MANKATO, Minn. --- #2 Minnesota State continues its season Tuesday in the NCAA Central Region Tournament Championship on Tuesday as it takes on #4 Northwest Missouri State. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. 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 1,445-947 (.604) in 2,392 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.

This will be MSU's fifth trip the NCAA "Sweet 16" under head coach Matt Margenthaler. MSU owns a 20-15 record in NCAA Tournament action, including wins against Arkansas Tech (75-68) and MSU Moorhead (78-55) in the first two rounds this season. 

Against the Bearcats: Tuesday's game between Minnesota State and Northwest Missouri state marks their seventh all-time meeting with NWMSU leading the series 4-2. 

In their last meeting in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2019, the Bearcats defeated the Mavericks 91-62.

Tuesday's game will be the sixth time that Minnesota State and Northwest Missouri State have met in the NCAA Tournament.

Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State enters the weekend the owner of a 31-2 record. This past weekend MSU defeated Arkansas Tech 75-68 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, before besting MSU Moorhead 78-55 in the second round. The Mavericks have won their last 12 games.

As a team, MSU is averaging 85.8 points and 38.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 49.0% from the field and 38.2% from three point range. The Mavericks have also passed out 497 assists and have forced 387 turnovers.

Senior Malik Willingham is averaging 19.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists a game this season. Junior Kyreese Willingham is posting 14.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game also, while graduate student Dylan Peeters has posted 10.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Junior Justin Eagins is averaging 12.6 points a game also and has connected on 74 three pointers. Graduate student Elijah Hazekamp is averaging 9.9 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 484-211 (.696).

Concerning the Bearcats: Northwest Missouri State enters the weekend the owner of a 29-4 record, including a 20-2 record in the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association. The Bearcats defeated Southwest Minnesota State (73-43) and Minnesota Duluth (71-62) to advance to the NCAA Central Region Tournament Championship. NWMSU has won its last 18 games.

As a unit, NWMSU is averaging 73.9 points and 29.9 rebounds per game, while shooting 50.6% from the field and 40.0% from three point range. The Bearcats have passed out 445 assists and have forced 390 turnovers.

Wes Dreamer is averaging 18.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, while Bennett Stiritz has tallied 15.3 points and 3.5 assists a game. Daniel Abreu is averaging 10.4 points and 3.0 rebounds a game also, while Mitch Mascari has posted 10.2 points a game and a team-leading 81 three pointers.

Northwest Missouri State is coached by Ben McCollum who is in his 15th season as head coach at NWMSU. He owns a 394-90 record with the Bearcats.