MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State men's basketball team will wrap up its regular season schedule this weekend at Taylor Center as they host Southwest Minnesota State on Friday and Sioux Falls on Saturday. Game times are set for 8:00 p.m., and 6:00 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 1,309-877 (.598) in 2,186 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 138-54 (.718) record to go with four regular-season championships and two tournament championships.
The Mavericks made their 13th appearance in the NCAA Tournament last 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.
NSIC Tournament: With their win against Winona State last weekend, the Mavericks secured a home game for the first round of the NSIC Tournament, which will be held at Taylor Center on Wednesday, Feb. 22. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., but Minnesota State's opponent has yet to be determined.
About Our Last Outings: The Mavericks went 1-1 this past weekend on the road as they fell to Upper Iowa 83-73 in overtime, before defeating Winona State 69-68. MSU now owns an 18-8 overall record, including a 13-7 NSIC record.
Against Upper Iowa, the Mavericks hauled in 40 rebounds, recorded 10 steals and blocked six shots. Senior
Jon Fuqua tallied a team-leading 14 points, while senior
Trey Sampson notched a season-high 12 points. Sophomore
Cole Harper added nine points and 10 rebounds, while freshman
Cameron Kirksey posted eight points, seven rebounds and five blocks.
The Mavericks bounced back with a win against Winona State as they shot 46% from the field and passed out 13 assists. Senior
Aarias Austin led the Maverick offense with 16 points, while Kirksey registered 15 points.
Against the Mustangs: Friday's game between Minnesota State and Southwest Minnesota state marks their 46th all-time meeting, with MSU leading the all-time series 40-15. SMSU defeated the Mavericks 58-56 earlier this season in Marshall.
Sophomore
Joey Witthus recorded a team-leading 13 points against the Mustangs earlier this season, while sophomore
Jay Knuth added nine points and 11 rebounds.
Head Coach
Matt Margenthaler owns a 19-9 record against the Mustangs, including a 10-4 record at Taylor Center.
Against the Cougars: Saturday's meeting between Minnesota State and Sioux Falls represents their 17th all-time meeting. MSU owns a 14-2 record against USF, including a 68-67 win in Sioux Falls earlier this season.
Senior
Jon Fuqua recorded a game-high 20 points in the win, while senior
Aarias Austin tallied 18 points. Sophomore Cole Harper connected on the game-winning shot with 0.1 left on the clock as well.
Head Coach
Matt Margenthaler owns an 11-1 record against Sioux Falls, including a 6-0 record at Taylor Center.
Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State owns an 18-8 overall record, including a 13-7 NSIC record. MSU has won five of its last six games.
As a team, Minnesota State is averaging 78.5 points and 35.9 rebounds per game this season, while shooting 47.0% from the field. MSU has also tallied 100 blocks and has passed out 337 assists.
Senior
Jon Fuqua is averaging a team-leading 15.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game this season, with
Joey Witthus following right behind with 14.9 points and 5.0 rebounds a game. Senior
Aarias Austin is adding 11.1 points and 3.0 assists per game.
Matt Margenthaler is in his 16th season as head coach of the Mavericks and currently owns a 348-141 (.711) overall record, to go along with 11 NCAA Tournament appearances.
Concerning the Mustangs: Southwest Minnesota State enters the weekend the owner of a 20-5 overall record, including a 15-5 NSIC record. SMSU went 1-1 last weekend as it defeated Wayne State 85-82, before falling to Augustana 97-79.
As a team, the Mustangs are averaging 81.9 points and 36.9 rebounds a game this season. SMSU is shooting 48.6% from the field and has passed out 352 assists.
SMSU has five player averaging more than 10 points a game this season, including Ryan Bruggeman, who leads the Mustangs with an average of 14.0 points and 4.4 assists per game. Carter Kirk is averaging 10.6 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds a game this season as well.
The Mustangs are coached by Brad Bigler, who is in his eighth season as head coach at SMSU. He owns a 128-103 overall record.
Concerning the Cougars: Sioux Falls enters the weekend the owner of a 13-15 overall record, including a 9-11 NSIC record. USF has lost its last six games, including a pair of losses to Augustana (80-78) and Wayne State (80-68) last weekend.
The Cougars are averaging 74.5 points and 36.8 rebounds a game this season. USF is also shooting 46.1% from the field and has passed out 392 assists.
USF has five players averaging more than 10 points per game this season, including Drew Guebert, who is leading USF with 15.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Zach Wessels is posting 10.0 points and 3.5 assists a game as well.
The Cougars are coached by Chris Johnson, who is in his ninth season at USF. He owns a 137-107 overall record.
