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MOORHEAD, Minn. -- After a perfect 5-0 homestand, the Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team goes on the road this week for the first time when it plays at the University of Mary (8 p.m. on Saturday in Bismarck, N.D.) and at Minot State (6 p.m. on Saturday night).

The Dragons are 5-0 overall and 1-0 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

MSUM will meet Mary for a 22nd time, with the Marauders holding a slim 11-10 lead. The Dragons won both meetings by double digits a year ago. The Dragons will meet Minot State for a 29th time and hold a 19-9 lead, winning both meetings by double digits a year ago.

About MSUM
The Dragons moved to 5-0 -- and capped off a perfect homestand -- with wins over Jamestown (93-69) and Northern State (87-76) last week. Sophomore guard Tyler Vaughan led MSUM with a career-high 23 points in the win over Jamestown while freshman forward Aaron Lien scored a career-high 18 points in the win over Northern State.

MSUM possesses a balanced attack, led by junior forward Urbane Bingham at 12.0 points per game. Vaughan is at 11.0 points per game while sophomore forward Ben Figini at 10.0 points per game. Lien is at 9.2 points per game while senior Tarell Clark and redshirt freshman Matt Nelson are each at 9.0 points per game. Nelson averages 6.4 rebounds per game while junior guard Jordan Riewer leads with 21 assists. Nelson has eight blocks while Clark has seven steals.

The Dragons are averaging 92.0 points per game, best in the NSIC, and are shooting an NSIC-best 45.4 percent from the field. They are outrebounding their opponents 43.8-28.0. Teams are only shooting 35.9 percent from the field against MSUM, which is allowing an NSIC-best 57.8 points per game.

Chad Walthall is in his fourth season as MSUM's head coach with a record of 60-33 at the school.

About Mary
Mary is 2-4 overall and 0-1 in the NSIC. The Marauders lost to Minot State, 96-87 in overtime on Nov. 30 to open league play. Damonta Henry and Devan Douglas paced the Marauders with 18 points each.

Marc Musungayi is averaging 11.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game to lead Mary. Jalen Jaspers is at 9.7 points per game. Marquealis Edwards averages 2.5 assists per game while Musngayi leads with seven blocks.

The Marauders average 72 points per game on offense and shoot 45.5 percent from the field. They are hitting 35 percent of their 3-pointers. On defense, they allow 76.3 points per game and teams are shooting 40 percent from the field against them. Mary is being outrebounded by a slight 34.5-34.0 margin.

Jevon Budde is in his third year as Mary's head coach with a 14-45 record at the school.

About Minot State
The Beavers are 5-0 overall and 1-0 in the NSIC. They are coming off of a 96-87 home win over Mary on Nov. 30. They will face Northern State prior to facing MSUM. E.J. Williams had a huge game for the Beavers with 30 points, including going 15-of-17 from the foul line.

Williams, the reigning NSIC Player of the Week this season, leads Minot State at 18.2 points per game. Samuel Johnson averages 14.2 points per game while Thomas Korf is at 12.4. Chris East leads the Beavers -- and the NSIC -- at 9.6 rebounds per game. Williams averages 4.0 assists per game while East is at eight steals.

Minot State averages 76.8 points per game and is shooting 43.9 percent from the field, including 39.4 percent from three-point range. The Beavers outrebound their opponents 45.2-29.6. On defense, Minot State averages 60.6 points per game and teams are shooting 36.8 percent from the field against them.

Matt Murken is in his second season as Minot State's head coach with a record of 15-17 at the school.

Statistical Rankings/National
MSUM ranks high in the nation (out of 290 teams in Division II) in several areas:
--scoring defense, third (57.8)
--scoring margin, third (+34.2)
--rebound margin, third  (15.8)
--field goal percentage defense, eighth (35.9 percent)
--three-point field goal percentage, eighth (45.4 percent).
--field goal percentage, 14th (53.5 percent)
--assist turnover ratio, 16th (1.64)

Statistical Rankings/NSIC
Through five games, MSUM leads the NSIC in the several categories:
--scoring offense (92.0)
--scoring defense (57.8)
--scoring margin (+34.2)
--field goal percentage (53.5 percent)
--field goal defense (35.9 percent)
--3-point field goal percentage (45.4 percent)
--rebounding margin (+15.8)

Balancing act
A key to MSUM's unbeaten start has been balance. Three Dragons -- junior Urbane Bingham (12.0), sophomore Tyler Vaughan (11.0) and sophomore Ben Figini (10.0) average in double figures. However, a total of eight MSUM players are averaging at least 8.0 points a game or more. Nine players have scored in double figures at least once, and four different players have led the team in scoring through five games.