BILLINGS, Mont. — Following their fourth consecutive 20-win campaign, the Montana State University Billings men's basketball team enters the 2026-27 season with a revamped roster, preseason recognition, and championship aspirations under head coach
Luke Fennelly.
Now entering his fourth season at the helm, Fennelly has established the Yellowjackets as one of the premier programs in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. MSUB has recorded four consecutive 20-win seasons, the longest streak in program history, and compiled a 61-33 record under Fennelly's guidance. After narrowly missing the postseason last year, the Yellowjackets enter the new campaign determined to take the next step and return to championship contention.
The Yellowjackets received a vote of confidence from the conference's coaches, earning fifth place in the 2026-27 GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll with 61 points. MSUB finished tied for fourth in the conference standings last season at 9-9 in league play, finishing 20-11 overall. Guard
Braydon Olson was also named a Preseason All-GNAC selection, adding to the anticipation surrounding a team that blends experienced transfers with returning contributors and a talented group of newcomers.
Preseason Recognition
MSUB enters the season ranked fifth in the GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll, placing just one point behind fourth-place Alaska Anchorage. The Yellowjackets received 61 points in the poll after finishing 20-11 overall and 9-9 in conference play a season ago.
Saint Martin's, the defending GNAC regular-season and tournament champion, was selected as the preseason favorite with 88 points. Central Washington ranked second with 84 points, followed by Northwest Nazarene with 80 and Alaska Anchorage with 62.
The fifth-place selection positions MSUB among the conference's projected contenders as the Yellowjackets look to secure a return to the postseason and compete for the program's second GNAC Championships title.
Olson was named a Preseason All-GNAC selection after transferring from Western Oregon, where he established himself as one of the conference's top perimeter scoring threats. During his sophomore season, Olson averaged 12 points per game while shooting nearly 40 percent from three-point range. He also set a Western Oregon single-game program record with 10 made three-pointers against Western Washington.
Olson's familiarity with the GNAC and proven ability to score from beyond the arc give the Yellowjackets an experienced offensive weapon as they prepare for another demanding conference schedule.
"We are certainly pleased with the addition of Braydon to the program," said coach Fennelly. "He brings GNAC experience and production that will only help us moving forward. He has worked relentlessly this fall to improve his game, so we are looking forward to the year Braydon is capable of having as we get ready for the season ahead."
New Faces, Familiar Expectations
MSUB welcomes 11 newcomers for the 2026-27 campaign, bringing together Division I transfers, junior college standouts, international talent, and several of Montana's top high school players.
Among the newcomers are Division I transfers
Fischer Brown from Western Carolina,
Eino Montin and
Cory Lovell from Stonehill College.
Connor Oertel also joins the Yellowjackets after an outstanding two-year career at Clackamas Community College, where he led the Northwest Athletic Conference in scoring at 22 points per game as a sophomore.
The Yellowjackets have added considerable size to their frontcourt with 6-foot-9 forwards Lovell and
Joel Brown, while guards Oertel, Montin,
Jefferson Neary, and Olson bring scoring, playmaking, and collegiate experience to the backcourt.
Fischer Brown adds another experienced guard after appearing in 39 games at Western Carolina.
One of the defining features of this year's recruiting class is its strong Montana connection. Five newcomers have ties to the Treasure State, including Billings natives
Chase Bad Bear,
Zakai Owens,
Lane Love, and
Zicciah Callison-Blake, along with Lewistown native
Fischer Brown.
The group arrives with an impressive collection of accomplishments, including state championships, all-state honors, junior college production, Division I experience, and international basketball backgrounds in Finland and New Zealand.
With a balanced combination of size, athleticism, shooting, and versatility, the incoming class gives Fennelly additional options throughout the lineup as the Yellowjackets work to maintain their place among the GNAC's top programs.
Returning Core
While the roster features a significant number of new faces, MSUB also returns several players who gained valuable experience during last season's campaign.
Rhyse Owens returns after a productive first collegiate season and is expected to continue developing his role in the backcourt. His familiarity with the program provides an important connection between the returning group and the incoming class.
Ty Cox,
Croix Cox, and
Jonas La Tour also return after contributing to last year's team. Their experience competing at the collegiate level and within the GNAC should help provide continuity as the Yellowjackets incorporate their new additions.
The arrival of
Zakai Owens also reunites the Owens brothers on the same roster, adding another compelling storyline for the upcoming season. Zakai joins MSUB after spending his freshman season at Dawson Community College, where he averaged 6.1 points per game while contributing 163 rebounds, 47 assists, and 43 steals in 33 appearances.
With experienced returners joining a talented group of transfers and newcomers, the Yellowjackets have the personnel to build depth across the floor and compete in a conference featuring several established contenders.
Schedule Highlights
MSUB begins its season with an exhibition against Providence University on Oct. 23 at Alterowitz Gym, offering the Yellowjackets an opportunity to prepare for a challenging non-conference slate.
The regular season opens Oct. 30 at the D2CCA Tip-Off Classic in Ellensburg, Washington, where MSUB will face Lubbock Christian, Chico State, and CSU San Bernardino over three days. The tournament will provide an early test against established Division II competition before the Yellowjackets return home for matchups against Westminster, Rocky Mountain College, and Minot State.
Other non-conference highlights include the GNAC/PacWest Crossover Tournament in Lacey, Washington, against Westmont College and the University of Hawaii at Hilo, followed by a road matchup against South Dakota Mines. MSUB will also travel to Las Vegas for the Holiday Hoops Classic, where it will face Illinois Springfield and Angelo State.
GNAC play begins Dec. 3, when Northwest Nazarene visits Alterowitz Gym, followed by a home matchup against Central Washington on Dec. 5. The Yellowjackets will open the new year with a Pacific Northwest road trip to Simon Fraser and Western Washington before returning to Billings for conference matchups against Western Oregon, Saint Martin's, and Seattle Pacific.
The schedule also features the annual Alaska road swing in January, with MSUB visiting Alaska Fairbanks and Alaska Anchorage before returning home for another stretch of important conference games. The Yellowjackets will close the regular season with road contests against Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene.
The top six teams in the GNAC standings will advance to the 2027 GNAC Basketball Championships, scheduled for March 4-6 at Northwest Nazarene's Johnson Sports Center in Nampa, Idaho. The conference tournament champion will earn the league's automatic berth to the NCAA West Region Championships.
With four consecutive 20-win seasons behind them, a deep group of newcomers, and preseason recognition from the conference, the Yellowjackets enter 2026-27 with an opportunity to build on their recent success. Under Fennelly's guidance, MSUB will look to translate that momentum into a return to the postseason and a run at the GNAC title.
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