BILLINGS, Mont. – The last time the Montana State University Billings men's basketball finished with more wins than losses in a season was 2012-13 but strong play and hard work by this year's team has begun to turn the possibility into potential reality under first year head coach Mick Durham. The Yellowjackets (10-8, 5-5 GNAC) are tied for sixth place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings and they will conclude a four-game homestand with a pair of important conference matchups this week at Alterowitz Gymnasium.
 
MSU Billings will host Central Washington University (9-9, 3-7) on Thursday January 31 at 7 p.m. Then on Saturday, they welcome Northwest Nazarene University (13-3, 8-2) for a 7 p.m. tipoff. Both games will be available via live video stream video with statistics via MSUB's stretch internet portal with the voice of Yellowjacket basketball Kurt Wilson on the call. The 'Jackets lost road games to both CWU and NNU in January but have a chance to even the season series with both this weekend.
 
"Playing through teams in our league the second time doesn't get any easier," commented head coach Mick Durham. "We definitely felt the first time we played Central Washington we had trouble finishing late in the game. They hurt us with their penetration the first time but I'm excited for the second round to try and even the series up. I'd like to think we've improved some parts of our game and they probably have too. This is a big game for us."
 
 
After this week's games, the Yellowjackets are on the road for six of their final eight games. They will need to secure a top six record to make the GNAC championships scheduled for March 7-9 in Bellingham, Washington. Saint Martin's University (16-2, 9-1) has separated themselves at the top of the league table but MSU Billings is among five teams separated by two games or less filling out positions three through seven.
 
The 'Jackets have been especially effective at home with nine wins and three losses. MSUB assembled its most comprehensive performance of the season Saturday when they downed Seattle Pacific University 92-63. Five players reached double figure points and the 'Jackets shot a season high 57-percent from the floor.
 
BIG GAME BRENDAN: Brendan Howard continued to impress in his freshman season last week. He shot 7-for-11 against Seattle Pacific and had a team high 20 points, two shy of his career best 22. Howard shot 3-for-3 from outside the arc and 3-for-4 on attempted free throws. Thursday, the Yellowjackets lost by two points to No. 23 Saint Martin's but Howard contributed 17 points (7-for-11) and had four rebounds. Among players coming off the bench, Howard ranks first in the GNAC in points per game.
 
"Our six guys that have been scoring have been pretty consistent all year," said Durham. "What we have been trying to do is bring up guys seven through 10 and I think last week they came up big for us. We've done a pretty good job of splitting minutes so far and it's important to play our bench and give guys rest when they need it so we have to have depth."
 
AS A TEAM: The Yellowjackets average 81.1 points per game (fifth) and allow 78.3 to their opponents (ninth). MSUB is fourth in three point percentage (.382, 168 of 440) and Green has been responsible for just over one third of three-point attempts (146).
 
MSUB holds a .718 free throw percentage (seventh) and averages 3.2 blocked shots per game (sixth). The 'Jackets are eighth in steals (117), sixth in offensive rebounding (35.9 rpg), and eighth in defensive rebounding (35.5 rpg).
 
"I thought we had two pretty good efforts defensively last weekend," said Durham. "We were able to out-rebound Seattle Pacific which really showed me something. We are learning and simplifying things as best we can defensively. It still comes down to being able to guard your man one on one. We are getting better at that and we are starting to buy in on that aspect. Transition defense has been a struggle for us all year but last weekend we did a much better job. We have to get back in transition and get our defense set. Other teams are going to shoot on us but at least if we are back then we make them earn it."
 
 
INDIVIDUAL ACCOLADES: Melvin Newbern Jr. has gone 90-for-155 from the field this season and ranks 32^nd in NCAA Division II for field goal percentage. Green is ranked No. 5 in Division II for three-point field goals per game (3.83) and t-29^th for attempted three pointers (146 in 18 games). Green continues to lead the GNAC with 68 made 3-pointers, 16 ahead of second place Niko Bevens of Alaska Anchorage (54). Newbern Jr. leads the conference in offensive rebounds per game at 3.1 rpg for a total of 56 offensive rebounds. Newbern Jr. is also fourth in defensive rebounds per game.
 
TOP SCORERS: Green, Rollins, and Howard are all inside the top 10 for individual scoring the GNAC. Green has 307 points in 18 games for a team leading 17.1 points per game. Green holds a .466 three pointer shooting percentage and is a 70-percent free throw shooter. Rollins averages 15.3 points per game and shoots .431 from the field and .368 from 3-point range.
 

