took over for good. Tyler Green led the scoring for MSUB and Melvin Newbern Jr. earned his third double-double of the year with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Zack Rollins and Brendan Howard chipped in offensively with 16 and 15 points respectively.
 
"I thought we balanced our scoring well and got the ball inside to help our jumpers," said Durham after Saturday night's game. "I was really pleased with the start we had. We did miss a few critical free throws but all-in-all we did a good job."
 
TYLER GREEN GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK: The Great Northwest Athletic Conference named Montana State University Billings junior guard Tyler Green men's basketball player of the week for the second time this season last Monday. Green had a career high 34 points last Saturday night, helping the Yellowjackets to a 96-85 victory over Rocky Mountain College at home.
 
Green's 34 points was a single game high for any player in the GNAC this season. It was also the most points scored by an MSUB player since Preston Beverly had 35 in January, 2017. Against Rocky Mountain College, Green did the most damage from beyond the arc and sank seven three pointers in the first half on just eight attempts. He finished 8-for-13 from downtown and shot 11-for-16 from the field (.688). MSU Billings has won GNAC player of the week for men's basketball each of the last three weeks with Zack Rollins winning once and Green picking up the award for the second time.
 
Green ranks No. 13 in NCAA Division II for 3-point field goal percentage at 54.0 percent. He has made 24 of 63 and is the top ranked outside shooter in the GNAC. Green is also the only player under 5-foot-10 in the top 50.
   
SPREAD OUT SCORING: With five players averaging 10 or more points per game, the Yellowjackets have shown they are capable of scoring. Green leads with 16.1 ppg. Zack Rollins is second with 14.6 and a single-game high 30 against Alaska Anchorage last week. Brendan Howard continues to find success driving the lane and stands at 14.4 ppg, despite coming off the bench in each of the previous four games. Melvin Newbern Jr. is fourth at 13.0 points per game and Zharon Richmond has increased his productivity and is up to 10.0 ppg. with four recent starts.
 
MONTANA NATIVES: The Yellowjackets have six players who grew up in the Treasure State including freshman guard Jakim Ricketts, junior forward Jordan Lehrer, sophomore forward Zharon Richmond, freshman forward Brendan Howard, freshman center Sam Elliott, and junior center Seth Christiaens.
 
After coming off the bench to begin the year, Richmond has started each of the last four games and has seen his point production increase to 10.0 ppg. Richmond posted a single game best 16 points versus Alaska Anchorage.
 
Howard has seen the second most playing time of the group, averaging 22.9 minutes per game. He is shooting .535 (second) from the field and .739 (third) from the free throw line. Lehrer has eight appearances off the bench while Ricketts and Elliott have not yet seen time on court. Seth Christiaens has 14 points and four blocks in nine appearances for MSUB.
 
STAT OF THE WEEK: MSU Billings has been outscored off the bench by opponents in eight on nine games so far by a margin totaling 219-160. Brendan Howard leads the team with 63 points off the bench in four games (15.75 ppg). For the starting five however, point production has come fast and furious. The Yellowjackets have had at least four players per game in double figure scoring in seven of their first nine games. MSUB puts up 78.0 points per game and holds a +3.4 scoring margin over all opponents.
 
"We have some outside and inside balance in scoring which is good," Durham said. "I'd like to establish a little bit more production from the bench as we go. We've been playing ten guys which keeps our starters fresh down the stretch so hopefully we can continue to do that."
 
ZEN SVEN: Senior Sven Jueschede has been able to increase his playing time every season since freshman year. A native of Roesrath, Germany, Jueschede brings a calm veteran presence to a balanced MSUB lineup. Known as a smart decision maker, he has just nine turnovers in 235 total minutes this season. Jueschede also has 16 assists, six steals, and 21 rebounds. Juechede is averaging 4.7 points per game compared to 7.2 ppg last season. With nine newcomers playing in the GNAC for the first time, Jeuchede will be looked upon as a catalyst to keep the 'Jackets focused in the face of difficult opposition.
 
"Sven is a little bit more capable of scoring," Durham critiqued the senior. "He has been doing a great job with his minutes and establishing his role on the team and I know he will be able to help us even more in the GNAC because of his previous experience."
   
MARVELOUS MELVIN: Melvin Newbern Jr. joined the Yellowjackets after two seasons at North Dakota State College of Science where he was a junior college all-American. Newbern Jr. picked up where he left off and has three double-doubles through nine starts at MSUB. The Minneapolis native posted a career best 22 points against Black Hills State on November 24 and had 14 rebounds against University of Mary on November 14. Newbern Jr. has been an efficient shooter all season, but has been even more effective recently. Over the last four games, he shot 22-for-30 from the field for a team leading .733 shooting percentage over that stretch.

Newbern Jr. 2018-19 double-doubles

Date	Opponent	Points	Rebounds	Minutes
12/8/18	Rocky Mountain College	17	10	25
11/24/18	Black Hills State	22	11	24
11/14/18	University of Mary	17	14	29

 
BY THE NUMBERS:
TEAM:

• The Yellowjackets average 78.0 points for (7^th GNAC) and 74.6 points against (5th GNAC) per game.
• MSUB is 111-for-156 in free throws, a percentage of .712 (8^th GNAC).
• The 'Jackets shoot .387 from the three-point arc (4^th GNAC).
• The Yellowjackets have 308 offensive rebounds (9^th GNAC) and 308 defensive rebounds (5^th GNAC).
• MSUB is fourth in blocked shots with 31 (3.4 bpg). The team has 62 total steals (7^th GNAC).
• The 'Jackets have the second longest win streak in the GNAC this season (four games) and need two more to match Saint Martin's at six.

