MANKATO, Minn. --- The No. 12 Minnesota State men's basketball team continues NSIC play this weekend as it travels to Northern State Friday (8 p.m.) and MSU Moorhead Saturday (6 p.m.).

MSU's Upcoming Opponents

Date	Opponent	Location	Time
1/10	Northern State	Aberdeen, S.D.	8 p.m.
1/11	MSU Moorhead	Moorhead, Minn.	6 p.m.

Against Northern State: Friday's game between the Mavericks and Wolves represents the 20th meeting between MSU and NSU. The Mavericks lead the all-time series with a 13-6 record, including an 83-76 win last season at Taylor Center.

MSU head coach Matt Margenthaler owns a 6-3 record against the Wolves, including a 1-2 mark in Aberdeen.

Against MSU Moorhead: Saturday's game between the Mavericks and the Dragons represents the 89th encounter between them. The Mavericks lead the all-time series against the Dragons with a 60-28 record, including a pair of wins at Taylor Center last season.

MSU head coach Matt Margenthaler owns a 9-1 record against the Bulldogs, including a 3-1 record in Moorhead.

Concerning the Mavericks: Recently, the Mavericks claimed their sixth and seventh NSIC victories as they downed the St. Cloud State Huskies 97-77 and the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs 89-54 at Taylor Center. MSU improved to 13-2 on the season, with a 7-1 record in NSIC play.

A total of six Mavericks averaged at least 11 points in MSU's two wins this past weekend, including junior Assem Marei, who led the team in scoring with an average of 17.5 points per game. Senior Tanner Adler averaged 15.5 points per game, while shooting 70% from behind the three point line.

As a unit, MSU is averaging 86.9 points and 42.3 rebounds per game. The Mavericks are currently third in the nation in total rebounds (635) and fourth in the nation in total assists (264). MSU also owns the 18th best three point field goal percentage (.414) in the nation and 19th best scoring defense (65.3).

Junior Assem Marei currently leads MSU with an average of 14.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He also ranks 41st in the nation in field goal percentage with a mark of 60.2%.

Junior Zach Monaghan is averaging 13.6 points and seven assists per game and ranks second in the nation in total assists with 105. He is also 15th in the nation is steals with 31.

Senior Tanner Adler is averaging 12 points and 4.1 rebound per game and is currently shooting 51.4% from three point land. His 51.4% three point percentage currently ranks 11th in the nation.
 
Concerning the Wolves: Northern State enters the weekend the owner of an 11-3 record, including a 6-2 NSIC record. The Wolves split last weekend including a 77-43 loss to Southwest Minnesota State, before defeating Sioux Falls 96-79. NSU is currently 7-0 at home this season.

Skye Warwick leads the NSU offense with an average of 11.9 points per game. Trent Zomer is averaging 11.1 points and a team-high 6.4 rebounds per game.

As a team, the Wolves are shooting 50.5% from the field, including a 40.6% showing from behind the arc.

Paul Sather is in his fourth season at the helm of the Northern State men's basketball program. He owns a 56-41 record as the Wolves head coach.

Concerning the Dragons: The MSU Moorhead Dragons enter the weekend the owners of a 9-3 record, including a 5-3 NSIC record. The Dragons are currently on a three-game losing streak, including a pair of losses this past weekend to Southwest Minnesota State (70-68) and Sioux Falls (92-70).

Urbane Bingham is leading the Dragon offense with an average of 11.8 points, while Jordan Riewer is averaging 11.4 points per game. Tarell Clark is averaging a team-high 6.9 rebounds per game.

As a team, MSUM is averaging 83.9 points and 39.3 rebounds per game. The Dragons are also shooting 47.2% from the field and 41.9% from behind the three point line.

The Dragons are coached by Chad Walthall, who is in his fourth season at the helm of the men's basketball team. He currently owns a 64-36 record.

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