GNAC TOP SCORERS	CLASS	GP	FG	3FG	FT	POINTS	AVG/GAME
1. Adonis Arms (NNU)	JR	16	120	26	76	342	21.4
2. Trevor Jasinsky (WWU)	JR	20	118	47	109	392	19.6
3. Obi Megwa (NNU)	SR	16	110	17	50	287	17.9
4. Tyler Brimhall (UAA)	JR	18	103	50	55	311	17.3
5. Tyler Green (MSUB)	JR	18	99	68	41	307	17.1
6. Zack Rollins (MSUB)	SR	18	94	43	45	276	15.3
7. Jarrett Gray (CU)	SR	18	97	33	48	275	15.3
8. Julian Roche (SFU)	SO	18	110	12	36	268	14.9
9. Brendan Howard (MSUB)	FR	18	105	11	37	258	14.3
10. Othniel Spence (SFU)	JR	15	76	42	20	214	14.3

Scouting Central Washington University
Game Day: Thursday, January 30 – 7 p.m.
2018-19 Record: 9-10, 3-8 GNAC, 6-4 home, 1-5 away, 0-1 Neutral
Form: L , L , L , W , L
Head Coach: Brandon Rinta (1^st season)
2017-18 Record: 15-13, 10-10 GNAC, 8-4 home, 4-6 away, 3-3 neutral
 
The Wildcats squeezed into the conference tournament last season but fell 87-84 to Saint Martin's University in round one. This year, CWU has struggled away from home and has lost five of six games heading into Thursday night. On January 26, Concordia University prevailed over the Wildcats 65-63. Then Northwest Nazarene pushed past Central Washington 96-93 in Ellensburg.
 
The Wildcats are led by Gamaun Boykin. The junior guard averages 14.1 points and 5.6 rebounds to lead the team in both categories. Jeryn Lucas is the only player to start all 19 games for CWU and averages 11.6 points and 3.2 rebounds while shooting .411 from the field.
 
Central Washington averages 84.2 points per game (second) while giving up 81.1 points per game to opponents (11^th). The Wildcats are eighth in offensive rebounding (34.9 rpg), 11^th in rebounding defense (37.4 rpg), and sixth in blocked shots (3.2 bpg). The Wildcats average 9.1 three-pointers made per game (seventh).
 
MSUB is 6-19 all-time against Central Washington. The 'Jackets fell in both matchups last season and once this season. MSUB's last victory over CWU came in February, 2017. The Wildcats stormed back to beat the Yellowjackets in overtime on January 5. CWU outscored the 'Jackets 51-45 in the second half and Jackson Price tied the game at the regulation buzzer to send the game into an extra session. Rollins had 31 points for MSUB and Green had 18 points. The Yellowjackets shot 53.6-percent from the field, short of the 60-percent shooting clip of Central Washington.
 
Scouting Northwest Nazarene University
Game Day: Saturday, February 2 – 7 p.m.
2018-19 Record: 14-3, 9-2 GNAC, 8-0 home, 4-3 away, 2-0 neutral
Form: W , W , W , L , W
Head Coach: Paul Rush (2^nd season)
2017-18 Record: 13-13, 9-11 GNAC, 9-5 home, 3-7 away, 1-1 neutral
 
The Nighthawks their second place standing with a win over Central Washington Tuesday night 96-93 after an impressive second half comeback. The Nighthawks trailed by 16 points at halftime but rallied to outscore the Wildcats 55-36 in the second half to take their third straight win. Obi Megwa posted 24 points (10-for-20) and recorded eight assists and GNAC leading scorer Adonis Arms chipped in 22 points and five assists for NNU. The Nighthawks shot 54-percent on the night and 25-percent from long range.
 
Arms, a junior from Milwaukee, Wisconsin is averaging 21.4 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game for NNU. The 6-foot-6 guard has two 30-point games including a season high 34 against Western Washington on January 10. Against the Yellowjackets on January 3, Arms had 17 points, five assists, and four rebounds. Arms ranks first in the conference with 37 steals.
 
Megwa is also an effective scorer for the Nighthawks and averages 18.3 points per game and 3.8 rebounds. The Phoenix native is mostly an inside shooter and has started 16 of 17 games this season. Other starters for the Nighthawks include Adalberto Diaz (8.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg), Olamilekan Adetunji (5.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg), and Jayden Bezzant (11.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg).
 
On January 3, the Yellowjackets fell to Northwest Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho 94-79.  Newbern Jr. had 18 points for MSUB. The Nighthawks shot 60.7-percent compared to 37.7-percent for the 'Jackets. NNU led 50-37 at halftime and continued to play well with the lead in the second half. MSUB was outscored in points in the paint 54 to 26.
 
Northwest Nazarene is the No. 1 scoring offense in the GNAC, averaging 85.0 points per game. The Nighthawks allow 78.9 points per game to opponents (ninth). NNU is second in offensive rebounding (37.9 rpg), sixth in defensive rebounding (35.0 rpg), second in blocked shots (4.2 bpg), and fourth in steals (7.9 spg). The Nighthawks are not known for 3-point shooting and remain last in the GNAC in 3-pointers made this season with 109 3-point field goals in 17 games.
 
The Yellowjackets are 19-18 in the all-time series against NNU, including 13-7 at home, 6-11 on the road, and 1-0 at neutral sites. NNU has won seven of the previous 10 matchups. The teams split the season series 1-1 last season.
 
AROUND THE LEAGUE: Saint Martin's moved up to No. 15 in this week's NCAA Division II coaches poll. The Saints have won six straight games and are alone in first place with a 9-1 GNAC record. Alaska Anchorage earned GNAC team of the week and have won four straight games to improve to 6-4 and fourth place in the conference. Northwest Nazarene has the third longest current win streak at three games. The Nighthawks are in second place at 9-2 after a road win Tuesday night over Central Washington. Chandler Redix had a 40-point weekend to secure GNAC player of the week for SMU.
 
HOW TO WATCH: Live video and statistics will be available via MSUB's stretch internet portal for both home games this week.