MANKATO, Minn. --- After splitting its final two road games of the regular season, the Minnesota State men's basketball team will wrap up the regular season at Taylor Center this weekend as it hosts Sioux Falls on Friday and Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday. Tip-offs are scheduled for 8:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m., respectively.

Saturday will also be Senior Day as four Mavericks including Lucas Brown, TJ Okafor, Jalen Pendleton and Snoop Viser play their last regular season game in Taylor Center.
 
Minnesota State History: The 2015-16 season marks the 94th campaign as a varsity sport for Minnesota State men's basketball. The Mavericks are 1,286-866 (.597) in 2,152 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 123-47 (.723) 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: Minnesota State finished its regular season road schedule with a split last weekend as it fell to Winona State 72-71 in overtime, before it rebounded to defeat Upper Iowa 88-83. MSU now owns an 18-8 overall record, including a 13-7 NSIC record which ranks third in the conference standings.

MSU began the weekend at Winona State where the Mavericks fell in overtime to the Warriors. Senior Jalen Pendleton paced the MSU offense with 25 points, while junior Jon Fuqua notched his sixth double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman Joey Witthus finished just one rebound shy of a double-double as he tallied 15 points and nine rebounds.

As a team, MSU shot 40% from the field against the Warriors, but it struggled at the line as it hit on just 24-of-38 (.632) opportunities. MSU held a small advantage on the glass at 44-39. MSU's overtime game against Winona State also marked its fourth overtime contest of the season, which is one behind the single-season record of five overtime games set during the 1995-96 season.

The Mavericks recovered quickly as they defeated Upper Iowa 88-83 on the road to bring their overall road record to 8-4 on the season.

A total of five Mavericks recorded more than 10 points against the Peacocks, including sophomore TJ Lake who posted a team-leading 18 points. Pendleton added 17 points and seven rebounds, while Witthus notched 12 points and eight rebounds. Freshman Cole Harper added 14 points, five rebounds and three assists as well.

As a team, MSU shot 49.2% from the field against the Peacocks, as it passed out nine assists and hauled in 36 rebounds. MSU also connected on 26-of-32 (.813) chances from the foul line.

Against the Cougars: Friday's game between Minnesota State and Sioux Falls marks their 15th all-time meeting, with MSU holding a 12-2 overall record. The Mavericks have won their last nine meetings against the Cougars, including a 70-68 win at Sioux Falls earlier this season.

Senior Jalen Pendleton led the Mavericks with 18 points, including the game-winning shot with 13 seconds left. Junior Jon Fuqua posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Matt Margenthaler owns a 9-1 all-time record against Sioux Falls, including a 5-0 record in Taylor Center.

Against the Mustangs: Saturday's game against Southwest Minnesota State marks the 54th all-time meeting between the Mavericks and the Mustangs. MSU owns a 39-14 record against SMSU, including an 85-71 loss earlier this season.

Senior Jalen Pendleton notched a team-high 21 points against SMSU, while senior Snoop Viser recorded 15 points and five rebounds. Junior Jon Fuqua added 13 points and five rebounds as well.

Matt Margenthaler owns an 18-8 all-time record against Southwest Minnesota State, including a 9-4 record in Taylor Center.

Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State enters the weekend the owner of an 18-8 overall record, including a 13-7 NSIC record. MSU currently sits in third place in the NSIC standings.

Senior Jalen Pendleton leads the MSU offense with an average of 17.9 points and 4.7 assists per game. Junior Jon Fuqua is averaging 14.2 points and a team-leading 7.5 rebounds per game.

As a team, MSU is shooting 46.8% from the field this season and is averaging 39.7 rebounds per game. The Mavericks have passed out 366 assists as well.

Individual Top-10s in NSIC
Jalen Pendleton - Scoring, 7th (17.9 ppg)
Jon Fuqua - Rebounds, 5th (7.5 rpg)
Jon Fuqua - Shooting %, 3rd (56.0%)
Joey Witthus - 3pt %, 2nd (46.0%)
Jalen Pendleton - Assists, 4th (4.7 apg)
Snoop Viser - Steals, 8th (1.2 spg)
Joey Witthus - Minutes, 1st (35.0 mpg)

Concerning the Cougars: The Sioux Falls Cougars enter the weekend the owners of a 16-10 overall record, including an 11-9 NSIC record, which is tied for fifth in the league standings. USF went 1-1 last weekend as it defeated Wayne State 79-58, before falling to Augustana 79-71.

Mack Johnson leads the USF offense with an average of 16.8 points per game. Daniel Hurtt is averaging 12.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game as well.

As a team, USF is shooting 47.5% from the field, including a 38.9% showing from behind the arc. The Cougars have also passed out 381 assists and have tallied 164 steals.

Chris Johnson is in his eighth season at the helm of the Sioux Falls men's basketball team.

Individual Top-10s in NSIC
Daniel Hurtt - Shooting %, 10th (50.6%)
Clint Thomas - 3pt %, 6th (41.9%)
Mack Johnson - FT %, 1st (89.3%)
Kebu Johnson - Assists, 7th (4.4 apg)
Tom Aase - Blocks, 3rd (1.7 bpg)
Mack Johnson - Steals, 6th (1.4 spg)

Concerning the Mustangs: Southwest Minnesota State enters the weekend the owner of a 13-12 overall record, including a 9-11 NSIC record. SMSU currently sits in a tie for 10th place in the conference standings. Last weekend, SMSU fell to Augustana 103-88, before defeating Wayne State 88-76.

Mitch Weg leads the Mustangs with 12.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Joey Batlett is averaging 12 points and five rebounds a game as well.

As a team, the Mustangs are shooting 50% from the field this season and are averaged 35.3 rebounds per game. SMSU has passed out 400 assists, but has turned the ball over 337 times as well.

Brad Bigler is in his seventh season at the helm of the SMSU men's basketball team. He owns a 108-92 record.

Individual Top-10s in NSIC
Mitch Weg - Rebounding, 6th (7.3 rpg)
Taylor Schafer - 3pt %, 10th (40.7%)
Ryan Bruggeman - FT %, 10th (82.1%)
Ryan Bruggeman - Assists, 5th (4.6 apg)
Ryan Bruggeman - Steals, 2nd (1.8 spg)