Skip To Main Content

Montana Western, University of

Official Athletics Site of the Montana Western Bulldogs
Carlson vs COI

Men's Basketball Claire Gay, UMW Sports Information

Montana Western MBB Inks 16 to 2026-27 Roster

DILLON, Mont. –  The Montana Western men's basketball team has signed 16 players ahead of the 2026-27 season, head coach J.C. Isakson announced Friday.
 
This is the first signing class under Isakson, who took charge of the program in April 2026.
 
A brief profile on each athlete and a quote from Isakson follow below.
 
"We are excited about how our roster came together," Isakson said. "We have several proven transfers that were productive college basketball players at their previous stops along with a talented freshman class to build with for the future. Adding this recruiting class to returners Billy Carlson, River Hurley, and Joshua Whiteside, we have a chance to be long, athletic, and deep. We look forward to September and putting the pieces together."
 
Seven of the new Bulldogs come from four-year colleges or universities.
 
Noel "Bud" Davis | Sophomore | Guard | 5-10
Seattle, Wash. | Earlham College
Davis joins Western from Earlham College in Indiana. He averaged 14.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists as a freshman. He tallied six games with at least 20 points and one game with 30. He led the team and was top 10 in the conference in points per game and earned one player of the week nod. He is the son of Erin Long and Noel Davis and is majoring in Business Administration.
 
Marje Windfield | Junior | Guard | 5-10
Chicago, Ill. | Multnomah
Windfield joins the Bulldogs from Multnomah. He averaged 12.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. He shot 35.0 percent from beyond the arc. He was named a Cascade Conference Men's Basketball Honorable Mention in his sophomore season.  He is the son of Nicole Moore and Herbert Windfield and is majoring in Business.
 
Cameron Downie | Sophomore | Guard | 6-2
Eagle, Idaho | Northwest
Downie comes to Dillon after one year at Northwest University. He appeared in 26 games with six starts in his freshman campaign. He shot 29.0 percent from the floor, 26.9 percent from three, and 70.0 percent from the line. He is the some of JB and Rachelle Downie and is majoring in Business.
 
Javin Tindall | Senior | Guard | 6-4
Albuquerque, N.M. | William Penn
Tindall joins the Bulldogs after one year at William Penn, where he helped the team to the 2025-26 Heart of America Conferene Championship. He averaged 5.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 24 appearances. He shot 40.0 percent from the field, 27.5 percent from three, and 78.4 percent from the foul line. He posted three double-digit scoring performances and had 13 games with at least five points. He is the son of Justin and Kristen Martin and is majoring in Business.
 
Gabe Hatler| Senior | Wing | 6-5
Billings, Mont. | MSU-Billings
Hatler joins Western for his final year of eligibility after two years at NCAA Division II member MSU-Billings. He also played two seasons at Spokane CC. In his junior campaign he helped the Yellowjackets to a 20-11 record while shooting 50.0 percent from the floor and 90.0 percent from the foul line. He is the son of Becky and Scott Hatler and is majoring in Applied Science.
 
Javonne Nesbit | Senior | Wing | 6-5
Froid, Mont. | Oklahoma Christian
Nesbit comes to UMW from Oklahoma Christian. In his lone season with the Eagles he appeared in 22 games. He shot 40.5 percent from the floor, 38.9 percent from beyond the arc, and 91.7 percent from the charity stripe. He is the son of Natasha Nesbit and is majoring in Applied Science.
 
Karson Peffer | Senior | Forward | 6-7
Chatsworth, Calif. | Montana Tech
Peffer joins the Bulldogs after two years at Montana Tech. He averaged 7.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. He shot 45.4 percent from the floor and 31.9 percent from beyond the arc. Peffer helped Montana Tech to back-to-back 20-win seasons and two trips to the NAIA National Tournament. He is the son of Kenny and Shannon Peffer and is majoring in Interdisciplinary studies.
 
Five of the signees are joining the squad from junior college programs.
 
Aries Lewis | Junior | Forward | 6-6
Erwinville, La. | Dawson CC
Lewis comes to Western after two years at Dawson CC. In his sophomore year, he averaged 8.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. He shot 50.8 percent from the floor and 65.9 percent from the charity stripe. He led the team to two region championships and two mondak conference championships. He is the son of Jennifer Dorsey and is majoring in Livestock and Ranch Management.
 