INDIVIDUAL:

• Green's 16.1 points per game is fifth best in the conference. Rollins is eighth at 14.6 and Howard is tied for ninth at 14.4 ppg.
• Melvin Newbern Jr. ranks third in rebounding with 8.2 rebounds per game and a total of 74.
• In assists, Tyler Green ranks third with 3.9 apg through nine games.
• Rollins' .846 free throw percentage (22-for-26) is sixth best in the conference.
• Green ranks eighth in 3-point percentage (.500, 34-for-63).
• Green is ninth in the GNAC in minutes played with 28.9 minutes per game and nine starts.

 
Scouting Dickinson State University
Game Day: Tuesday, December 17 – 7 p.m.
2018-19 Record: 3-7, (0-1 North Star), 0-3 home, 0-1 away, 3-3 neutral
Head Coach: Josh Vaughan (2^nd season)
2017-18 Record: 16-13 (9-7 North Star), 9-4 home, 6-9 away, 1-0 neutral
 
The Blue Hawks roster features one senior, six juniors, two sophomores, and four freshmen. They were forced to replace all five starters from a senior heavy squad in 2017-18 that finished two games above .500 in the North Star Conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
 
Dickinson State suffered an 86-76 loss to Jamestown on Friday night after beating Montana State University Northern the previous week 76-66. Kenny Jackson scored 23 points against the Jimmies and Melvin Collins added in 20. The Blue Hawks shot 43.3-percent from the field and 37-percent from 3-point range. They also made 8-of-10 free throws (80-percent) and were out-rebounded in the game 37-32.
 
Dickinson State is 1-6 over its last seven outings. They average 74 points per game and allow 78 points per game. Senior forward Melvin Collins leads the offense with 14 points per game and is the only player on the roster to start all 10 contests this season. Collins recorded a double-double against Presentation College with 19 points and 11 rebounds on December 1.
 
Junior guard Kenny Jackson has contributed 12.2 points per game and sophomore guard Travon Hamilton has averaged 11.7 ppg. for the Blue Hawks. The DSU starting lineup against Jamestown included Jackson, Collins, Hamilton, Michael Vandall, and Donte Walker. The Blue Hawks bench combined for just nine total points in the loss to the Jimmies.


"Dickinson State has a lot of junior college guys so they are an experienced group," commented Durham. "They have been playing well lately but still looking for some consistency. They've had Northern and Rocky on the ropes so they are very similar to a Frontier Conference team and we know they garner respect. They have a couple quick guards and a couple guys who can score inside so it will be a good game for us heading into the break."
 
The Yellowjackets have a lengthy history with Dickinson State with games dating back to 1933. MSU Billings is 35-35 all-time against the Blue Hawks and 22-14 at home. MSUB has won the last 12 meetings but the two teams have not played since the 'Jackets won 82-66 on December 16, 2011 in Billings.

Last ten games against Dickinson State

Date	Score	Venue
Dec. 16, 1972	W, 111-87	Away
Dec. 14, 1973	W, 97-95	Away
Dec. 15, 1973	W, 115-79	Away
Nov. 29, 1976	W, 97-83	Away
Nov. 22, 1977	W, 84-81	Home
Mar. 4, 1978	W, 110-79	Home
Dec. 10, 1983	W, 83-51	Home
Jan. 5, 1985	W, 87-74	Away
Dec 9, 1998	W, 108-77	Home
Dec. 16, 2011	W, 82-66	Home

AROUND THE GNAC: Saint Martin's, Western Oregon, and Montana State Billings are in a first place stalemate at 2-0 in the conference standings. Saint Martin's and Western Oregon are tied for the top spot overall with identical 8-1 records. The Saints were selected preseason favorites to win the GNAC. Northwest Nazarene has the second best overall record at 6-1 and Western Washington is third at 7-3, just ahead of MSU Billings at 6-3.
 
Last season, Western Oregon took the GNAC Championship 65-55 over Saint Martin's.
 
Adonis Arms leads the GNAC with 20.6 points per game for Northwest Nazarene. Michael Kluting (Alaska Fairbanks) and Coleman Wooten (Seattle Pacific) share the top position in rebounding with 9.3 rebounds per game. Green is the league's top 3-point shooter so far with 3.8 three-point field goals per game and a total of 34. Jarrett Gray (Concordia University) has averaged 32.7 minutes per contest, more than any other player in the GNAC.
 
HOME SWEET HOME: The Yellowjackets have played more games at home (7) than any other team in the conference.  After Dickinson State on December 18, play resumes January 3 against Northwest Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho, followed by a matchup with Central Washington on January 5 in Ellensburg, Washington.
 
"We'll have about a week of practice before we get into the GNAC schedule in January," said Durham. "I think the homestand we are coming out of is exactly what we hoped it would be. It provided a chance for us to work on combinations and get some confidence. It hasn't been easy and I know the same will be true in the GNAC but I think we are ready for the last 18."
 
The formidable conference schedule ahead features some 11 away games and eight home games. The Yellowjackets play five straight road games to finish the season, so early home victories stashed away may come in handy as they fight for playoff position down the stretch. The GNAC Championships will be held in Bellingham, Washington March 7-9. MSUB must finish in the top six to reach the postseason.
 
"It's not going to be easy in the GNAC but I do think we have enough scoring to go around," said Durham. "If we can keep a good balance and not just rely on Rollins and Green we should be fine. We know they are going to become targets for opposing teams but our balance will help."
 
HOW TO WATCH: Tipoff against Dickinson State is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday night and those who are unable to attend in person are encouraged to follow the game through MSUB's Stretch Internet Portal here, where the game will be streamed and live statistics will be available.