What's Up?: The Minnesota State men's basketball team (7-18, 6-14 NSIC) closes the books on the 2011-12 season Saturday as it entertains Southwest Minnesota State in a 4 p.m., matinee.
Saying Goodbye: Minnesota State senior
Stephen Kirschbaum will play in his final game as a Maverick this weekend. Kirschbaum, who has been with MSU since redshirting as a freshman in 2008-09, has played in 105 games in his career, earning 19 starts. Over the course of his career, Kirschbaum has averaged 5.7 points and 2.2 rebounds while shooting 42.2 percent from the floor, 42.3 percent from the three-point line and 88.4 percent from the free throw line, which is the fifth best career percentage in school history and the tenth best career three-point field goal percentage (.423).
Additionally, Minnesota State will say goodbye to student assistant coach Tige Hutcheson who has been with the program for four seasons.
Minnesota State History: The 2011-12 season marks the 90th campaign as a varsity sport for Minnesota State men’s basketball. The Mavericks are 1,187-840 (.586) in 2,027 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 56-27 record (.675) 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 Southwest Minnesota State: Southwest Minnesota State enters the weekend owners of a 15-10 record and are 14-7 in the NSIC which is good for fourth-place.
The Mustangs are averaging 75.9 points per game while scoring 72.0. From the floor, SMSU is shooting 49.1, including 36.9 percent from downtown and 75.8 percent from the free throw line. The Mustangs are outrebounding their opponents, 32.2-31.6 on the season.
Junior guard Jordan Miller leads the team in scoring averaging 14.1 points per game while sophomore center Nick Smith is averaging 11.8 points and a team-high 5.5 rebounds per contest.
Brad Bigler is 44-36 in his three seasons with the program.
Inside The Series: Minnesota State leads the all-time series, 32-12, including a 10-6 mark under head coach Matt Margenthaler...SMSU head coach Brad Bigler owns a 2-4 record in his career against the Mavericks, which includes an 82-63 victory earlier this season in Marshall...In that loss to SMSU last month, freshman guard #
Kelly Madison led MSU with 14 points while freshman forward Zach Romashko scored 12...Senior guard Stephen Kirschbaum# added ten points in the loss...Kirschbaum has played in seven games against the Mustangs and is averaging 3.1 points per game...Sophomore guard
Jimmy Whitehead has played in three games and is averaging 4.7 points per game while sophomore forward
#Connor O'Brien# is averaging three points. SMSU senior guard Trent Carlson is the younger brother of former Maverick Drew Carlson (1999-03).
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