MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State men's basketball team begins its home schedule this weekend as it hosts Winona State on Friday and Upper Iowa on Saturday at Taylor Center. Game times for both NSIC contests are set for 8:00 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 1,296-871 (.598) in 2,167 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 126-48 (.724) 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 NSIC competition this past weekend on the road as it defeated Wayne State 77-72, before falling to Augustana 83-81. MSU now owns a 5-2 overall record, including a 1-1 league record.
Against the Wildcats, MSU erased a six-point deficit at halftime to gain the win on the road. Junior
Charlie Brown led the Maverick offense with 26 points, which including a 9-of-10 showing from the line. Senior
Jon Fuqua added 17 points and six rebounds. As a team, the Mavericks shot 45.5% from the field and connected on 21-of-24 (.875) opportunities from the line.
Against the Vikings, MSU shot 42.2% from the field, including a 13-of-21 (.419) showing from behind the arc. Senior
Aarias Austin tallied a team-leading 18 points, while Brown, Fuqua and sophomore
Joey Witthus tallied 12 points each.
Against the Warriors: Fridays game between Minnesota State and Winona State marks the 132nd meeting between them, with MSU leading the all-time series 85-46. Last season, the Mavericks went 1-1 against the Warriors, with both games being decided by one point.
The Mavericks defeated the Warriors 78-77 at Taylor Center, before falling to WSU 72-71 in overtime on the road. Senior Jon Fuqua averaged 10 points and 8.5 rebounds a game last season against the Warriors.
MSU Head Coach
Matt Margenthaler owns a 13-17 record against the Warriors, including a 6-7 record at Taylor Center.
Against Upper Iowa: Saturday's game between the Mavericks and the Peacocks marks their 21st meeting with MSU controlling the series with a 19-1 record. Minnesota State has won its last seven meetings with Upper Iowa.
Last season, MSU defeated UIU 97-75 at Taylor Center, before defeating the Peacocks 88-83 on the road. Senior
Jon Fuqua averaged 16 points and 7.5 rebounds a game last season vs. UIU, while sophomore
Joey Witthus averaged 14 points and 7.5 rebounds a game.
MSU Head Coach
Matt Magenthaler owns a 19-1 record against the Peacocks, including a 10-1 record at Taylor Center.
Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State owns a 5-2 overall record, including a 1-1 NSIC record. The Mavericks went 1-1 on the road last weekend as they defeated Wayne State 77-72, before falling to Augustana 83-81.
As a team, Minnesota State is averaging 86.7 points and 39.3 rebounds per game this season, while shooting 48.4% from the field. MSU is also outrebounding its opponents 39.3-35.6.
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 15.0 points and a team-leading 7.1 rebounds a game, while junior
Charlie Brown is chipping in with 15.9 points a game.
Matt Margenthaler is in his 16th season as head coach of the Mavericks and currently owns a 335-135 (.712) overall record, to go along with 11 NCAA Tournament appearances.
Concerning the Warriors: Winona State enters the weekend the owner of a 3-3 record, including a 0-2 NSIC record. WSU fell to Sioux Falls (90-81) and Southwest Minnesota State (77-61) at home last weekend.
As a team, WSU is averaging 73.7 points and 36.2 rebounds a game. The Warriors are shooting 47.7% from the field this season and are averaging 15.2 assists per game as well.
Riley Bambenek is averaging a team-leading 16.5 points a game this season. Kyle Bauman, who is averaging 16.2 points a game, is hauling in a team-best 7.7 rebounds a game as well.
The Warriors are coached by Todd Eisner who is in his second season at Winona State. He owns a 19-16 overall record at WSU.
Concerning the Peacocks: Upper Iowa enters the weekend the owner of a 5-3 overall record, including a 2-0 NSIC record. Last weekend, the Peacocks defeated Southwest Minnesota State (77-75) and Sioux Falls (78-76) at home.
As a team, Upper Iowa is averaging 75.6 points and 33.1 rebounds a game. The Peacocks are also shooting 47.6% from the field, including a 35.0% showing from behind the arc.
Jimmy Roth is leading the Upper Iowa offense with an average of 14.9 points a game this season. Jordan Hay is averaging 11.3 points and a team-leading 6.5 rebounds per contest as well.
Head Coach Brooks McKowen is in his third season at Upper Iowa. He owns a 38-30 record.
