MANKATO, Minn. --- The #14 Minnesota State men's basketball team will wrap up its regular season nonconference schedule this weekend as it takes on the Tampa Spartans on Friday, at 4:30 p.m., before taking on the Eckerd College Tritons on Saturday at 6:30 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 1,248-852 (.594) in 2,100 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.

About Last Week: Minnesota State went 2-0 this past weekend at the Taylor Center as it downed the Northland Lumberjacks (82-43) and the Waldorf Warriors (86-42).

Senior Zach Romashko led the Mavericks in scoring against Northland as he tallied 15 points. Sophomore Mike Busack added 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while senior Zach Monaghan distributed eight assists.

As a team, MSU shot 50% from the field, and brought down 46 rebounds. The Mavericks also notched 26 points off of 19 Lumberjack turnovers.

Against Waldorf, senior Assem Marei tallied a team-high 13 points and nine rebounds, while freshman TJ Lake posted 12 points.

MSU shot 45.1% from the field against the Warriors, as the Maverick bench combined for 38 points.

Concerning the Mavericks: MSU has four players averaging at least 10.3 points per game this season, including senior Assem Marei, who leads the team with an average of 14.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

Senior Connor Miller is averaging 10.8 points and 4.2 assists per game, while sophomore Mike Busack and freshman TJ Lake are chipping in with 10.3 points per game.

As a team, MSU is shooting 46.5% from the field and 41.3% from behind the arc. The Mavericks have also passed out 70 assists, while forcing 60 turnovers.

Concerning the Spartans: The Tampa Spartans enter the week the owners of a 2-2 record, including a 75-72 overtime victory over Armstrong in their last outing.

This will be the second meeting all-time between Tampa and Minnesota State, with the Spartans winning the only encounter 73-69 during the 1988-89 season.

Eugene McCrory leads the Spartans with an average of 21.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Jordan Davis is averaging 20 points and six assists per game as well.

As a unit, the Spartans are shooting 44.8% from the field, while averaging 34.5 rebounds per game.

Richard Schmidt is in his 32nd season at the helm of the Tampa men's basketball team and owns a record of 613-298.

Concerning the Tritons: The Eckerd College Tritons enter the weekend the owners of a 2-1 record, including an 85-72 win over Young Harris.

This will be the first ever meeting between the Mavericks and the Tritons.

Jerrick Stevenson is averaging 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. EJ Moody is averaging 18 points per game as well.

As a team, Eckerd is shooting 50% from the field and 71.8% from the line. The Tritons are also averaging 31.3 rebounds per game.

Tom Ryan is in his 19th season as the men's basketball coach at Eckerd College. He owns an all-time record of 344-184.

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