What's Up?: The Minnesota State men's basketball team closes out its five-game homestand this weekend as it entertains Winona State and Upper Iowa. Both games are slated for 8 p.m. starts.
What Just Happened: Minnesota State sophomore point guard
Zach Monaghan scored a game-high 23 points and passed out eight assists – which accounted for 20 points – as the Mavericks opened the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference portion of their schedule last Saturday evening with a 76-71 win over Concordia.
Just a Reminder: Due to the Minnesota State football team hosting a national quarterfinal game at 2 p.m., Saturday's game will start at 8 p.m., instead of 6 as it was originally scheduled.
Minnesota State History: The 2012-13 season marks the 91st campaign as a varsity sport for Minnesota State men’s basketball. The Mavericks are 1,190-841 (.586) in 2,031 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 57-28 record (.671) 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 Winona State: Winona State, which was ranked ninth in the latest NABC Division II Coaches Poll, enters the weekend with a 6-2 record after suffering a 64-63 home loss to Upper Iowa last weekend.
As a unit, WSU is averaging 68 points per game while giving up 63. The Warriors are shooting 44.9 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from downtown while owning a slim +0.3 (35.1-34.9) rebounding advantage on the season.
Senior center Clayton Vette leads the team in scoring and rebounding averaging 18.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per contest respectively. Senior guards Xavier Humphrey and Zander Culver are also scoring in double-figures averaging 10.4 and 10.0 points per game. The Warriors are coached by Mike Leaf who is in his 15th season with a 321-125 career record.
Series History: Minnesota State is 81-40 all-time against Winona State, including an 8-10 record under head coach
Matt Margenthaler...The Warriors have won three of the last four games in the series... In the Taylor Center, the two teams have played to a 4-4 record and in NSIC games they are 3-3...Sophomore forward
Zach Romashko is the leading active scorer for the Mavericks against Winona State averaging 8.5 points in two games while junior guard
Jimmy Whitehead is averaging 7.3...Junior forward
Connor O'Brien is averaging 6.0 points and a team-high 5.0 rebounds in six career games against WSU...Whitehead scored 15 points against Winona State last year (1/27/11) which is the most points scored by an active Maverick against WSU...O'Brien's ten rebounds at Winona State (12/18/10) is the most rebounds in the series while Whitehead's four assists (twice), most recently on Jan. 27, 2011, is the most by an active Maverick.
A Little About Upper Iowa: Upper Iowa enters the weekend owners of a 3-2 record and are 1-0 in the NSIC after earning a 64-63 victory at Winona State last weekend when senior post Tucker Wentzien hit a lay-up with one second remaining.
As a team, UIU is averaging 64.2 points per game while giving up 64.6. The Peacocks are shooting 43.4 percent from the floor, 33.7 from downtown and a 73.5 percent from the free throw line. As a team, UIU is outrebounding its opponents by a +2 (33.0-31.0).
Wentzien is averaging 14 points per game while senior wing Sam Elgin is averaging 10.6. Both players also lead the team in rebounding at 10.5. The Peacocks are coached by Brian Dolan who is in his seventh season with the squad.
Series History: Minnesota State is 12-0 all-time against Upper Iowa with all 12 wins coming under head coach
Matt Margenthaler...MSU is 7-0 in the Taylor Center against UIU and 6-0 in NSIC games...The Mavericks are averaging 81.9 points in the series while giving up 64.3...Last year (1/28/12), the two teams played the lone overtime game in the series with MSU earning a 98-93 victory...The most points MSU has scored in regulation in the series is 95 (1/8/05) and the least is 58 (12/16/11)...The most points that the Peacocks have scored in regulation in the series is 78 (12/15/07) and the least is 47 (twice, most recent 11/28/06)...Sophomore forward
Zach Romashko is MSU's leading active scorer against UIU, averaging 17 points per game while junior guard
Jimmy Whitehead is averaging 8.3 points and junior forward
Connor O'Brien is averaging 7.3 points and a team-high seven rebounds...Junior guard
Alex Hanks has connected on 80 percent of his opportunities in his career against UIU...Romashko's 23 points in last year's overtime game is the most by an active Maverick in the series while O'Brien's 13 rebounds and Whitehead's four assists in the overtime thriller are also the most by an active Maverick in the series.
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