MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State opens its 2025-26 season at the CCA Tip-Off Classic this weekend at the St. Joseph Civic Arena in St. Joseph, Mo., as it takes on Northwest Missouri on Friday at 5:00 p.m. and Pittsburg State on Sunday at 4:00 p.m.

Minnesota State History: The 2025-26 season marks the 104th campaign as a varsity sport for Minnesota State men's basketball. The Mavericks are 1,468-959 (.604) in 2,427 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 245-123 (.665) conference record to go with five regular-season championships and three tournament championships.

The Mavericks won the 2023-24 NSIC regular season championship with an 82-62 win over Minnesota Crookston on Feb. 23. It marked 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. The Mavericks would go on to win their first NCAA Championship as they defeated Nova Southeastern 88-85 in the NCAA Championship game.

Familiar Faces: Minnesota State welcomes back eight Mavericks from last season's squad including seniors Chase Bartlett, Puolrah Gong, David Harmon and Malcolm Jones, junior Caden Kirkman, sophomores Will Opsahl and Carson Schweim and freshman Colton Benson.
  
Kirkman, Opsahl, Harmon, Jones and Schweim all played in at least 22 games last season.

Newcomers: The Mavericks welcome in seven newcomers to this season's squad, including juniors Arhman Lewis and Traijan Sain, sophomore Joe Buchanan and freshmen AJ Bender, Phoenix Childs, Ganden Gosch and Keegan Harney. 

Last season, Lewis started in all 28 games for the Emporia State Hornets where he averaged 11.1 points and 3.7 assists per game. During the 2023-24 season at Augustana, he played in all 30 games and averaged 8.8 points and 3.6 assists per game.

Sain played in 31 games at Kirkwood during the 2024-25 season where he averaged 11.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. As a freshman, he notched 11.6 points and 5.8 rebounds a game.

Buchanan played in all 30 games for MidAmerica Nazarene last season, including 29 starts. He led the team in scoring with 15.4 points per game and in three pointers made with 88. He also hauled in 4.2 rebounds per game.

Preseason NSIC Notes: Minnesota State was picked to finish third in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll this season. The Mavericks were also picked to finish third in the NSIC south division. Southwest Minnesota State was picked to finish first in the overall poll and in the south division poll, while St. Cloud State was picked to finish second in both.

Maverick senior Malcolm Jones was named MSU's Player to Watch for the upcoming season.

Last season, Jones played in 30 games and averaged 4.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 51% from the field. In MSU's road game against Southwest Minnesota State last season, Jones notched 13 points and eight rebounds.

Against the Bearcats: Friday's game between Minnesota State and Northwest Missouri State marks their eighth all-time meeting with NWMSU leading the all-time series 4-3. The Mavericks defeated the Bearcats 43-42 back on March 19, 2024 in the NCAA Central Region Tournament Championship game in Taylor Center in their most recent meeting.

Head Coach Matt Margenthaler owns a 2-4 record against Northwest Missouri State, including a 0-2 neutral site record.

Against the Gorillas: Sunday's game between Minnesota State and Pittsburg State marks their fourth meeting, with PSU leading the series 2-1. The Gorillas defeated the Mavericks 90-80 in their most recent meeting back on Nov. 10, 2017.

Head coach Matt Margenthaler owns a 1-2 record against Pittsburg State, including a 1-1 neutral site record.

Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State finished the 2024-25 season with a 20-12 overall record and finished in a tie for third in the NSIC standings with a 15-7 NSIC record. In the NSIC Tournament, MSU defeated St. Cloud State 78-72, before falling to Minot State 72-70 to end its season.

As a team, MSU averaged 78.0 points and 36.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 46.0% from the field and 35.6% from three point range. The Mavericks passed out 450 assists and forced 364 turnovers.

Junior Caden Kirkman started in all 32 games for the Mavericks last season and averaged 9.9 points and a team-leading 6.0 rebounds per game. Sophomore Will Opsahl tallied 7.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game also, while senior David Harmon added 6.0 points per game.

The Mavericks are led by Matt Margenthaler, who is in his 25th season at Minnesota State. He owns a career record of 508-223 (.694). 

Concerning the Bearcats: Northwest Missouri State finished the 2024-25 season with a 6-22 record and finished last in the MIAA standings with a 4-15 MIAA record. The Bearcats fell to Emporia State 79-67 in their final game of the 2024-25 season.

As a team, NWMSU averaged 64.4 points and 33.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 42.1% from the field and 30.3% from three point range. The Bearcats passed out 348 assists and forced 379 turnovers.

Jack Ratigan recorded 6.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, while leading the team in blocks with 33. Trey Moala added 6.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game also.

Northwest Missouri State is coached by Matt Keeley who is in his second season as head coach of the Bearcats. He owns a 6-22 record at NWMSU and a 119-111 (.517) career record.

Concerning the Gorillas: Pittsburg State finished the 2024-25 season with an 18-12 record and finished in a tie for third in the MIAA standings with a 13-6 MIAA record.  PSU competed in two games in the MIAA Tournament last season. The Gorillas defeated Nebraska Kearney 96-63, before falling to Central Oklahoma 93-81 to end their season.

As a team, PSU averaged 77.8 points and 35.0 rebounds per game last season, while shooting 49.2% from the field and 39.5% from three point range. The Gorillas passed out 486 assists and forced 290 turnovers.

Darrell Washington tallied 9.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in seven games last season, while Tane Prictor notched 7.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Evan Jackson tallied 7.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game also.

Pittsburg State is coached by Jeff Boschee who is in his fourth season as head coach of the Gorillas. He owns a 47-43 (.522) record at Pittsburg State and a 198-129 (.606) career record.