What's Up?: The Minnesota State 21st-ranked men's basketball team opens the 2013 portion of its schedule Friday and Saturday with a roadtrip to Augustana (Friday, 8 p.m.) and Wayne State (Saturday, 6 p.m.).
What Just Happened: Minnesota State scored 36 points in the final nine minutes to turn a nine-point deficit into a one-point victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Dec. 14. Three Mavericks scored 20 or more points in the win, as senior guard
Jarvis Williams scored a season-high 27 points. The following day, Minnesota State used a 16-point, 13-rebound effort from sophomore forward
Assem Marei to earn a 74-52 victory over Sioux Falls.
Minnesota State History: The 2012-13 season marks the 91st campaign as a varsity sport for Minnesota State men’s basketball. The Mavericks are 1,193-842 (.586) in 2,035 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 58-29 record (.667) 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 About Augustana: Augustana enters the new year with an 8-1 record, including a 4-1 mark in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
Last time out, the Vikings fell to Winona State, 70-56, before upending Upper Iowa, 71-64. Augustana is led offensively by senior guard Cameron McCaffrey who is averaging a team-high 20.7 points per game while freshman forward Daniel Jensen leads the team in rebounding.
As a team, Augsutana is averaging 70.3 points per game while giving up 61.6. The Vikings are outrebounding their opponents, 38.9 to 30.4 and are shooting 43.6 percent from the floor, 32.6 percent from downtown and 67.2 percent from the free throw line.
Augustana is coached by Tom Billeter who is in his tenth season with the program and owns a 126-59 record during his time at Augustana.
Series History: Minnesota State is 56-46 all-time against Augustana...The Mavericks were swept by the Vikings last year...MSU head coach
Matt Margenthaler is 15-8 in his career against Augustana...Sophomore forward
Zach Romashko is MSU's active leading scorer against the Vikings, averaging 12.5 career points in two games...Junior guard
Jimmy Whitehead is averaging 10.5 points while junior forward
Connor O'Brien is averaging 7.3 points and a team-high 4.8 rebounds against AC.
A Little About Wayne State: Wayne State is 6-4, 1-4 in league play entering the week. Prior to this weekend's contests, the Wildcats play host to Grace University, Monday afternoon. In their last action prior to the holiday break, WSC suffered a pair of road losses, falling to Upper Iowa, 77-56 and Winona State, 74-60.
Senior guard Shelby Amry enters the weekend leading the Wildcats in scoring, averaging 16.7 points per game while senior forward Derrell Williams averages 11.1 points and a team-high 6-6 rebounds per contest. Junior guard LaTroy Wright rounds out the Wildcats in double digits averaging 11.4 points per contest.
As a team, WSC is averaging 69.7 points per game while giving up 63.8. The Wildcats are being outrebounded 32.8-28.6 and as a team, they are shooting 46.9 percent from the floor, 39 percent from the three-point line and 71.5 percent from the free throw line.
Paul Combs is in his fourth season with the program and owns a of 43-50 record with the program.
Series History: All-time, MSU is 12-3 against the Wildcats...Last season the two teams split, with each team earning a road win...Maverick head coach
Matt Margenthaler is 9-1 all-time against WSC...Sophomore forward
Zach Romashko leads the team in scoring against Wayne State averaging 14 points per game while junior forward
Connor O'Brien is averaging eight points and seven rebounds...Junior guard
Jimmy Whitehead is averaging five points in five carer games against WSC...Wayne State Director of Athletics, Mike Powicki, was an assistant AD at Minnesota State from 2008 until last July.
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