Mankato, Minn. --- The seventh-ranked Minnesota State men's basketball begins a two-game home stand as it hosts Wayne State Friday (8 p.m.) and Augustana Saturday (6 p.m.).

What Just Happened: Minnesota State extended its winning streak to nine games as it defeated St. Cloud State 81-75 last Friday and MSU Moorhead 73-65 last Saturday. The wins improved MSU's record to 15-1, including a league leading 11-1 record in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.

Three Mavericks averaged at least 11.5 points per game in MSU's two wins last week including sophomore Assem Marei(19.5 ppg) senior Jarvis Williams (15 ppg) and junior Connor O'Brien (11.5 ppg).Williams led all scorers against SCSU with 22 points, while Marei followed right behind with 20 points and 12 rebounds for his fourth double double of the season. Sophomore Zach Monaghan added 14 points and eight helpers as well. Against MSU-Moorhead, Marei led the Mavericks with 19 points, while O'Brien and sophomore Lucas Brown each posted 12 points.

Minnesota State History: The 2012-13 season marks the 91st campaign as a varsity sport for Minnesota State men’s basketball. The Mavericks are 1,200-842 (.587) in 2,042 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 65-29 (.691) record 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 Wayne State: The Wayne State Wildcats enter the weekend the owners of a 12-6 overall record and currently sit in ninth place in the NSIC standings with a 6-6 league record. This past weekend, WSC went 1-1, including a 64-61 loss to Minot State and a 60-54 win against U-Mary.

Wayne State is currently ninth in the NSIC overall standings and sixth in the Southern Division with a 6-6 conference record. Amry Shelby is leading the Wildcats in scoring with an average of 13.4 points per game. Derrell Williams is averaging 10.9 points per contest and a team-leading 6.1 rebounds per game.

As a team, WSC is averaging 66 points per game, to go along with 27.3 rebounds a game as well. The Wildcats are shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 72.8 percent from the charity stripe.

Paul Combs is in his fourth season with the program and owns a record of 49-52 with the program.

Series History: Minnesota State is 13-2 all-time against Wayne State, including MSU's 66-54 win at Wayne State earlier this season. Junior Connor O'Brien and sophomores Assem Marei and Zach Romashko each posted 13 points in MSU's winning effort.

A Little About Augustana: The Augustana Vikings are currently 12-4 on the season and rank sixth in the NSIC standings with an 8-4 conference record. Augustana is riding a two-game winning streak with wins against U-Mary (85-78) and Minot State (72-70).

Augustana stands in sixth place in the NSIC standings with and 8-4 league record and ranks fourth in the Southern Division standings. Cameron McCaffrey leads the Viking offense averaging 20.8 ppg. Daniel Jansen and Casey Schilling each lead Augustana in rebounds averaging 4.8 per game.

As a team, the Vikings are averaging 69.1 points per game while allowing just 64.1 points per game. Augustana is also shooting 42.1 percent from the field.

Augustana is coached by Tom Billeter who is in his tenth season with the program and owns a 130-62 record during his time at Augustana.

Series History: Minnesota State is 57-46 all-time against Augustana...The Mavericks were swept by the Vikings last year, but handed Augustana a 60-48 loss in Sioux Falls...MSU head coach Matt Margenthaler is 16-8 in his career against Augustana. In their last meeting, junior Gage Wooten posted a career-high 19 points in the winning effort, while junior Connor O'Brien added 10 rebounds.

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