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WHAT'S AHEAD...

MOORHEAD, Minn. – The No. 3-ranked Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team returns home this weekend with matches against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opponents in the University of Mary and Minot State. 

Friday evening the 12-2 University of Mary Marauders come to Nemzek Fieldhouse for an 8 p.m. matchup against the Dragons. The Marauders are currently 7-1 in conference play, their only conference loss coming at the hands of MSUM in early December. Since then, U-Mary has gone 7-0. The Marauders are third in the NSIC averaging 85.4 points per game, shooting 51 percent from the field. U-Mary is second in the conference in rebounding margin at 7.9 and second in steals at 6.93 per game. They are led by junior forward Bryan Jefferson, who is averaging 15 points and 7.2 rebounds per game this season. The Marauders are coached by first year head coach Joe Kittel. 

The Dragons will play host to the Beavers of Minot State on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. The Beavers, coached by fourth year head coach Matt Murken, are 7-7 on the season and 2-6 in the NSIC. Minot State is averaging 74.6 points per game and 37.7 rebounds per game. They have 13.3 assists and 4.4 steals per game this season. Sophomore guard Tyler Rudolph leads the Beavers in points with 16.9 per game and in rebounds averaging 8.2 rpg. Senior forward Winston Williams has 10.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while senior guard Michael Pelo has 9 ppg.

A LOOK BACK AT LAST WEEK...

The Dragons set yet another school record last week in winning 16 games in a row. The previous record was 15 wins in a row set by a 1970-71 squad which finished the season 24-2. 

The men defeated Upper Iowa Saturday evening by a score of 105-85 thanks in part to junior forward Ayob Ayob's career-high 19 points. Senior center Isaac Sevlie had a monster second half with 19 points, and ended with 23 on the evening. Sevlie added a career-high four steals while senior guard Ngijol Songolo and sophomore guard Tanner Kretchman had 17 points apiece. Junior forward Aaron Lien added 16 points and nine rebounds while senior guard Tyler Vaughan had 11 points to give MSUM six players scoring in double digits. 

The Dragons shot 56 percent (36-of-64) from the field and 40 percent (11-of-27) from three-point range. MSUM outrebounded the Peacocks 38-25 and received 21 points from the bench compared to 15 from Upper Iowa. 

Sunday afternoon the Dragons traveled to Winona State where they faced the 5-6 Warriors. MSUM claimed its 16th straight victory with the win over the Warriors, 93-72. 

The Dragons were led by Sevlie's 25 points and five rebounds while Lien added 20 points. Vaughan and Ayob each had 12 points while Kretchman added 11 points, six rebounds and seven asissts. 

MSUM was 30-of-58 from the field for 51.7 percent and gathered 33 boards. The Dragons converted 12 points off turnovers compared to just two for the Warriors.  The Dragons shot a torrid 53.3 percent (16-of-30) from three-point range.