SAN DIEGO, Cali. – The Montana State University Billings men's basketball team were selected to the NCAA D2 West Region Championships on Sunday night, officially clinching further postseason play in their exceptional season.
 
The Yellowjackets (20-9, 14-4 GNAC) were selected as the seven-seed in the region with an at large bid. They will face off against the two-seed Cal State San Bernardino Yotes (27-3, 20-2 CCAA), who are participating in their third consecutive West Regional.
 
It is the 'Jackets tenth tournament in program history, and their first since 2012. They enter the regionals in the midst of their first 20-win season since the 2005-2006 campaign.
 
This MSUB team is led by some of the conference's top talents. Guard Carrington Wiggins was selected as the GNAC Player of the Year after averaging 17.9 points per game. Wiggins shot 47.3% from the field, 36.0% from three, and 92.1% from the free throw line, while also ranking near the top of the conference in steals with 55 on the season. Just behind him is fellow all-GNAC first team selection and GNAC Defensive Player of the Year Bilal Shabazz. Averaging 1.3 blocks per game and 1.1 steals a game, Shabazz is a major factor on both ends for the Yellowjackets, scoring 12.9 points a game and 8.7 rebounds. Behind them is a talented group of players. Steven Richardson is the 'Jackets third leading scorer with 10.0 points per game, while sixth man Abdul Bah is just behind him with 9.7, both capable of an offensive explosion. Brothers Jalen and Jajuan Tot interchange at the point guard position, while big center Emmanuel Ajanaku offers impressive defense while averaging 4.9 points and rebounds per game. The Yellowjackets have scored an average of 67.6 points per game while allowing 67.0.
 
They match up against a tough Yotes team that are coming off a CCAA tournament championship. The MVP of that tournament Brandon Knapper leads the way for San Bernardino, averaging 19.7 points per game to go with 4.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Knapper is hardly alone in an offense that scores an average of 90.0 points per game. Dontrell Shuler scores an average of 17.3 points per game. Forward Eddie Davis scores 13.9 points per contest with 6.4 rebounds, while Darius Mickens averages 12.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game. The Yotes give up an average of 74.7 points a game, and enter the contest against the Yellowjackets on a 12-game winning streak.
 
The game between MSUB and CSUSB is scheduled to take place on Friday, March 10 at 2:30 PM (3:30 MST). All games will be hosted at Golden Gymnasium on the campus of Point Loma University. The tournament central is located online here. Live video for the game will be available here, and live statistics will be available here. Tickets can be purchased online here.