BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings men's basketball team will host Northwest University in their first home game of the 2019-20 season Thursday, November 21 in Alterowitz Gymnasium. Following that, MSUB will play Rocky Mountain College at the Metra in Billings on Nov. 23.
MSUB (1-2) has played their first three games on the road and are excited to get back in front of a home crowd. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00pm.
"It's obviously very exciting as it's my last year," said senior
Jordan Lehrer. "We have been working hard and had some tough games on the road. It will be good to get home and play in front of familiar faces and hopefully get a win."
"We are starting to jell together and have a great foundation," commented senior center
Seth Christiaens. "We learned a lot from our first games and what we need to work on. The first game is always fun in front of a home crowd. You have to take every game one at a time but it's what you wait for all year and it is exciting."
LAST TIME OUT: The 'Jackets lost to Minot State University last week 83-74 last Saturday, Nov. 16.
Brendan Howard led MSUB with a season high 31 points and added nine rebounds. Senior
Tyler Green has 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
BY THE NUMBERS: Just three games in, the Yellowjackets are averaging 64.7 points per game and surrendering 78.0 to opponents.
Individually, Howard is leading the team averaging 22.0 points and 7.3 rebounds. Green has scored an average of 11.7 points with 11 assists.
Psalm Maduakor leads the team in rebounding averaging 8.3 per contest, has four block and leads the team in minutes played with 102.
Maduakor leads the squad with 9.0 rebounds per game and has a team high four blocks while leading the team in minutes played.
Scouting Northwest University
Game Day: Thursday, November 21 – 7 p.m. MST
2019 Record: 4-1, 0-0 CCC, 2-0 home, 1-1 away, 1-0 neutral
2018 Record: 15-17, 6-12 CCC, 8-8 home, 7-9 away, 0-0 neutral
Head Coach: Jeff Drinkwine (3rd season)
In five games this season, the Eagles are 4-1 with their only loss coming to Linfield College last week 8-71. The Cascade Conference member also dropped an exhibition game to Hawaii Pacific University 79-72 on Nov. 13.
To start the season, Northwest is averaging 95.0 points per game and holding opponents to 68.0. The Eagles have shot .531 from the field including .364 from behind the arc.
Five different Eagles are averaging double figures in scoring, led by Hussayn Ford with 17.6 points per game. Ford also leads the team with 12.2 rebounds per game.
"We're excited to finally be playing at home," said head coach
Mick Durham. "Northwest brings in a talented team built around three key returners that give them good balance inside and out. Coach Drinkwine does a great job with his team and this game will be a good gauge to see how we're developing and improving early in the season."
Live stats and video can be found at
msubsports.com.
Scouting Rocky Mountain College
Game Day: Saturday, November 23 – 7 p.m. MST at the Metra
2019 Record: 3-1, 0-0 Frontier, 1-0 home, 1-0 away, 1-1 neutral
2018 Record: 19-13, 10-8 Frontier, 12-4 home, 6-9 away, 1-3 neutral
Head Coach: Bill Dreikosen (19th season)
MSUB will renew the Rimmrock rivalry with the Battlin' Bears Nov. 23 at the Metra. It will be the 171
st time the rivals have clashed with MSUB holding the overall advantage 91-81.
Rocky is currently 3-1 with two of those victories coming against Yellowstone Christian College, 86-75 on Oct. 29 and 89-78 on Nov. 12. Their one loss has been to the University of Calgary 88-70 in the first game of the year on Oct. 25.
Rocky is averaging 88.0 points per game as a team while surrendering 78.0 points per game.
Clayton Ladine is pacing the Battlin' Bears with a scoring average of 15.5 points per game and chipping in 5.5 rebounds per contest. Grant Wallace is second on the team with 12.7 points per game and leads the team with 5.8 rebounds.
"We're excited to continue our cross town games with Rocky," continued Durham. "I thought both games last year brought a lot of excitement. Playing at the Metra will be an adjustment for everyone. Both teams have a lot of new players playing in this rivalry game for the first time, those guys adjusting to game, environment etc. may be a big key. The games are very competitive and help us both as we get ready for league games."
