MANKATO, Minn. --- The 21st-rated Minnesota State men's basketball team wraps up its four-game road swing this weekend as it takes on Bemidji State on Friday and Minnesota Crookston on Saturday. Game times are scheduled for 8 p.m., and 6 p.m., respectively.
 
Minnesota State History: The 2014-15 season marks the 93rd campaign as a varsity sport for Minnesota State men's basketball. The Mavericks are 1,257-854 (.595) in 2,111 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 100-37 (.729) 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 1-1 on the road this past weekend as it topped Wayne State 89-83, before falling to Augustana 98-89 in overtime.

Against WSC, five Mavericks dropped in at least 11 points including senior Assem Marei, who tallied a game-high 24 points. Senior Zach Romashko added 15 points as well.

In Saturday's game against the Vikings, Marei led the Maverick offense with 28 points, while senior Zach Monaghan notched 21 points and a career-high 15 assists. Freshman TJ Lake tallied 15 points as well as he went 5-of-6 from three point lad.

Against Bemidji State: Friday's meeting between Minnesota State and Bemidji State marks the 101st meeting between them. MSU holds the series edge at 66-34, including wins in the previous two meetings.

Last season, the Mavericks defeated BSU 79-74 on the road in their only meeting.

Senior Assem Marei notched 22 points and 10 rebounds, while senior Zach Monaghan tallied 15 points and 11 assists.

MSU head coach Matt Margenthaler owns an 8-3 record against the Beavers, including a 3-1 record in Bemidji.

Against Minnesota Crookston: Saturday's game between the Mavericks and the Golden Eagles will mark the 20th meeting between them.

This will be the 16th time Matt Margenthaler has faced the Golden Eagles. He owns a 15-0  all-time record against UMC.

Last season, the Mavericks went 2-0 against the Golden Eagles, including an 82-55 road victory and a 76-60 win at Taylor Center. Senior Assem Marei averaged 16 points and 10.5 rebounds against UMC last season.

Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State enters the weekend the own of an 12-3 overall record and 7-2 NSIC record. The Mavericks are currently sitting in third place in the NSIC standings.

Senior Assem Marei is leading the Mavericks with an average of 19.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Senior Zach Monaghan is averaging 13.4 points and 8.6 assists per contest as well.

As a team, the Mavericks are shooting 49.3% from the field, including a 42.3% showing from behind the arc.

MSU is bringing down 35.8 rebounds per game and is outscoring its opponents by an average of 10.4 points per game.

Concerning the Beavers: Bemidji State enters the weekend the owner of a 7-7 record, including a 3-7 record in conference action. BSU has lost its last three contests, including an 80-55 loss to St. Cloud State in its most recent game.

Brock Lutes leads the Beavers in scoring with an average of 17.3 points per game. Ben Best is averaging 10.9 points and a team-best 4.2 rebounds per game as well.

As a unit, Bemidji State is averaging 76.1 points per game, while boasting a 47.6 shooting percentage. The Beavers have tallied 108 steals on the season, while forcing 183 turnovers.

Mike Boschee is in his third season at the helm the Bemidji State program. He boasts a 43-28 overall record.

Concerning the Golden Eagles: Minnesota Crookston enters the weekend the owner of a 6-8 overall record, including a 4-6 record in conference action. The Golden Eagles have lost their last three games, including a 71-47 loss to Minnesota Duluth in their last outing.

Derrick Redd is averaging a team-leading 12.6 points per game, while Tyler West has posted 11.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.

As a team, UMC is averaging 62.6 points per game, while shooting 39.3% from the field. The Golden Eagles have also committed 174 turnovers compared to 127 assists.

Dan Weisse is in his first season at the helm of the men's basketball program at Minnesota Crookston. He owns a 6-8 record.

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