MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State men's basketball team returns to Taylor Center this weekend as it plays host to Minnesota Crookston on Friday and Bemidji State on Saturday. Tip-offs are scheduled for 8:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m., respectively.
Minnesota State History: The 2017-18 season marks the 96th campaign as a varsity sport for Minnesota State men's basketball. The Mavericks are 1,328-883 (.600) in 2,211 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 151-57 (.725) record to go with four regular-season championships and two tournament championships.
The Mavericks made their 13th appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2016. 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.
Against the Golden Eagles: Friday's game against the Golden Eagles marks their 24th all-time meeting, with MSU winning all 23 of their previous encounters. Last season, MSU bested UMC 78-74 on the road. Head Coach
Matt Margenthaler owns a 19-0 record against the Golden Eagles, including a 10-0 record at Taylor Center.
Junior
Cole Harper tallied 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists against the Golden Eagles last season, while senior
Charlie Brown notched 11 points. As a team, MSU shot 51.9% from the field against the Golden Eagles and 19-of-26 (.731) from the free throw line.
Harrison Cleary led the Golden Eagle offense with 42 points last season, while Chase Knickerbocker posted six points and six rebounds. UMC shot 47.7% from the field against the Mavericks.
Against the Beavers: Saturday's game between Minnesota State and Bemidji State marks their 105th all-time meeting, with MSU leading the all-time series 69-35. Last season, MSU topped BSU 86-73 on the road. Head Coach Matt Margenthaler owns an 11-4 record against the Beavers, including a 4-3 record in Taylor Center.
Senior
Charlie Brown notched 18 points against the Beavers last season, while sophomore
Cameron Kirksey posted 14 points and seven rebounds. As a team, MSU shot 50.8% from the field, including a 14-of-25 (.560) performance from downtown.
Jai'Vionne Green led the BSU offense against the Mavericks last season with 18 points and five rebounds, while Sharif Black posted 17 points and seven rebounds. As a team, BSU shot 44.4% from the field. It also held a 35-30 advantage in rebounds.
Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State owns a 16-4 record, including a 12-2 NSIC record. Earlier this week, MSU defeated Concordia-St. Paul 95-66 on the road to extend its winning streak to four games.
A total of five Mavericks are averaging more than 11 points per game this season, including senior
Charlie Brown who leads the MSU offense with 15.6 points per game. Sophomore
Kevin Krieger is averaging 15.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game as well.
As a team, the Mavericks are shooting 48.4% from the field, including a 43.7% clip from long range which is the third best average in NCAA Division II. MSU has also passed out 261 assists and forced 252 turnovers. The Mavericks also rank 18th in NCAA Division II in free throw percentage with an average of 76.9%.
The Mavericks are led by
Matt Margenthaler, who is in his 17th season at Minnesota State. He owns a career record of 367-147 (.714).
Concerning the Golden Eagles: Minnesota Crookston enters the weekend the owner of an 8-12 record, including a 5-9 NSIC record. UMC is on a six-game losing streak, including a pair of home losses to the University of Mary (69-64) and Minot State (80-77) last weekend.
As a team, UMC is shooting 46.7% from the field this season, to go along with a 40.1% showing from long range. The Golden Eagles are also averaging 76.9 points and 33.4 rebounds a game.
Harrison Cleary leads the Minnesota Crookston offense with an average of 24.0 points per game. Alan Hodge Jr. is averaging 16.1 points per game as well.
Dan Weisse is in his fourth season as head coach of the Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team. He owns a 26-77 overall record.
Concerning the Beavers: Bemidji State enters the weekend the owner of an 8-11 record, including a 5-9 NSIC record. Last weekend at home, BSU defeated Minot State 80-73, before falling to the University of Mary 88-80.
As a unit, BSU is averaging 71.8 points and 35.4 rebounds a game this season. The Beavers have also passed out 254 assists, but have also committed 231 turnovers.
Sharif Black is averaging a team-best 15.0 points per game this season. Logan Bader is averaging 11.4 points and 5.8 rebounds a game as well.
Head Coach Mike Boschee is in his sixth season at Bemidji State. He owns a 72-86 overall record.
