MANKATO, Minn. --- After finishing its regular season with a 20-8 overall record and a 15-7 NSIC record, the Minnesota State men's basketball team earned the second seed in the NSIC South Division and will host Bemidji State in the first round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament on Wednesday. The opening tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

Should MSU defeat Bemidji State it will advance to the second round of the NSIC Tournament where it will face the winner of the game between the University of Mary and Concordia-St. Paul at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday, at 2:30 p.m.
 
Minnesota State History: The 2015-16 season marks the 94th campaign as a varsity sport for Minnesota State men's basketball. The Mavericks are 1,288-866 (.597) in 2,154 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 125-47 (.726) 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 scheduled with a pair of wins over Sioux Falls (80-70) and Southwest Minnesota State (72-69). MSU finished the regular season with a 20-8 overall record and a 15-7 conference record. The Mavericks have now won at least 20 games in the last four seasons. This is also the 11th time in 15 seasons MSU has won at least 20 games under head coach Matt Margenthaler.

The Mavericks began the week with an 80-70 win over Sioux Falls. Junior Jon Fuqua recorded his seventh double-double of the season with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while freshman Joey Witthus chipped in with 22 points, including a 5-of-6 showing from long range.

As a team, MSU shot 43.1% from the field against USF, to go with an 84% showing from the line (21-of-25). The Mavericks also passed out 14 assists and hauled in 42 rebounds.

MSU finished its season with a 72-69 win over Southwest Minnesota State. Fuqua led the Mavericks in scoring again with 21 points. He also hauled in six rebounds. Senior Jalen Pendleton added 18 points and six rebounds of his own, while sophomore Alex Herink tallied 11 points.

As a team, MSU shot 22-of-26 (84.6%) from the free throw line against the Mustangs. It also passed out 11 assists and recorded seven steals.

Against the Beavers: Wednesday's game between Minnesota State and Bemidji State marks the 103rd all-time meeting between them, with MSU holding a 67-35 series advantage. Earlier this season, the Beavers defeated the Mavericks 75-74 in overtime at Taylor Center.

Senior Jalen Pendleton recorded 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists against BSU earlier this season, while junior Jon Fuqua tallied 16 points and seven rebounds. As a team, MSU shot 41.7% from the field, but it connected on just 19-of-30 (.633) shots from the line.

MSU head coach Matt Margenthaler owns a 9-4 record against Bemidji State, including a 4-3 record at Taylor Center.

Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State claimed the second seed in the south division after posting a 15-7 NSIC record this season.

Senior Jalen Pendleton leads the MSU offense with an average of 17.7 points and 4.7 assists per game. Junior Jon Fuqua is averaging 14.4 points and a team-leading 7.6 rebounds per game. Fuqua has a team-leading seven double-doubles on the season.

As a team, MSU is shooting 46.5% from the field this season and is averaging 39.6 rebounds per game. The Mavericks have passed out 391 assists as well.

Individual Top-10s in NSIC
Jalen Pendleton - Scoring, 8th (17.7 ppg)
Jon Fuqua - Rebounds, 5th (7.6 rpg)
Jon Fuqua - Shooting %, 3rd (56.2%)
Joey Witthus - 3pt %, 2nd (47.2%)
Joey Witthus - FT %, 9th (82.1%)
Jalen Pendleton - Assists, 4th (4.7 apg)
Jon Fuqua - Blocks, 10th (0.8 bpg)
Snoop Viser - Steals, 10th (1.2 spg)
Joey Witthus - Minutes, 1st (35.1 mpg)

Concerning the Beavers: The Bemidji State Beavers enter the weekend the owners of a 10-16 overall record, including a 7-15 NSIC record, which ranked seventh in the NSIC North Division. BSU is on a six-game losing streak including losses to MSU Moorhead (93-59) and Northern State (71-69) last weekend.

Ben Best is averaging 12 points and 5.1 rebounds per game this season. William Harvey has averaged 10.6 points and 5.3 rebounds as well, while DJ Anderson has passed out a team-leading 129 assists.

As a team, BSU is shooting 44.7% from the field, including a 33.2% showing from long range. The Beavers are also averaging 35.3 rebounds a game and have passed out 375 assists.

Mike Boschee is in his fourth season at Bemidji State. He owns a 54-56 overall record at BSU.

Individual Top-10s in NSIC
DJ Anderson - Assists, 3rd (4.9 apg)
Ben Best - Blocks, 7th (0.9 bpg)
DJ Anderson - Steals, 2nd (1.8 spg)
DJ Anderson - Minutes, 4th (33.3 mpg)

Regional Rankings: On Feb. 17, Minnesota State was ranked fifth in the first edition of the NCAA Central Region Rankings. The top-eight teams in each region advance to the NCAA Tournament.