MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State men's basketball team continues its season with a pair of games against Concordia-St. Paul and Waldorf. MSU will travel to CSP on Saturday for a 4:00 p.m., game before returning to Taylor Center on Monday to face WU at 4:00 p.m.
Minnesota State History: The 2016-17 season marks the 95th campaign as a varsity sport for Minnesota State men's basketball. The Mavericks are 1,296-873 (.597) in 2,169 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 a 126-50 (.715) record to go with four regular-season championships and two tournament championships.
The Mavericks made their 13th appearance in the NCAA Tournament this past season. MSU owns a 16-13 record (.551) in NCAA Tournament play, including an 85-81 win over MSU Moorhead and an 82-60 loss to Northwest Missouri State in the most recent trip to the tournament.
About Last Week: Minnesota State opened its home schedule with a pair of NSIC losses to Winona State (89-64) and Upper Iowa (82-77). MSU now owns a 5-4 overall record, including a 1-3 NSIC record.
Against the Warriors the Mavericks shot just 37.1% from the field, while WSU shot 72.0%. Senior
Jon Fuqua led the Mavericks in scoring with 16 points, while senior
Aarias Austin added 13 points. Senior
AJ Patty tallied eight points and eight rebounds as well.
Against the Peacocks, Minnesota State shot 50.8% from the field, including an 11-of-23 (.478) showing from behind the arc, but it could not outlast Upper Iowa. Senior
Charlie Brown notched a game-high 17 points, while both Austin and Patty chipped in with 16 points.
Against the Golden Bears: Saturday's game between the Mavericks and the Golden Bears marks the 27th all-time meeting between them. MSU owns a 19-7 series advantage over CSP, including wins in their last three meetings.
Last season, MSU defeated the Golden Bears 86-59 at home and 82-66 on the road. Sophomore
Joey Witthus averaged 17.5 points and 5.0 rebounds a game last season against CSP, while senior
Jon Fuqua posted 10.5 points and 6.0 rebounds.
MSU Head Coach
Matt Margenthaler owns a 18-5 record against the Golden Bears, including an 8-3 record on the road.
Against Warriors: Monday's encounter between Minnesota State and Waldorf marks the 10th meeting between them, with MSU holding an 8-1 series advantage.
Last season, the Mavericks defeated the Warriors 95-77 at Taylor Center. Senior
Jon Fuqua led the Maverick offense with 23 points, while sophomore
Joey Witthus tallied 10 points.
MSU Head Coach
Matt Magenthaler owns a 3-0 record against the Warriors, all three of which occurred at Taylor Center.
Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State owns a 5-4 overall record, including a 1-3 NSIC record. The Mavericks went 0-2 at Taylor Center last weekend as they fell to Winona State 86-64 and Upper Iowa 82-77.
As a team, Minnesota State is averaging 83.1 points and 36.7 rebounds per game this season, while shooting 47.4% from the field. MSU is also outrebounding its opponents 36.7-34.9.
Four Mavericks are averaging more than 10 points a game this season, including sophomore
Joey Witthus, who is averaging 16.4 points a game. Senior
Jon Fuqua is posting 14.6 points and a team-leading 6.8 rebounds a game, while junior
Charlie Brown is chipping in with 15.1 points a game.
Matt Margenthaler is in his 16th season as head coach of the Mavericks and currently owns a 335-137 (.709) overall record, to go along with 11 NCAA Tournament appearances.
Concerning the Golden Bears: Concordia-St. Paul owns a 4-6 overall record, including a 1-3 NSIC record. CSP went 1-1 last weekend as it fell to Upper Iowa 92-71, before topping Winona State 82-75.
As a team, the Golden Bears are averaging 71.7 points and 36.9 rebounds per game. CSP is also shooting 47% from the field, including 40.9% from behind the arc.
Bryndan Matthews is averaging a team-leading 15.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game this season. Diallo Powell is averaging 12.6 points and 5.6 rebounds a game, while Ahmad Newsome is averaging 7.4 points and 4.7 assists per game.
The Golden Bears are coached by Joey James, who is in his third season at CSP. He owns a 36-33 record at Concordia-St. Paul.
Concerning the Warriors: The Waldorf Warriors own a 5-7 overall record, including a 1-1 record in the North Star Athletic Association. Last weekend, Waldorf defeated Mount Mary 70-64, before falling to Jamestown 92-65.
As a team, WU is averaging 73.9 points and 38.2 rebounds a game. The Warriors are shooting 44.7% from the field this season and have passed out 143 assists.
June Powell is leading the WU offense with an average of 18.3 points a game. Kaden Verdin is averaging 10.8 points and 8.1 rebounds a game as well.
Nigel Jenkins is in his sixth season as head coach of the Warriors. He owns a 79-74 overall record.
