MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State begins a four-game road trip this weekend as it takes on Sioux Falls on Friday and Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday. Game times are set for 8:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m., respectively.
Minnesota State History: The 2016-17 season marks the 95th campaign as a varsity sport for Minnesota State men's basketball. The Mavericks are 1,303-875 (.598) in 2,178 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 132-52 (.717) 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 Our Last Outing: Minnesota State went 1-1 this past weekend at Taylor Center as it defeated Minot State 81-66, before falling to the University of Mary 75-61.
Against the Beavers, the Mavericks shot 55.4% from the field and held a 40-29 advantage in rebounds. As a team, MSU also passed 17 assists.
Four Mavericks scored at least 10 points against MISU, including senior
Jon Fuqua and sophomore
Joey Witthus who both tallied a game-high 21 points. Freshman
Cameron Kirksey tallied 11 points and a game-high eight rebounds, while sophomore
Cole Harper added 10 points and five rebounds.
Against the Marauders, Minnesota State shot just 36.5 % from the field, including a 34.8% showing from long range. MSU matched U-Mary in rebounds with 37 and passed out 12 assists as well.
Fuqua led all scorers with 24 points. He also recorded seven rebounds and three blocks. Senior
Aarias Austin, the only other Maverick to reach double-digits in the scoring column, added 11 points and four assists.
Against the Cougars: Friday's game between Minnesota State and Sioux Falls marks their 16th al-time meeting with MSU leading the all-time series 13-2. The Mavericks have won their last 10 meetings against USF, including a pair of wins last season.
Last season, senior
Jon Fuqua averaged a team-leading 19.5 points and 11.0 rebounds a game against the Cougars. Sophomore
Joey Witthus averaged 17 points a game against USF as well.
Head Coach
Matt Margenthaler owns a 10-1 record against Sioux Falls, including a 4-1 road record.
Against the Mustangs: Saturday's game between Minnesota State and Southwest Minnesota State represents their 55th meeting. MSU leads the all-time series 40-14. The Mavericks went 1-1 against the Mustangs last season.
Senior
Jon Fuqua averaged 17 points and 5.5 rebounds a game against SMSU last season.
Head Coach
Matt Margenthaler owns a 19-8 record against Southwest Minnesota State, including a 7-4 road record.
Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State owns a 12-6 overall record, including a 7-5 NSIC record. The Mavericks defeated Minot State 81-66, before falling to the University of Mary 75-61 last weekend at Taylor Center.
As a team, Minnesota State is averaging 81.9 points and 36.3 rebounds per game this season, while shooting 47.5% from the field. MSU has also passed out 245 assists and has tallied 61 blocks.
Senior
Jon Fuqua is leading the Mavericks with an average of 16.7 points and 6.7 rebounds a game. Sophomore
Joey Witthus is averaging 15.9 points a game as well. Additionally, senior
Aarias Austin is adding 11.2 points and a team-best 3.4 assists a game.
Matt Margenthaler is in his 16th season as head coach of the Mavericks and currently owns a 342-139 (.711) overall record, to go along with 11 NCAA Tournament appearances.
Concerning the Cougars: Sioux Falls enters the weekend the owner of a 12-8 overall record, including an 8-4 NSIC record. USF has won its last six games, including road wins against Bemidji State (78-71) and Minnesota Crookston (69-60) last weekend.
As a team, the Cougars are averaging 74.9 points and 39.0 rebounds a game this season. USF is also shooting 45.9% form the field and has passed out 285 assists.
Drew Guebert is averaging a team-leading 15.5 points and 5.9 rebounds a game this season. Mack Johnson is averaging 14.9 points and 4.2 rebounds a game as well.
Sioux Falls is coached by Chris Johnson, who is in his eighth season at USF. He owns a 136-100 overall record at Sioux Falls.
Concerning the Mustangs: Southwest Minnesota State enters the weekend the owner of a 14-3 overall record, including a 9-3 NSIC record. Last weekend, SMSU defeated Minnesota Crookston 77-74, before falling to Bemidji State 96-86 on the road.
The Mustangs are averaging 82.1 points and 36.5 rebounds a game this season. SMSU is also shooting 49.4% from the field, including a 36.5% showing from behind the arc.
A total of six Mustangs are averaging more than 10 points a game this season, including Ryan Bruggeman who is leading SMSU with 13 points a game this season. Carter Kirk is averaging 10.7 points and 7.8 rebounds a game this season as well.
Brad Bigler is in his eighth season as head coach of Southwest Minnesota State. He owns a 122-98 overall record.
