MANKATO, Minn. --- The #7 Minnesota State men's basketball team will open its 2014-15 season at the Pentagon in Sioux Falls where it will take on the Central Missouri Mules on Friday and the Washburn Ichabods on Saturday. The opening tip for both games is slated for 6 p.m.
Minnesota State History: The 2014-15 season marks the 93rd campaign as a varsity sport for Minnesota State men's basketball. The Mavericks are 1,245-851 (.593) in 2,096 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 an 93-35 (.726) record to go with four regular-season championships and two tournament championships.
The Mavericks made their 11th appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season. MSU owns a 15-11 record (.576) in NCAA Tournament play and most recently defeated Harding (97-56) in the first round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament before falling to Northwest Missouri State 71-66. The Mavericks have now hosted four of the last five NCAA Central Region Tournaments at Taylor Center.
Familiar Faces: The Mavericks return seven players who saw action a season ago including seniors
Assem Marei,
Zach Monaghan and
Zach Romashko. The Mavericks also return a pair of juniors in
Lucas Brown and
TJ Okafor, along with a pair of sophomores in
Mike Busack and
Grant Pope.
New Faces: Minnesota State also welcomes in five new student-athletes, along with two redshirts from last season. Sophomore
Brady Wohler and freshman
TJ Lake return after redshirting last season. MSU fans will also see three new transfers including seniors
Connor Miller and
Ron Ross, along with sophomore
Joe Aase. MSU also has a pair of true freshmen in
Alex Herink and
Thomas Kopelman as well.
Concerning the Mavericks: The Mavericks open their 2014-15 season on the heels of a 30-5 record last season. Last season, MSU won both the NSIC Regular Season and Tournament Championships, as it advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Last season, senior
Assem Marei led the Mavericks in points (16.3 ppg), rebounds (8.2 rpg) and blocks (53). Senior
Zach Monaghan also returns for the Mavericks after averaging 15.4 points and eight assists a game last season.
As a team, MSU averaged 84.9 points last season, as it shot 50.5% from the field, including a 39.8% showing from behind the arc. The Mavericks also averaged 40.6 rebounds per game, to go along with 600 assists and 154 blocks.
Concerning the Mules: The Central Missouri Mules went on the win the NCAA Division II Championship last season as they posted an overall record of 30-5.
The meeting between the Mavericks and the Mules represents the first meeting between them.
TJ White averaged 7.3 points per game, while Kyle Wolf averaged 6.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game last season.
As a team, Central Missouri averaged 80.6 points per game last season, while shooting 49.3% from the field.
Doug Karleskint is entering his first season at the helm of the UCM men's basketball team. During the previous four season, he compiled a 90-34 record as the head coach for Arkansas Tech.
Concerning the Ichabods: The Washburn Ichabods posted a 17-10 record last season, but got knocked out of the first round of the MIAA Tournament last season.
The meeting between the Mavericks and the Ichabods will be the second ever meeting between them. MSU defeated Washburn 74-45 back in the 1949-50 season.
Alex North returns after averaging 16.1 points and 10 rebounds per game. Kyle Wiggins averaged 15 points per game, while Christian Ulsaker averaged 13 points a game.
As a team, Washburn averaged 80 points a game last season, while shooting 47.1% from the field. The Ichabods also averaged 16.1 assists per game as well.
Bob Chipman is entering his 36th season at the helm of the Washburn men's basketball team. He owns a 757-314 record.
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