Yellowjackets Face Montana AAU in Men’s Basketball Exhibition Saturday (January 24, 2003)

BILLINGS, MT – The Yellowjacket men’s basketball team will tune up for the stretch run of the Pacific West Conference basketball schedule by hosting a collection of alumni in an exhibition game Saturday night.  Tip off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Alterowitz Gymnasium.

The Yellowjackets are 8-6 overall and 2-4 in the PacWest after back-to-back conference wins last week.  MSU Billings and Hawaii Pacific split a pair of games on Tuesday and Thursday at Alterowitz, and the Jackets knocked off BYU-Hawaii on Saturday.  The defending PacWest Champion Yellowjackets continue conference play next week when they host Western New Mexico on January 30 and February 1.

The team plans to use Saturday’s exhibition as an opportunity to stay sharp and in game condition during a two-week layoff in its regular schedule.  All eight remaining players who have not been lost for the season to injury are scheduled to play in the game.

The Montana AAU team will feature seven former Yellowjackets: Donnie Wetzel, Matt Cowan, Joe Trottier, Jay Edwards, Jethro Wilson, Brian Cook and Nate Strong.  Bill Cook, the brother of Brian and current Yellowjacket Joe Cook, will also suit up for the AAU team.  Bill played at Western Montana College.

The Yellowjackets have been led in recent weeks by a pair of seniors and a pair of newcomers.  Senior Dan Thompson is averaging 15.9 points and five rebounds per game.  He is tied for fifth in scoring in the PacWest.  Senior big man Kyle Stirmlinger is adding 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and still leads the PacWest in field goal percentage at 64.9 percent.

Freshman Cameron Munoz is averaging 10.9 points per game and leads the team in 3-pointers made with 38.  Junior transfer Justin Hassell is scoring 12.1 points per game while pulling down five rebounds a night.

Note:  Junior guard Dave Carse successfully underwent shoulder surgery Wednesday afternoon.  Team doctors anticipate that he may be able to be back on the court in about six months.  Carse joins senior Jerett Skrifvars (thumb) on the list of Yellowjacket starters lost for the season due to surgery.