MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State will conclude its four-game homestand this weekend as it hosts Bemidji State on Friday, and Minnesota Crookston on Saturday. Game times are scheduled for 8:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m., respectively.

Minnesota State History: The 2015-16 season marks the 94th campaign as a varsity sport for Minnesota State men's basketball. The Mavericks are 1,279-862 (.597) in 2,141 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 115-42 (.732) 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 Weekend: The Mavericks went 1-1 this past weekend as they defeated Wayne State 86-81, before falling to #2 Augustana 101-91 in Taylor Center. MSU now owns an 11-4 record and sits in fifth place in the NSIC standings with a 6-3 conference record.

Senior Jalen Pendleton averaged 19.5 points and 7.5 assists per game last weekend, including a 27-point showing against Wayne State. Junior Jon Fuqua averaged 18 points and eight rebounds per game as well, while freshman Cole Harper notched 10 points and a team-leading 8.5 rebounds per outing.

Harper recorded season-highs of 15 points and nine rebounds against Wayne State, while senior Lucas Brown notched 20 points against Augustana for the second time this season. Pendleton notched a double-double against Augustana with 12 points and 10 assists as well.

As a team, MSU averaged 88.5 points per game last weekend, as it shot 47.2% from the field. The Mavericks also averaged 43 rebounds a game, compared to their opponents 31.5. MSU notched 11 blocks and tallied 12 steals, while dishing out 26 assists as well.

Against the Beavers: Friday's game between the Mavericks and Bemidji State marks the 102nd all-time meeting between them, with MSU holding a 67-34 advantage. MSU has won its last three games against BSU.

Last season, the Mavericks defeated BSU 84-66 on the road in their only encounter. Sophomore TJ Lake tallied 14 points in last season's contest, including a 4-of-6 showing from behind the arc.

Matt Margenthaler owns a 9-3 overall record against Bemidji State, including a 4-2 record at Taylor Center.

Against the Golden Eagles: Saturday's game against Minnesota Crookston marks the 22nd encounter between the Mavericks and the Golden Eagles, with MSU owning a 21-0 record.

Last season, MSU defeated UMC 80-50 on the road and 83-52 at Taylor Center in the first round of the NSIC Tournament. Sophomore TJ Lake averaged 9.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game against the Golden Eagles last season, while senior Lucas Brown tallied 9.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.

Matt Margenthaler owns a 17-0 overall record against Minnesota Crookston, including a 9-0 record at Taylor Center.

Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State owns a 11-4 overall record and a 6-3 conference record after posting a 1-1 record this past weekend. MSU, which saw its 10-game winning streak at Taylor Center come to an end, owns an 8-1 record at home this season.

Senior Jalen Pendleton is leading the Maverick offense with an average of 15.3 points and 5.0 assists per game. Junior Jon Fuqua is averaging 12.9 points and a team-leading 6.7 rebounds per game, while freshman Joey Witthus is averaging 11.7 points per contest.

As a team, MSU boasts the third-best offense in the NSIC, averaging 84.1 points per game. MSU ranks seventh in the league scoring defense with 74.0 points per game. The Mavericks also boast the third-most rebounds in the conference averaging 39.6 per game.  

Concerning the Beavers: Bemidji State enters the weekend the owner of a 7-7 overall record, including a 4-6 NSIC record, which places it in a tie for 10th place in the conference standings. Last weekend, BSU fell to Minnesota Duluth 92-83, before defeating St. Cloud State 70-69.

Ben Best is leading Bemidji State with 14.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. DJ Anderson is averaging 9.5 points per game and has passed out a team-leading 49 assists this season as well.

As a team, the Beavers are netting 74.1 points per game, while giving up 71.6 points per game, which rank 12th and third in the conference, respectively. BSU also boasts the league's second-best turnover margin with a mark of 2.07.

Mike Boschee is in his fourth season as head coach at Bemidji State. He owns a 51-47 overall record at BSU.

Concerning the Golden Eagles: Minnesota Crookston currently owns a 3-11 overall record, including a 1-9 NSIC record, which places it  in a tie for 15th place in the NSIC standings. UMC has lost its last six games, including a home losses to St. Cloud State (80-79) and Minnesota Duluth (93-69) last weekend.

Derrick Redd is leading the UMC offense with 12.2 points per game, with CJ Polk following with 10.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Kobe Critchley is averaging 9.7 points and a team-leading 2.6 assists per game.

The Golden Eagles are 16th in the NSIC in scoring with 68.5 points per game, but rank ninth in scoring defense with 75.5 points a game. UMC also ranks sixth in league in turnover margin with a mark of 0.80.

Dan Weisse is in his second year at the helm of the UMC men's basketball program. He owns a 10-31 overall record at Minnesota Crookston.