Matt Kinzeler | Junior | Guard | 6-2
Covington, La. | Dawson CC
Kinzelar joins the Bulldogs after two years at Dawson CC. He average 9.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. He shot 42.0 percent from the floor, 38 percent from three, and 86 percent at the line. Kinzeler helped his team to two region titles, two conference championships, and two Mondak Tipoff tournament wins. He was named Mondak Tipoff MVP and earned one player of the week award his senior season. He is the son of Bill and Melissa Kinzeler and is majoring in Business.
 
Naeem Colston | Junior | Forward | 6-5
Philadelphia, Pa. | Cochise College
Colston comes to Dillon after two years at Cochise College. He averaged 7.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. He shot 68.0 percent from the field and 62.0 percent from the foul line. In his sophomore campaign he registered 11 double-digit scoring efforts, including one with more than 20 points. He is the son of Erica McNair Tyrell Colston.
 
Eli Hunter | Junior | Guard | 6-3
Bozeman, Mont. | Spokane CC
Hunter is a transfer from Spokane CC where he spent the last two seasons. He averaged 7.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. He shot 36.9 percent from the floor, 28.8 percent from three, and 63.0 percent from the foul line. Hunter helped lead the team to one NWAC quarterfinal appearance. He is the son of Amy and Tyson Hunter and is majoring in Business.
 
Jace Hill | Junior | Guard | 6-1
Columbia Falls, Mont. | Miles CC
Hill came to Western after two years at Miles CC in Miles City, Mont. He posted 9.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 45.8 percent from the floor,39.1 percent from three, and 78.3 percent from the foul line. In his senior year he registered 18 double-digit scoring efforts. He is the son of Beau and Keri Hill and is majoring in Kinesiology.
 
Along with the transfers, four freshmen round out Isakson's first roster.
 
Braxtyn Turney | Freshman | Guard | 5-11
Dillon, Mont. | Beaverhead County HS
Turney is a Dillon, Mont., native who joins UMW from Beaverhead County HS. He helped the Beavers to back-to-back state championships in 2024 and 2025. In his senior season he averaged 10.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 3.3 steals per game and was named First Team All-State and All-Conference. He is the son of Heidi and Tanner Lagge and plans to major in Kinesiology.
 
Deron Lear | Freshman | Guard | 5-10
Fairfield, Mont. | Fairfield HS
Lear joins UMW from Fairfield HS. He averaged 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 3.0 steals per game. He helped lead his team to one district championship, one second place and one third place showing at divisionals. He was a three-time all-conference and two-time all-state player. He is the son of Allesha Lear and Arnold Briggs and plans to major in Business.
 
Josiah Boone | Freshman | Guard | 6-3
Missoula, Mont. | Big Sky HS
Boone comes to Western from Big Sky HS in Missoula, Mont. He averaged 11.7 points on 49.0 percent shooting while tacking on 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. He led his team to a third-place showing at state. He is the school record holder for points in a single-game. He is the son of Hesse and Nelli Boone and will major in Business.
 
Brodee Zahn | Freshman | Guard | 5-10
Kalispell, Mont. | Flathead HS
Zahn joins the Bulldogs after serving as a team manager for one season. The Kalispell, Mont., native played basketball for Flathead HS. In his senior campaign in 2024-25 he averaged 7.3 points per game. He is the son of Crystal Crampton and Zeb Zahn and is majoring in Kinesiology.
 
For complete coverage of UMW Men's Basketball, be sure to follow us on social media at @umw_mbb (Instagram), @UMW_MBB (X), and @Montana Western Men's Basketball (Facebook) or visit our official website at UMWBulldogs.com.

#GOBULLDOGS!
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Billy Carlson

#4 Billy Carlson

G
6' 4"
Redshirt Junior
River Hurley

#2 River Hurley

F
6' 7"
Redshirt Sophomore
Joshua Whiteside

#5 Joshua Whiteside

F
6' 7"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Billy Carlson

#4 Billy Carlson

6' 4"
Redshirt Junior
G
River Hurley

#2 River Hurley

6' 7"
Redshirt Sophomore
F
Joshua Whiteside

#5 Joshua Whiteside

6' 7"
Senior
F