BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings men's basketball team's homestand continues, but the stakes are higher this week, as the Yellowjackets open Great Northwest Athletic Conference play by hosting Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington this Thursday and Saturday, respectively.
 
This week also marks a return to normalcy for the Yellowjackets (2-4) and the rest of the GNAC, as this week's pair of early conference games usher in the first full season of conference play since 2019-20. Last year, the GNAC season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
 
"We want to get a good start in league play," MSUB men's basketball head coach Mick Durham said. "I always think the first games in league play are important to set the tone, so we're approaching them that way. We're just trying to get off to a good start and see where we stand. This is something we've been gearing towards, and I've been telling the team that these two games are the most important ones we play before Christmas."
 
After this week, MSUB will return to non-conference play with its annual Rimrock Rivalry series against Rocky Mountain College. The 'Jackets will play down the street at Rocky on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m., then will host the Battlin' Bears on Dec. 11 at 5:15 p.m. From there, MSUB will play against West Texas A&M and Rollins College in the South Point Holiday Hoops Classic, held in Las Vegas, Nev. from Dec. 17-18.
 
ABOUT LAST WEEK
As Durham puts it, the 'Jackets played three good halves last week.
 
First, MSUB dominated from start to finish in an 81-69 win over Black Hills State last Wednesday, in which the 'Jackets committed only four turnovers and shot a season-best 48.4% from the floor against the Yellow Jackets. Carrington Wiggins – the conference's eighth-highest scorer averaging 16.0 points per game –  led the way with 19 points, but five 'Jackets finished in double-figures and eight of the 10 players who logged minutes scored in the win.
 
On Saturday, things looked like the 'Jackets would finish the week 2-0 in the first half of play against the South Dakota Mines Hardrockers. Damen Thacker caught fire, scoring 17 of his 19 points in the first half as he and Wiggins were responsible for MSUB's first 21 points. Both guards were active defensively throughout the game as well: Wiggins and Thacker finished with six steals apiece, spearheading a MSUB defensive effort that forced 21 South Dakota Mines turnovers.
 
Yet the Hardrockers tightened up their defense and MSUB's offense went cold in the second half as South Dakota Mines ground out a 60-51 win in Alterowitz Gym.
 
"I thought, for the most part, we played some really good basketball," Durham said. "It was just frustrating that we couldn't finish against South Dakota Mines. I think our players are pretty resilient. I told them we're going to take things one step of the time, play games and try to get on the same page."
 
Although both games differed in pace and style of play, one constant for the 'Jackets was the play of stretch forward Bilal Shabazz. The Montana State transfer scored 11 points off the bench in both games, plus added 13 rebounds in both outings combined. Shabazz finished 10-20 from the field in both games last week, including 2-6 from the arc.
 
"It was nice to see that," Durham said of Shabazz's games last week. "We're looking for consistency from him so we know what we're getting from him every night, but his last two games have definitely been his best, back-to-back."
 
NORTHWEST NAZARENE NIGHTHAWKS
Record: 1-3 (0-0 Great Northwest Athletic Conference)
Head coach: Paul Rush (5^th season)
Head-to-head record: 19-20
Last meeting: Feb. 2, 2019 (92-89 OT, Northwest Nazarene)
 
Coming off the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance last season, the Nighthawks have started the year 1-3, yet all three losses have been by single-digits. The Nighthawks' lone win of the season was a 101-91 overtime contest against Bushnell University; from there, NNU dropped a pair of close contests to Angelo State and Texas A&M-Kingsville in the Javelina Classic before their 78-71 road loss to Azusa Pacific last Friday.
 
"They always want to play fast-paced, they're aggressive defensively and they rebound the ball well," Durham said of the Nighthawks. "They're well-rounded, offensively. Although they lost their leading scorer from last year, Ezekiel Alley, to Portland State, they have some guys who have been around."
 
A bright spot for the Nighthawks so far has been redshirt sophomore forward Gabriel Murphy, who could be having a breakout season. Murphy is averaging 12.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game – the latter of which is the best in the GNAC and tied for seventh nationally. Defensively, Murphy averages 2.0 blocks per game (23^rd nationally) and is a bright spot for a defense that has allowed opponents to average 77.2 points per game.
 
"He's gotten a little better each year," Durham said of Murphy. "NNU doesn't use the low post too much, so the emphasis will be more on keeping him off the boards. NNU's bigs get a lot of penetration dump-offs and they work off the offensive glass. [Murphy] is capable from three, so we can't leave him open."
 
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
Record: 3-1 (0-0 Great Northwest Athletic Conference)
Head coach: Brandon Rinta (2^nd season)
Head-to-head record: 7-20
Last meeting: Jan. 31, 2019 (87-47, MSUB)
 
Led by senior forward Marqus Gilson (17.3 points per game), Xavier Smith (13.8 points per game) and Santa Clara transfer David Thompson (13.3 points per game), the Central Washington Wildcats have ridden its up-tempo, high-scoring offense to a 3-1 record. Defensively, however, the Wildcats have allowed opponents to score 75.5 points per game and make 48.5% of their field goals.
 
Gilson, in particular, has been one of the most efficient scorers in the GNAC with his 65.9% shooting – most of which comes from inside the arc.
 
"Two years ago, he showed some good things when we played against them late in the season," Durham said of Gilson. "He's a little bit undersized, but he's very active and he's a workhorse. He's definitely going to get our attention."
 
UP NEXT: MSUB takes on Northwest Nazarene Thursday, then Central Washington on Saturday. Both games will be at 7:30 p.m. Livestream and live stat links can be found on the men's schedule page at msubsports.com.