BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings men's basketball team welcomes the Concordia University, Portland Cavaliers and the Western Oregon University Wolves this week as they conclude a four game home stand. Starting the second half of Great Northwest Athletic Conference play, MSUB will need to play better if they hope to make the conference tournament.
 
With 10 games remaining, MSUB (8-10, 3-7 GNAC) is currently in ninth place but only two games out of sixth place. The top six teams qualify for the GNAC tournament in March. 
 
"We are looking forward to getting back on the court and competing again," said head coach Mick Durham. "We did a lot of very good things in our two tough losses to the Alaska schools. Losing at home has always been more disappointing to me but we did walk away with our heads u. We will learn and keep competing and hope feel good about ourselves after the next two home games."
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Yellowjackets lost two tough games at home. MSUB fell to the University Alaska Anchorage 81-80 last Thursday. MSUB was unable to get a shot off in the final 2.7 seconds as UAA stole the inbounds pass to seal the win.  The 'Jackets then lost to the University of Alaska Fairbanks 86-78 this past Saturday. The GNAC's leading scorer Shabazz Shadeed was dominate going off for 38 points.  
 
BY THE NUMBERS: The 'Jackets currently have the sixth ranked offense (77.0 points/game) and the eighth ranked scoring defense (79.5 points game).   
 
MSUB ranks second in the GNAC with 38.1 rebounds per game. The Yellowjackets are third in the GNAC with 3.4 blocked shots per game.
 
The Yellowjackets are hitting 44.5 percent of their shots from the field and 36.1 percent from beyond the arc. The team is fourth in Division II in fewest fouls (236) and fourth in personal fouls (13.1/game).
 
Brendan Howard is second in the GNAC and 28^th in the nation in scoring with 21.8 points per game. He also second in the league with 7.9 rebounds per game.
 
Tyler Green is seventh in the GNAC with 15.8 points per game. He ranks fifth in the GNAC with 3.6 assists per game and leads the conference in free throw percentage converting 43-48 attempts (89.6 percent). He is also second in the GNAC and 15^th in all of Division II in three point shots made with 63 (3.50/game). Green is 11^th in the country with 169 three point attempts.
 
Zharon Richmond is averaging 19.0 points per game and 8.5 rebounds since his return to the court in December. Richmond has played in 55 percent of MSUB's games and to be ranked in the GNAC one must play in 66 percent of the total games. Where he to qualify, Richmond would be third in the GNAC in points per game and second in rebounds.
 
Scouting Concordia University-Portland  
Game Day: Thursday, January 30-Billings, MT-7:00pm Alterowitz Gym.
2019 Record: 2-17, 1-10 GNAC, 2-6 home, 0-6 away, 0-5 neutral
2018 Record: 11-17, 6-14 GNAC, 4-10 home, 5-7 away, 2-0 neutral
Head Coach: Roderick Rhodes (1^st Season)  
 
Still searching for their first road win of the year, the Cav's only GNAC win came against Saint Martin's University on January 11 at home 86-74. CU fell to WOU 111-78 Tuesday night.
 
CU dropped two games last week falling 65-56 to Central Washington University and 75-60 to Northwest Nazarene University. CU fell to WOU 111-78 this past Tuesday night.

CU is last in the GNAC averaging 70.3 points per game and is ninth on defense giving up 83.3. Hunter Sweet leads the team and is 11^th in the GNAC in scoring with 14.8 points per game. Dakota Ayala is second on the team averaging 11.4 points per game and is the only other Cavalier averaging double digits in the scouring column.
 
MSUB won the first meeting on January 4, 2020 85-73. MSUB is 7-3 all-time against CU.
 
Scouting Western Oregon University
Game Day: Saturday, February 1-Billings MT-7:00pm Alterowitz Gym
2019 Record: 12-5, 6-5 GNAC, 6-2 home, 2-4 away, 3-0 neutral
2018 Record: 22-11, 13-7 GNAC, 13-1 home, 5-8 away, 4-2 neutral
Head Coach: Wes Pifer (1^st Season)
 
WOU throttled CU this past Tuesday 111-78. The Wolves split a pair of games last week, falling 87-82 against Northwest Nazarene before defeating Central Washington 83-66.
 
WOU is being led offensively by Dalven Brushier, who averages 17.9 points per game to rank third in the GNAC. Darius Lubom is the team's second-leading scorer with 13.9 points per game, while shooting 56.1 percent overall. Lubom is also averaging 3.9 rebounds, and leads the team and the GNAC with 4.6 assists per game. Cameron Cranston and Jaylyn Richardson each average 13.1 points per game.
 
The Wolves are shooting 49.7 percent overall, 40.4 percent from 3-point range, and 80.6 percent from the foul line.
 
WOU got the best of MSUB in the first meeting to the tune of an 88-76 win. MSUB is 11-20 all-time against WOU with their last victory in 2016 at home 79-71.
 
IF YOU'RE GOING: Tickets can be purchased at Alterowitz Gymnasium or by calling 406-657-2369. All ticket options are available on game day at the ticket window and online HERE. Thursday night's campus partner is New Student Services. Sign Pro is the Corporate Partner on Saturday and MSUB's IT department is the campus partner.
 
IF YOU'RE NOT: Both Men's basketball games Thursday and Saturday will be streamed live with statistics via MSUB's stretch internet portal. Live stats and video is available at msubsports.com.