MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State men's basketball team continues its homestand this weekend as it hosts a pair of nonconference opponents including Peru State on Friday, at 6:00 p.m., and Grand View on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.

Minnesota State History: The 2015-16 season marks the 94th campaign as a varsity sport for Minnesota State men's basketball. The Mavericks are 1,272-860 (.596) in 2,132 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 110-40 (.733) record to go with four regular-season championships and two tournament championships.

The Mavericks made their 12th appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season. MSU owns a 15-12 record (.555) in NCAA Tournament play and most recently lost to Northwest Missouri State 59-56. The Mavericks have hosted four of the last six NCAA Central Region Tournaments at Taylor Center.
 
About Last Week: Minnesota State went 2-0 this past week in its first games at Taylor Center this season as it topped Clarke College (101-55) and Waldorf (95-77) to improve to 3-1 on the season. Each game saw five Mavericks score at least 10 points in the game as MSU shot 48.6% from the field, to go along with an average of 98 points and 47.5 rebounds per game.

Junior Jon Fuqua led the Mavericks in scoring last week as he averaged 17 points per game, while connecting on 12-of-17 (.706) shots from the field. Sophomore TJ Lake and freshman Joey Witthus each averaged 14.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last week, while junior Mike Busack chipped in with 13 points per game.

Senior Jalen Pendleton averaged 7.5 points and a team-leading six rebounds per game last week as well, while senior Snoop Viser passed out a team-high 12 assists, to go along with five steals.

Against the Bobcats and the Vikings: Minnesota State's encounters with the Peru State Bobcats and the Grand View Vikings will be the first between them.

Concerning the Mavericks: Six Mavericks are averaging at least nine points per game through four games this season. Junior Jon Fuquais leading the Mavericks with an average of 13.3 points per game this season, to go along with 6.3 rebounds per game. Sophomore TJ Lake is posting 11.8 points per contest, while shooting 42.3% from behind the arc. Senior Snoop Viser has posted a team-leading 23 assists and 12 steals as well.

As a team, MSU is shooting 44.2% from the field and is averaging 42.2 rebounds per game, to go along with an 77.5% showing at the line. MSU is also averaging 17 assists and 7.8 steals per game.

Concerning the Bobcats: The Peru State Bobcats enter the week the owners of a 3-5 record, including an 87-78 win against Central Methodist in their most recent outing.

Corday Sims is leading the PSC offense with 23.9 points per game, while Kris Frazier has posted 10.6 points and a team-high 8.8 rebounds per game. Darwin Ellis has averaged 15.6 points per game this season and has passed out a team-leading 38 assists as well.

As a team, Peru State is shooting 45.9% from the field, to go along with 86.6 points and 41.6 rebounds per game. The Bobcats have also turned the ball over 152 times.

Eric Behrens is in his second season at the helm of the Peru State men's basketball team. He owns an 21-18 overall record.

Concerning the Vikings: The Grand View Vikings enter the week the owners of a 4-2 overall record, including a pair of losses in their most recent outings against Graceland (78-65) and Evangel (72-63).

Nate Washington leads the Viking offense with 12.8 points per game, with Jjuan Hadnot averaging 11.4 points and a team-high 5.8 rebounds per game.

Grand View is shooting 46.8% from the field this season, to go along with 77.3 points and 41.2 rebounds per game. The Vikings have passed out 94 assists and have tallied 28 blocks as well.

Denis Schaefer is in his 18th season at the helm of the Grand View men's basketball program.

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