MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State wraps up its three-game homestand this week as it hosts the Wayne State Wildcats on Thursday and the Augustana Vikings on Saturday. Both games are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. tip-offs at Taylor Center.

Minnesota State History: The 2025-26 season marks the 104th campaign as a varsity sport for Minnesota State men's basketball. The Mavericks are 1,474-964 (.604) in 2,438 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 245-126 (.660) 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.

Against the Wildcats: Thursday's game between Minnesota State and Wayne State marks their 43rd all-time meeting with MSU leading the series 36-6. The Mavericks have won their last seven games against the Wildcats, including a pair of wins (83-53 at home & 64-61 on road) last season.

Junior Caden Kirkman tallied 6.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game against the Wildcats last season, while sophomore Will Opsahl tallied 4.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

JJ Ferrin tallied 12.0 points per game against the Mavericks last season, while Matt Noll tallied 7.0 points and 3.0 rebounds a game.

Head Coach Matt Margenthaler owns a 31-4 record against Wayne State, including 14-2 record in Taylor Center.

Against the Vikings: Saturday's game between Minnesota State and Augustana marks their 133rd all-time meeting, with MSU leading the series 70-62. The Mavericks have won their last three games against the Vikings, including a 71-70 road win last season.

Sophomore Will Opsahl tallied 13 points and five rebounds, while junior Caden Kirkman notched 13 points and seven rebounds.

Bennett Fried led the Vikings with 20 points and five rebounds, while Tanner Te Slaa posted 12 points and eight rebounds.

Head Coach Matt Margenthaler owns a 30-21 record against Augustana, including a 16-9 record at Taylor Center.

Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State enters the week the owner of a 6-5 record, including a 0-3 NSIC record. Last week, MSU dropped a pair of losses to Winona State (83-75) and Concordia-St. Paul (89-79).

As a team, MSU is averaging 78.5 points and 40.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 43.6% from the field and 30.2% from three point range. The Mavericks have passed out 144 assists and have forced 128 turnovers.

Senior Malcolm Jones leads the Mavericks with 16.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game this season. Junior Traijan Sain has notched 11.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, while junior Caden Kirkman has tallied 11.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Junior Arhman Lewis is averaging 9.1 points and 3.8 assists a game, while freshman Colton Benson has tallied 9.5 points a game, including a team-leading 21 three pointers. 

The Mavericks are led by Matt Margenthaler, who is in his 25th season at Minnesota State. He owns a career record of 514-228 (.692). 

Concerning the Wildcats: Wayne State enters the week the owner of a 5-4 record, including a 1-2 NSIC record. Last week, WSC defeated Sioux Falls 91-79 at home, before falling to Southwest Minnesota State 75-71 on the road.

As a team, WSC is averaging 81.4 points and 34.1 rebounds per game this season, while shooting 48.1% from the field and 37.9% from three point range. The Wildcats have passed out 121 assists and have forced 116 turnovers.

Matt Noll leads the Wildcats with 15.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game this season. Andrew Stokes has tallied 12.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game also, while JJ Ferrin has notched 11.3 points and 2.7 assists a game.

Wayne State is coached Jeff Kaminsky who is in his 10th season as head coach of the Wildcats and 32nd overall season. He owns a 135-130 (.509) record at WSC and a 434-437 (.498) career record. Kaminsky owns a 3-15 record against the Mavericks, including a 1-7 record at Taylor Center.

Concerning the Vikings: Augustana enters the week the owner of a 5-3 record, including a 3-0 NSIC record. The Vikings have won their last four games, including a pair of wins over Southwest Minnesota State (97-75) and Sioux Falls (108-106 2OT) last week.

As a team, AU is averaging 86.4 points and 37.9 rebounds per game this season, while shooting 50.8% from the field and 38.6% from three point range. The Vikings have passed out 130 assists and have forced 89 turnovers.

Tameron Ferguson leads Augustana with 21.9 points and 6.1 assists per game, while Caden Hinker has notched 14.9 points and 7.5 rebounds a game. Sam Rensch has tallied 13.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game also.

Augustana is coached by Cody Schilling who is in his second season as head coach of the Vikings. He owns a 17-21 (.447) record at AU and a 27-69 (.281) career record. Schilling is 0-2 against the Mavericks, including a 0-1 record at Taylor Center.