MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State has been named the #1 seed in the NCAA Central Region Tournament and has been selected to serve as the host for the fifth time in team history. The Mavericks begin the regional tournament on Saturday as they take on eighth-seeded Arkansas Tech on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in Taylor Center.
This marks the 16th time that MSU has advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Mavericks own an 18-15 overall record in NCAA Tournament games, including a 7-3 record at Taylor Center.
Minnesota State History: The 2023-24 season marks the 102nd campaign as a varsity sport for Minnesota State men's basketball. The Mavericks are 1,443-947 (.603) in 2,390 games since the program's inception in the 1920-21 season. Since joining the NSIC prior to the start of the 2008-09 season, MSU has put together a 230-116 (.664) conference record to go with five regular-season championships and three tournament championships.
The Mavericks won the 2023-24 NSIC regular season championship with its 82-62 win over Minnesota Crookston on Feb. 23. It marks their first NSIC Championship since the 2013-14 season. MSU then went on to win the NSIC Tournament Championship with its 97-77 win over Minnesota Duluth in the finals of the conference tournament.
Against the Wonder Boys: Saturday's game between Minnesota State and Arkansas Tech marks their second all-time meeting with MSU winning the previous meeting 81-65. The Mavericks hosted the Wonder Boys in the first round of the NCAA Tournament back on March 16, 2013.
Head Coach
Matt Margenthaler owns a 1-0 record against Arkansas Tech.
Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State enters the weekend the owner of a 29-2 record. During the NSIC Tournament in Sioux Falls, the Mavericks bested Sioux Falls (78-64), Southwest Minnesota State (68-67) and Minnesota Duluth (97-77) to win the NSIC Tournament Championship. MSU's 29 wins this season are the second-most in a season in team history, trailing the mark of 30 wins set during the 2013-14 season.
As a team, MSU is averaging 86.5 points and 39.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 49.1% from the field and 37.8% from three point range. The Mavericks have also passed out 471 assists and have forced 369 turnovers.
Senior
Malik Willingham is averaging 19.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists a game this season. Junior
Kyreese Willingham is posting 14.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game also, while graduate student
Dylan Peeters has posted 10.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Junior
Justin Eagins is averaging 12.6 points a game also and has connected on 70 three pointers. Graduate student
Elijah Hazekamp is averaging 10.1 points and 5.3 rebounds a game also.
The Mavericks are led by
Matt Margenthaler, who is in his 23rd season at Minnesota State. He owns a career record of 482-211 (.695).
Concerning the Wonder Boys: Arkansas Tech enters the weekend the owner of a 25-6 record, including an 18-4 record in the Great American Conference. The Wonder Boys won the GAC Tournament as they defeated Harding (67-65) Northwestern Oklahoma (54-53) and Southern Nazarene (72-57).
As a unit, ATU is averaging 73.5 points and 34.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 46.3% from the field and 38.9% from three point range. The Wonder Boys have passed out 426 assists and have forced 395 turnovers.
Taelon Peter is averaging 19.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game and has connected on 81 three pointers. Cassius Brooks has tallied 12.9 points and 3.5 rebounds a game, while Tommy Kamarad has tallied 12.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Kade Shaffer has tallied 7.6 points and 4.7 assists a game also.
Arkansas Tech is coached by Mark Downey who is in his eighth season as head coach at ATU, and 15th season overall. He owns a 135-93 record with the Wonder Boys and a 253-179 overall record.
