MANKATO, Minn. --- The 21st-rated Minnesota State men's basketball team wraps up its regular season home schedule this weekend as it hosts Southwest Minnesota State Friday (8 p.m.) and Sioux Falls Saturday (6 p.m.).

MSU's Upcoming Opponents

Date	Opponent	Location	Time
2/7	Southwest Minnesota State	Mankato, Minn.	8 p.m.
2/8	Sioux Falls	Mankato, Minn.	6 p.m.

Against Southwest Minnesota State: Friday's encounter between the Mavericks and the Mustangs represents the 38th meeting between them. MSU holds the series lead at 34-13, including a pair of wins last season.

MSU head coach Matt Margenthaler owns a 13-7 record against Southwest Minnesota State, including a 7-4 record in Taylor Center.

Against Sioux Falls: Saturday's game between MSU and USF represents the 10th game between the Mavericks and the Cougars. MSU leads the all-time series 7-2, including a 2-0 mark last season

MSU head coach Matt Margenthaler owns a 4-1 record against the Cougars, including a 3-1 record in Taylor Center.

Concerning the Mavericks: The Mavericks put together a 2-0 record at Taylor Center last weekend as they defeated the University of Mary (88-67) and Minot State (106-95) to improve to 19-4 on the season and 13-3 in NSIC play. MSU is now tied with Winona State atop the conference standings. As a team, the Mavericks set a new MSU record with 17 three point shots made against Minot State, surpassing the previous record of 16.

Junior Zach Monaghan led the way for the Mavericks this past weekend as he averaged 24 points and 11 assists per game. Junior Assem Marei averaged 19.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 87.5% from the field. Senior Tanner Adler averaged 17 points per game, while seniors Connor O'Brien and Gage Wooten each averaged 12 points in MSU's two wins last weekend.

As a team, MSU is averaging 86.3 points and 40.8 rebounds per game. The Mavericks are also shooting 50.2% from the field, including a 40.8% showing from long range.

Marei leads the Mavericks with an average of 16.5 points and eight rebounds per game. Monaghan is currently averaging 14.7 points and eight assists per game.
 
Concerning the Mustangs: Southwest Minnesota State enters the weekend the owner of a 14-8 record and currently sits in a tie for fourth place in the NSIC standings with an 11-5 league record. Last weekend, SMSU fell to Bemidji State 91-82, before topping Minnesota Crookston 79-53.

Nick Smith leads the Mustangs with an average of 12.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Vinard Birch is averaging 11.8 points and has passed out a team-high 96 assists.

As a team, SMSU is averaging 74.7 points and 33.9 rebounds per game and is shooting 50.3% from the field.

The Mustangs are coached by Brad Bigler, who is in his fifth season at SMSU. He owns a 78-59 record.

Concerning the Cougars: The Sioux Falls Cougars enter the weekend the owners of an 11-9 record as they sit in a tie for ninth place in the conference standings with an 8-8 record.

Derek Brown leads the Cougars with an average of 12.5 points per game. Charles Ward is averaging 12.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as well.

As a team, USF is averaging 79.5 points and 35 rebounds per game and is shooting 45.2% from the field.

USF is coached by Chris Johnson, who is in his sixth season at the helm of the men's basketball program. He owns a 128-83 record.

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