Mankato, Minn. --- The sixth-rated Minnesota State men's basketball team continues play in the NCAA Central Region Finals as it hosts Winona State Tuesday. The opening tip is set for 7 p.m.

Minnesota State History: The 2012-13 season marks the 91st campaign as a varsity sport for Minnesota State men’s basketball. The Mavericks are 1,213-845 (.589) in 2,058 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 74-32 (.698) record to go with three regular-season championships and one tournament championship.

The Mavericks are making their 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. MSU owns a 14-9 (.608) in NCAA Tournament play and most recently defeated Arkansas Tech (81-65)  and Harding (86-65) in the first two rounds of the NCAA Central Region Tournament.

The NCAA Central Region: Minnesota State (28-4) was selected to host the NCAA Central Region Tournament for the third time in the last four seasons. The Central Region is made up of teams from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), the Great American Conference (GAC) and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA).

Joining MSU in the regional tournament are No. 2 seed Winona State (26-7), No. 3 seed Augustana (21-8), No. 4 seed Central Missouri (22-7), No. 5 seed Harding (21-9), No. 6 seed Upper Iowa (20-11), No. 7 seed Northeastern State (19-8) and No. 8 seed Arkansas Tech (18-11).

The third round will see Minnesota State host Winona State Tuesday in the NCAA Central Region Finals. The opening tip is set for 7 p.m.

The schedule for the games is listed below:

Saturday
#3 Augustana vs. #6 Upper Iowa (12 p.m.)
#2 Winona State vs. #7 Northeastern State (2:30 p.m.)
#1 Minnesota State vs. #8 Arkansas Tech (5 p.m.)
#4 Central Missouri vs. #5 Harding (7:30 p.m.)

Sunday Semi-Finals
Game 5 (#2 Winona State vs. #3 Augustana at 5 p.m.)
Game 6 (#1 Minnesota State vs. #5 Harding at 7:30 p.m.)

Tuesday Finals
Game 7 (#1 Minnesota State vs. #2 Winona State at 7 p.m.)

What Just Happened: The sixth-rated Minnesota State men’s basketball team continued to roll Sunday evening as it defeated the Harding Bisons 86-65 to advance to the finals of the NCAA Central Region Tournament.

With the win, MSU improves to 28-4 on the season. With the loss, Harding wraps up its season with a 22-10 record.

Minnesota State once again got several solid performances as four Mavericks notched at least 12 points in the winning effort. Senior Jarvis Williams, junior Gage Wooten and sophomore Assem Marei all tallied 16 points, while junior Connor O'Brien added 12 points of his own. MSU also saw four players bring down at least five rebounds as well, with O’Brien, Marei and Williams each posting seven. Wooten adding five rebounds as well.

As a team the Mavericks shot 29-of-51 (.569) from the field, to go along with a 23-of-28 (.821) effort from the free throw line. MSU also dished out 13 assists and forced nine Harding turnovers.

The Mavericks began the second half with a 41-28 lead and maintained at least an eight point lead throughout the entire second half as they outscored the Bisons 45-37 in the second half to claim the 86-65 win.

Andraz Kavas led the Bisons with 15 points, while Zach Roddenberry tallied 10 points. Adam Sterrenberg added eight points and four assists as well.

MSU controlled the pace of the first half throughout as it led by as many as 15 points. With 9:42 left in the opening frame the Mavericks led Harding 23-16, before closing the first half on an 18-12 run to take a 41-28 lead into the locker room.

A Little About Winona State: The Winona State Warriors enter Tuesday's game with a 26-7 overall record, including a pair of wins against Northeastern State (70-59) and Augustana (77-65) in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

This will be the third meeting between MSU and WSU this season, and fourth meeting between in the NCAA Tournament.
    
The Warriors are led by Clayton Vette, who is averaging 20.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Cameron Taylor is averaging 10.1 points per game and has passed out a team-high 106 assists.

The Warriors are coached by Mike Leaf, who is in his 15th season at the helm of the Winona State men's basketball program.

Series History: The Mavericks are 81-41 all-time against the Warriors including a 78-70 win earlier this season at Taylor Center and a 75-64 loss at Winona State. The Mavericks are 9-11 against WSU under head coach Matt Margenthaler.

This will be the fourth meeting between the Mavericks and the Warriors in the NCAA Tournament, with MSU owning a 1-2 record. In their last meeting in the NCAA Tournament in 2011, Minnesota State defeated Winona State 96-81.

Four Mavericks are averaging at least 10 points against Winona State this season, including senior Jarvis Williams, who is averaging 13 points per game and eight rebounds per game. Junior Jimmy Whitehead and sophomore Assem Marei are averaging 10.5 points per contest, while Gage Wooten is averaging 10 points per game against the Warriors.

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