MANKATO, Minn. --- The #13 Minnesota State men's basketball team will open NSIC play this weekend at Taylor Center as it hosts #11 Augustana and Wayne State. The Mavericks will take on the Viking on Friday, at 8 p.m., before wrapping up the weekend against the Wildcats on Saturday, at 7 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 1,250-852 (.594) in 2,102 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 last weekend in St. Petersburg, Fla., as it topped both Tampa (73-72), and Eckerd College (86-70) to improve to 5-1 on the season. MSU has now won its last five games.

MSU opened the weekend with a 73-72 win over the Tampa Spartans. The Mavericks claimed the victory after senior Assem Marei recorded the game-winning dunk with 41 seconds to go in the game.

Senior Connor Miller led all scorers with 17 points against the Spartans, while sophomore Mike Busack posted a career-high 12 rebounds. Marei and freshman TJ Lake added 16 points apiece as well.

MSU finished the weekend with an 86-70 win over the Eckerd College Tritons, as it shot 65.3% from the field.

Marei and Lake led the Mavericks in scoring with 20 points, with Marei posting nine rebounds and sevens assists as well.

Concerning the Mavericks: The Mavericks are currently riding a five-game winning streak and boast a 5-1 overall record.

MSU has three players averaging at least 12.5 points per game, including senior Assem Marei, who is leading the team with 15.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

Freshman TJ Lake is averaging 12.8 points per game, while shooting 57.1% from the field, while senior Connor Miller is averaging 12.5 points, and five assists per game.

As a team, MSU is shooting 49.4% from the field, including a 43% showing from behind the arc. The Mavericks have also passed out 108 assists and have forced 75 turnovers.

Concerning the Vikings: The Augustana Vikings enter the weekend with a 7-0 record, including three wins against Presentation (78-69), Wayne State (89-71) and Valley City State (86-61).

Daniel Jansen is leading the Auguie offense with 20.7 points per game, to go along with 7.9 rebounds per game. Casey Schilling is averaging 18.1 points and a team-high nine rebounds per game as well.

As a team, Augustana is shooting 43.5% from the field and is averaging 42.3 rebounds per game. The Vikings have also passed out 127 assists.

Tom Billeter is in his 12th season at the helm of the Augustana men's basketball program.  He owns a career record of 286-188 record.

Concerning the Wildcats: The Wayne State Wildcats enter the weekend the owners of a 2-4 record, including a 70-63 win over Northern Michigan and a 75-56 loss to Michigan Tech last weekend.

Patrick Kurth leads the Wildcats with an average of 13.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Jamie Pearson is averaging 10.8 points per game as well.

As a team, WSC is shooting 44.7% from the field and is averaging 33.3 rebounds per game. The Wildcats have also passed out 89 assists.

Brian Dolan is in his second season as head coach of the Wildcats and owns an 11-23 record.

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