What Lies Ahead:  The Minnesota State men's basketball team, ranked #4 in the latest NABC Division II poll wraps up a four-game homestand this weekend with tilts against Minnesota, Crookston (Friday, 8 p.m.) and MSU Moorhead (Saturday, 8 p.m.).

Promotions:  The first 250 fans Friday will receive a free Maverick mini-basketball courtesy of Charter Communications.  The first 500 fans Friday will receive a free Maverick basketball shirt courtesy of TCF Bank.  Additionally, following Saturday's game, there will be an autograph session sponsored by Buffalo Wild Wings.

What's in a Win:  A win Friday would mark the 1,146th win in program history...It would also mark the 186th win for head coach Matt Margenthaler...A win Friday over the Golden Eagles would mark the 10th time MSU has defeated UMC under head coach Matt Margenthaler and the 13th win in program history against the Golden Eagles...A win Friday would be Minnesota State's 28th win as members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference...It would also mark the 15th consecutive win for Minnesota State in the Taylor Center, which would be the second-longest winning streak in the building...Finally, a win would push MSU's season win total to 20 victories, marking the sixth straight 20-win season under head coach Matt Margenthaler and the 11th 20-win season in program history.

Watch For This:  Minnesota State senior guard Jesse Clark is two assists shy of 500 for his career. Clark currently sits in second on the school's all-time assists list with 498, while Gene Glynn (1976-80) holds the school record for assists with 760.

Get To Know The Golden Eagles:  Minnesota Crookston enters the weekend owners of a 3-16 record, including a 0-13 league tally.  The Golden Eagles have dropped their last 15 games and are averaging 64.6 points per game and allowing 79.5  As a team, UMC is shooting 44.4 percent from the floor and 31.7 percent from outside the three point line.  UMC is being outrebounded by a 5.3 margin this season.
   
The Golden Eagles have been without the services of their leading scorer, Akeem Cubie since their eighth game of the season due to an injury.  Prior to his injury, Cubie was averaging 19.9 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per contest.  Freshman guard Damarias Cruz has played and started in 15 games and is leading the team in scoring with an average of 17.7 points.  Junior wing Darin Weeks is the active leading rebounder at 3.7 rebounds per game.  UMC is coached by Jeff Oseth who is in his 35-152 with the program.
 
MSU-UMC Noteables:  Minnesota State head coach Matt Margenthaler is 9-0 all-time against Minnesota, Crookston...Minnesota State is 12-0 all-time against UMC...In three career games, senior center Travis Nelson is averaging 15.3 points per game and 7.7 rebounds...Earlier this season, MSU downed Minnesota, Crookston, 83-62 behind 18 points from Nelson.

Discussing the Dragons:  MSU Moorhead enters the weekend owners of a 7-13 record and are 4-9 in the league, which is in the midst of a three-way tie for 11th-place.  Last weekend, MSU Moorhead earned a 78-75 overtime victory at Northern State before falling 74-58 at the University of Mary. 
   
As a team, MSUM is averaging 67.8 points per game while allowing 73.1.  The Dragons are shooting 42.3 percent from the floor and are outrebounding their opponents by 2.7 rebounds per game.  Sophomore guard Jake Driscoll leads the team in scoring averaging 15.8 points per game while freshman post Alex Novak hauls in a team-high 6.7 rebounds per contest.  The Dragons are coached by Stu Engen who is in his seventh season and owns a 98-116 record with the Dragons.

MSU-MSUMNoteables:  Minnesota State is 56-27 all-time against MSU Moorhead while head coach Matt Margenthaler is 6-0 all-time against the Dragons...Senior center Travis Nelson is averaging 14 points in three career games against MSU Moorhead.

What Lies Ahead:  The Mavericks travel to Concordia Feb. 12 for an 8 p.m., contest before heading to St. Cloud State Feb. 13 for a 6 p.m. tilt.

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