What's Up?: The Minnesota State men's basketball team (7-12, 6-9 NSIC) opens a two-game homestand this weekend as it entertains Augustana and Wayne State.  Friday's game against the Vikings is set for 8 p.m., while Saturday's game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.  Both games will air on AM 1230 KYSM the Fan Mankato.

W2W4:  Minnesota State senior guard Stephen Kirschbaum will play in his 100th career game Friday evening against Augustana. Once Kirschbaum plays against Augustana, he'll be 11 games shy of passing Jon Taylor (1982-86) and Pat Kennedy (1980-84) for tenth all-time on the school's list.

Minnesota State History: The 2011-12 season marks the 90th campaign as a varsity sport for Minnesota State men’s basketball. The Mavericks are 1,187-834 (.587) in 2,021 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 56-21  record (.727) 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 Augustana:  Augustana enters the weekend with a 12-7 record and are 9-6 in the NSIC, good for a tie for fifth-place.  As a squad, the Vikings are averaging 74.4 points per game while giving up 68.6.  Augustana is shooting 47.8 percent from the floor, 38.7 percent from the three-point line and 74.4 percent from the free throw line.  Additionally, the Vikings own a +1.1 (33.5-32.4) edge in rebounding over its opponents.
    
Senior guard Cody Schilling leads the team in scoring at 16.5 points per game.  Schilling is also Augustana's top rebounder at 4.9 rebounds per contest.  Junior guard Cameron McCaffrey is averaging 14.1 points per game while senior guard Drae Murray is averaging 13.9 points per contest.  

The Vikings are coached by Tom Billeter who is in his ninth season with the program and owns a career coaching record of 236-161.

Inside The Series: Minnesota State owns a 56-45 all-time record against Augustana...Head coach Matt Margenthaler is 15-7 all-time against the Vikings...Earlier this season, AC downed MSU, 69-51 in Sioux Falls...Among the Mavericks who have played multiple games against Augustana, sophomore guard Jimmy Whitehead leads the team in scoring with 10.3 points in three career games....Sophomore forward Connor O'Brien averages 6.7 points to go with a team-high 4.0 rebounds against the Vikings while senior guard #Stephen Kirschbaum# is averaging 6.2 points in five career games against AC, shooting 52.9 percent from the floor and 50 percent from downtown.

A Little Bit About Wayne State:  The Wildcats bring a 5-14 record into the Taylor Center Saturday evening, including  a 4-11 mark in the NSIC, good for an 11th-place tie.  Prior to Saturday's game at MSU, the Wildcats travel to Southwest Minnesota State.
    
Junior guard Amry Shelby leads a trio of Wildcats in double figures averaging 14.4 points per game while junior forward Derrell Williams is second on the team in scoring at 11.8 while leading the team in rebouding at 6.7. Senior guard Vontrell Seroyer rounds out the WSC players in double-digits averaging 10.7 points per contest.

As a team, Wayne State is averaging 56.7 points per game while giving up 62.5.  The Wildcats are shooting 41.6 percent from the floor and 32.2 percent from the three-point line to go with a 71.7 percent clip at the free throw line.  WSC owns a +0.1 rebounding margin on its opponents (29.5-29.40).  

Paul Combs is in his third season with the program and owns a 32-43 record at Wayne State and a 196-143 career record in his 12 years as a head coach.
    
Inside The Series:  Minnesota State leads the all-time series, 12-2...Last year, MSU swept Wayne State in Mankato earning a 74-63 victory in the regular season and a 70-60 first round of the US Bank/NSIC tournament...The Mavericks won the first meeting this season 65-60 in Wayne behind a 16 points by freshman post Zach Romashko...Head coach Matt Margenthaler is 9-0 all-time against Wayne State...Among the Mavericks who have played multiple games against Wayne State, sophomore forward Connor O'Brien leads the team in scoring (8.3) and rebounding (7.5) in four games...Senior guard Stephen Kirschbaum is averaging 5.4 points per game in five career games while sophomore forward Jimmy Whitehead is averaging 3.8 points per game in four games.


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	AM 1230 KYSM The Fan Mankato (Feb. 4)
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