Mankato, Minn. --- The No. 5 Minnesota State men's basketball team begins its 2013-14 schedule on the road in Anaheim, Calif., as it takes part in the three-day CCA Tipoff Classic beginning Friday.

This Week's Opponents (all game times listed in central standard time)

Date	Opponent	Location	Time
11/8	Texas A&M International	Anaheim, Calif.	6 p.m.
11/9	Alaska Anchorage	Anaheim, Calif.	11 a.m.
11/10	Lindenwood	Anaheim, Calif.	6 p.m.

Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State finished its 2012-13 season with a 28-5 record and advanced to the finals of the NCAA Central Region Tournament a year ago. The Mavericks also won the 2012-13 NSIC Regular Season Championship and the NSIC Tournament Championship.

MSU returns four of its five starters from a season ago, including junior forward Assem Marei and junior guard Zach Monaghan. Marei averaged 13.6 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds per game, while Monaghan averaged 11.8 points and a team-leading 5.5 assists per game.

Concerning Texas A&M International: The Texas A&M International Dustdevils finished their 2012-13 season with a 15-12 record, including an 8-6 record in the Heartland Conference. The Dustdevils lost their final game of the season in the first round of the Heartland Conference Tournament last season.

The Dustdevils return three of their starter from a season ago, including Johnel Gray who led the team with 12.9 points per game and Matthew Culliver Jr. who averaged 12.2 points and a team-high 5.6 rebounds per game.

As a team, Texas A&M International averaged 68.5 points per game last season and shot 46.6% from the field.

Concerning Alaska Anchorage: The Alaska Anchorage Seawolves finished their 2012-13 season with an 18-9 record, including an 11-7 record in the Great North Athletic Conference. The Seawolves lost their final game of the season to Central Washington 79-78 in the first round of the Great North Conference Tournament

Earlier this season, UAA dropped an exhibition contest to Bringham Young 99-68.

UAA returns Teancum Stafford from a season ago, who averaged 14.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Colton Lauwers is also back this season for the Seawolves after averaging 6.2 points per game, while dishing out 91 assists.

As a team, UAA averaged 74.1 points per game last season and shot 45.8% from the field. The Seawolves also passed out 477 assists.

Concerning Lindenwood: The Lindenwood Lions finished their 2012-13 season with a 19-7 record, including a 12-6 mark in MIAA action. The Lions finished their season winning seven of their last 10 games.

The Lions welcome back Darris Smith, who averaged 7.7 points per game while dishing out 77 assists. Tyler Ressel also returns for the Lions after averaging 8.6 points per game as well.

As a team, Lindenwood shot 48.1% from the field last season and averaged 38.5 rebounds per game compared to its opponents 31.2.

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