MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State men's basketball team returns to action in Taylor Center this weekend as it hosts the Northern State Wolves on Friday and the #3 MSU Moorhead Dragons on Saturday. Game times are set 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 1,282-864 (.597) in 2,146 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 119-45 (.725) 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 finished their road trip with a 1-1 mark this past weekend as they fell to Southwest Minnesota State 85-71, before rebounding at Sioux Falls with a 70-68 victory. MSU now owns a 14-6 overall record and currently sits in fourth place in the NSIC standings with a 9-5 conference record.

Four Mavericks averaged at least 10 points a game, including senior Jalen Pendleton, who averaged a team-leading 19.5 points a game. Pendleton hit the game-winning shot against Sioux Falls with 13 seconds left in the game.

Junior Jon Fuqua averaged 14 points and eight rebounds a game, including a 15-point, 11-rebound performance against USF. Senior Snoop Viser averaged 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last weekend as well, while freshman Joey Witthus averaged 10 points a game as he finished his weekend with an 8-of-8 showing from the line.

As a team, MSU averaged 70.5 points per game last weekend, to go with a 45.8 shooting percentage from the field. The Mavericks also averaged 34.5 rebounds and 10 assists per game.

Against the Wolves: Friday's game between the Mavericks and Northern State marks their 22nd all-time meeting, with MSU holding the 14-7 series edge. Last season, NSU defeated the Mavericks 73-72 on a last-second shot in Aberdeen.

Last season, MSU shot 42.2% from the field against the Wolves, to go along with a 28-of-33 (.848) showing from the free throw line.

Matt Margenthaler owns a 7-4 all-time record against Northern State, including a 3-1 record in Taylor Center.

Against the Dragons: Saturday's game between the Mavericks and the Dragons marks the 92nd all-time meeting between them, with the Mavericks holding the series edge at 60-31. Last season, MSU Moorhead defeated the Mavericks twice by a combined total of five points.

Last season, sophomore TJ Lake averaged 5.5 points and three rebounds per game against the Dragons. As a team, MSU shot 49.2% from the field against the Dragons last season.

Matt Margenthaler owns a 9-3 all-time record against the Dragons, including a 6-0 record in Taylor Center.

Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State enters the weekend with a 14-6 record, including a 9-5 NSIC record. MSU defeated Sioux Falls  70-68 in its most recent outing.

Senior Jalen Pendleton currently leads the MSU offense with 15.5 points and 4.8 assists per game, with junior Jon Fuqua averaging 13.3 points and a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game. Freshman Joey Witthus is averaging 11.3 points per game as well, and is leading MSU with 52 three-point field goals.

As a unit, the Mavericks are shooting 47% from the field this season, including a 157-of-409 (.384) showing from behind the arc. MSU has also tallied 302 assists, 110 steals and 71 blocks.

Individual Top-10s in NSIC
Jalen Pendleton - Scoring, 10th (15.5 ppg)
Jon Fuqua - Rebounds, 8th (7.0 rpg)
Jon Fuqua - Shooting %, 3rd (56.3%)
Joey Witthus - 3pt %, 2nd (48.1%)
Jalen Pendleton - Assists, 3rd (4.9 apg)
Snoop Viser - Steals, 7th (1.4 spg)
Joey Witthus - Minutes, 1st (34.1 mpg)

Concerning the Wolves: Northern State enters the weekend the owner of a 12-8 overall record, including an 8-6 NSIC record, which places it in a tie for fifth place in the NSIC standings. Last weekend on the road, NSU fell to Bemidji State 90-89, before defeating Minnesota Crookston 84-80 in overtime.

Darin Peterka is leading Northern State with 15.2 points per game, to go with 5.9 rebounds per contest. Peterka also leads the Wolves with 77 assists. Carter Evans is hauling in a team-high 6.7 rebounds per game, to go with 11.2 points per game as well.

As a team, NSU is shooting 48.5% from the field, including a 40.7% percentage from behind the arc. The Wolves have also forced 248 turnovers and have passed out 277 assists.  

Paul Sather in his sixth season at the helm of the NSU men's basketball program. He owns a 98-66 record at Northern State.

Individual Top-10s in NSIC
Carter Evans - Rebounds, 9th (6.7 rpg)
Skye Warwick - 3pt %, 9th (42.4%)
Skye Warwick - FT %, 8th (83.1%)
Darin Peterka - Assists, 8th (3.9 apg)
Carter Evans - Blocks, 7th (1.1 bpg)
Spencer Pankonin - Blocks, 8th (0.9 bpg)
Darin Peterka - Steals, 2nd (1.8 spg)
Darin Peterka - Minutes, 3rd (32.7 mpg)
Skye Warwick - Minutes, 10th (31.1 mpg)

Concerning the Dragons: MSU Moorhead enters the weekend the owner of a 21-2 overall record, including a 13-1 NSIC record, which ranks second in the conference standings. The Dragons have won their last five games, including victories against Minnesota Crookston (106-79) and Bemidji State (81-68) on the road last weekend.

Isaac Seville leads MSU Moorhead and the NSIC with an average of 21.6 points per game. Seville is also hauling in 7.1 rebounds per game. Tanner Kretchman is averaging 12.7 points and a team-leading 5.3 assists a game as well.

MSU Moorhead is shooting 50.3% from the field this season, including a .407 showing from behind the arc. The Dragons are also averaging 39.6 rebounds per game.

Chad Walthall is in his sixth season as head coach of the Dragons. He owns a 132-47 overall record at MSU Moorhead.

Individual Top-10s in NSIC
Isaac Seville - Scoring, 1st (21.6 ppg)
Isaac Seville - Rebounds, 7th (7.1 rpg)
Isaac Seville - Shooting %, 1st (63.6%)
Aaron Lien - 3pt %, 8th (42.7%)
Tanner Kretchman - FT %, 9th (82.9%)
Tanner Kretchman - Assists, 2nd (5.3 apg)
Taylor Vaughan - Assists, 7th (3.9 apg)
Isaac Seville - Blocks, 2nd (1.6 bpg)