What's Up?: The Minnesota State men's basketball team (4-9, 3-6 NSIC) returns the road this weekend as it travels to Bemidji State (Friday, 8 p.m.) and Minnesota Duluth (Saturday, 6 p.m.). Friday's game will air on Oldies 100.5 (FM) KXAC and Saturday's game will air on AM 1230 KYSM The Fan Mankato.
Minnesota State History: The 2011-12 season marks the 90th campaign as a varsity sport for Minnesota State men’s basketball. The Mavericks are 1,185-832 (.588) in 2,017 games since the program’s inception in the 1920-21 season. MSU capped its 33rd and final season as a member of the NCC in 2008 and owned a 283-267 (.515) record in 550 league games played. In the NSIC, MSU owns a 54-19 record (.740) to go with a pair of regular-season championships.
The Mavericks have made seven appearances in the NCAA Tournament, going 12-9 (.571) in those trips.
A Little Bit About Bemidji State: Bemidji State enters this weekend the owners of a 12-5 record, including a 7-4 mark in the NSIC.
Bemidji State is averaging 73.1 points per game this season while allowing its opponents to score 64.5. The Beavers are shooting 47.1 percent form the floor and 40.1 percent from beyond the three-point line while averaging 33.1 rebounds compared to 30.4 by their foes.
Senior forward James Ellisor leads the squad in scoring averaging 21.1 points per game while shooting 53.8 percent from the floor. He is also leading BSU in rebounding, averaging 7.1 per game. Junior guard Dermaine Crockrell and junior forward Mason Walters round out the Beavers in double-figures averaging 11.4 and 10.3 points per game respectively.
Bemdiji State is coached by Matt Bowen who is 54-98 in his six years with the school.
Inside The Series: Minnesota State leads the all-time series 64-39, including a 6-0 mark under head coach
Matt Margenthaler...Last year, MSU swept Bemdiji State, earning an 87-82 win in Mankato and a 77-73 win in Bemijdi...Just three active Mavericks have played a game against UMD as sophomore forward
Connor O'Brien is averaging 12 points and ten rebounds in two career games...Senior guard
Stephen Kirschbaum has played in three games and is averaging 3.7 points per game and sophomore guard
Jimmy Whitehead is averaging 3.5 points in two career games.
A Little Bit About Minnesota Duluth: The Bulldogs enter the weekend with a 10-5 record and are 7-4 in the NSIC, tied for fifth-place. UMD entertains Southwest Minnesota State Friday evening prior to hosting MSU.
Minnesota Duluth is averaging 80.2 points per game while giving up 78.7. As a team, UMD is shooting 46.9 percent from the floor and 36.8 percent from downtown while owning a +0.9 rebounding margin (36.6-35.7).
Junior guard Jake Hottenstine is tied for the team lead in scoring (17.7) and leads the squad in rebounding (6.7). Senior guard Ryan Rasmussen joins Hottenstine averaging 17.7 points while sophomore center Brett Ervin is averaging 12.3 points per contest.
The Bulldogs are coached by Gary Holquist who is 202-189 at UMD.
Inside The Series: Minnesota State leads the all-time series 37-29 while head coach
Matt Margenthaler is 12-3 all-time against UMD...Last year, MSU swept the series, earning a 95-79 win in Mankato and an 85-84 victory in Duluth...Five active Mavericks have seen action against UMD with sophomore forward
Connor O'Brien leading all active Mavericks in scoring at 9.5 points per game to go with seven rebounds per game in two career games...Sophomore guard
Jimmy Whitehead is averaging 7 points while senior guard
Stephen Kirschbaum is averaging 2.3 points in five career games...Sophomore guards
Travis Meinders and
Alex Hanks are both averaging two points in one care game against UMD.
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