MANKATO, Minn. --- #2 Minnesota State has advanced to the NCAA Final Four for the second time in program history and will take on #9 West Texas A&M on Thursday. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind. The game will be available on local radio AM 1230 The Fan Mankato (Listen Live) and televised on CBS Sports Network (Charter - Channel 412, DirecTV - 221, Dish - Channel 158 availability based on your cable subscription). 
  
Minnesota State History: The 2023-24 season marks the 102nd campaign as a varsity sport for Minnesota State men's basketball. The Mavericks are 1,447-947 (.604) in 2,394 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 second trip the NCAA Elite under head coach Matt Margenthaler. MSU owns a 22-15 record in NCAA Tournament action, including wins against Arkansas Tech (75-68), MSU Moorhead (78-55), Northwest Missouri State (43-42) and Ferris State (98-70) in the first four rounds this season. 

Against the Buffs: Thursday's game between Minnesota State and West Texas A&M marks their first ever meeting between them.

Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State enters Thursday's game the owner of a 33-2 record. The Mavericks bested Ferris State 98-70 in the NCAA Elite Eight and have now won their 14 games.

As a team, MSU is averaging 85.0 points and 38.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 49.0% from the field and 38.1% from three point range. The Mavericks have also passed out 524 assists and have forced 407 turnovers.

Senior Malik Willingham is averaging 18.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists a game this season. Junior Kyreese Willingham is posting 14.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game also, while graduate student Dylan Peeters has posted 10.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Junior Justin Eagins is averaging 12.3 points a game also and has connected on 76 three pointers. Graduate student Elijah Hazekamp is averaging 9.8 points and 5.4 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 486-211 (.697).

Concerning the Buffs: West Texas A&M enters Thursday the owner of a 30-4 record, including a 90-76 win over North Georgia in the NCAA Elite Eight. The Buffs have won their last four games.

WT is averaging 84.9 points and 36.5 rebounds per game this season, while shooting 47.4% from the field and 38.6% from three point range. The Buffs have passed out 413 assists and have forced 425 turnovers.

Larry Wise is averaging 20.1 points and 5.5 rebounds a game this season, while Zach Toussaint has posted 12.9 points and has connected on 84 three pointers. Kieran Elliot has notched 12.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, while Ryland Holt has posted 11.7 points and 5.2 rebounds a game. Ahamed Mohammed has recorded 10.1 points and 4.6 rebounds a game also.

West Texas A&M is coached by Tom Brown who is in his 10th season at WT. He owns a 266-61 record.

All-NSIC Honors: Five Mavericks claimed NSIC honors for their efforts during the 2023-24 season. Senior Malik Willingham was named the NSIC Player of the Year and All-NSIC First Team. 

Junior Kyreese Willingham was named to the All-NSIC First Team, while both junior Justin Eagins and graduate student Dylan Peeters were named to the All-NSIC Second Team.

Head Coach Matt Margenthaler was named the NSIC Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career.

NSIC All-Tournament Team: Minnesota State won it's third NSIC Tournament championship with its 97-77 win over Minnesota Duluth. Kyreese Willingham and Justin Eagins were named to the NSIC All-Tournament Team, Malik Willingham was named the NSIC Tournament MVP.

NCAA Central Region All-Tournament Team: Minnesota State won its second NCAA Central Region Championship with  its 43-42 win over Northwest Missouri State. Malik Willingham and Elijah Hazekamp were named to the Central Region All-Tournament Team, while Kyreese Willingham was named the Central Region Tournament MVP.

Rewriting the Record Book: Minnesota State has established single-season highs in several team categories this season.

Scoring - 2,974 points
Field Goals Made - 1,095
Field Goals Attempted - 2,234
3pt Field Goals - 318
3pt Field Goals Attempted - 834
Most Games Played - Tied at 35 games
Wins in a Season - 33