MOORHEAD, Minn. - The Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team (1-1, 0-0 NSIC) continues the 2016-17 regular season this week with two non-conference games in Michigan on Friday (Nov. 18) and Saturday (Nov. 19).
How to Follow...
Watch: (Game 1) http://www.nmuwildcats.com/links/3f7rjs,
(Game 2) http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/links/s9028g
Stats: (Game 1) http://www.nmuwildcats.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/boxscores/20161118_xaeu.xml
(Game 2) https://portal.stretchinternet.com/mtu/
Dragons Hit the Road...
The Dragons hit the highway this week as they continue their regular season non-conference schedule. MSUM plays Northern Michigan University (1-1) on Friday (Nov. 18) at 7 p.m., turning around Saturday (Nov. 19) for a game at Michigan Tech at 5 p.m.
A Look Back at Last Week...
MSUM competed at the Crowne Plaza Classic hosted by Southern Nazarene University. The Dragons split on the weekend going 1-1, downing Harding on the opening night 84-78, before falling to the tournament host SNU the next night, 87-91.
Against Harding, Doss led the way offensively with a game-high 24 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including an impressive 6-of-8 from three-point land (75.0 percent).
Ayob added 19 points of his own off 7-of-15 shooting, to go along with five three-pointers. Kretchman finished the game with 15 points, including 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. Last year's national leader in assist-to-turnover ratio, Kretchman finished the evening with eight assists to just two turnovers (4.00 assist-to-turnover ratio).
In the loss to SNU, Anderson scored 22 points on a career-night for the redshirt freshman. He went 9-of-16 from the field, including a perfect 3-for-3 from the charity stripe. Anderson pulled in four rebounds, had one assist, one block and a steal. Ayob finished the game with 19 points off 8-of-10 from the field.
Aaron Lien also contributed 19 points for the Dragons, making 8-of-13 field goal attempts, including three three-pointers. Junior
Tanner Kretchman had a great night at the point guard position. Dishing out nine assists, while not turning the ball over a single time. He also contributed 17 points for the Dragons, going 7-for-7 at the free throw line.
Scouting the Opposition...
Northern Michigan
Northern Michigan enters the contest 1-1 after splitting games with Wisconsin-Parkside (W, 97-75) and Lewis (L, 87-83). The Wildcats are averaging 90.0 points per game, while shooting 46.7 percent from the field. NMU has four players averaging double digits with guard Naba Echols (22.0) and forward Will Carius (20.0) leading the way. Carius leads the Wildcats with 9.5 rebounds per game, and Echols leads with 5.5 assists per game.
Michigan Tech
The Huskies, who play SMSU before taking on the Dragons, come out of the opening weekend of play with a 1-1 record. MTU beat Lewis in overtime 80-75, before falling to UW-Parkside, 73-66. Averaging 73.0 points per game as a team, guard Bryan Heath leads the way offensively averaging 25.5 points per game. Guard Tommy Lucca and guard Jordan Chartier average 15.5 and 14.0 points per game respectively. The Huskies opponents have averaged 74.0 points per game.
Unfamiliar Foe
The game between MSUM and Northern Michigan will be the first ever meeting between the two men's basketball programs.
Offensive Distribution
The Dragons have gotten some great offensive distribution early in the season with five players averaging double-digits.
Ayob Ayob (19.0),
Aaron Lien (16.5),
Tanner Kretchman (16.0),
Jon Doss (15.0) and
Matt Anderson (11.0) are all averaging double-digit points per game.
Career Weekend
Jon Doss and
Matt Anderson each set career-highs in points in a single game during the regular season opening weekend. Doss registered 24 points on Nov. 11 against Harding. The next night,
Matt Anderson registered a career-high 22 points against Southern Nazarene.
Pass Me the Rock
Guard
Tanner Kretchman has had an impressive start to his junior season. Last year's national leader in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.96), Kretchman racked up 17 assists to two turnovers in the Dragons opening weekend. Statistically he ranks seventh nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (8.50). Kretchman also ranks third nationally in assists per game (8.5).
Make it Rain
MSUM has found early success from beyond the three-point line. Shooting 25-0f-58 (43.1 percent), the Dragons rank ninth nationally in three-point field goals per game.
Swat Central
Senior forward
Ayob Ayob had a big night defensively in the Dragons season opener against Harding, recording a career-high three blocks.
Season Opener Success
Following last weeks season opening win, the Dragons improved to 6-1 in season opening games under the direction of head coach
Chad Walthall:
2016-17: W, 84-78
2015-16: L, 80-84 OT
2014-15: W, 75-66
2013-14: W, 84-51
2012-13: W, 72-67
2011-12: W, 80-65
2010-11: W, 81-68
Taking Advantage of the Charity Stripe
MSUM is making 83.3 percent of its free throws so far this season. Five players have missed just one free throw or less:
Matt Anderson (3-of-3),
Tanner Kretchman (12-of-13),
Jon Doss (7-of-8),
Addison Park (3-of-4), and
Matt Nelson (1-of-2).
Winning Ways
During his tenure at MSUM, Walthall has the highest winning percentage of any head coach in MSUM men's basketball history (.734). Since taking over the program in 2010, Walthall has led the Dragons to a winning season each year;
2015-16: 30-6, 19-3 NSIC
2014-15: 35-4, 20-2 NSIC
2013-14: 21-8, 15-7 NSIC
2012-13: 19-11, 12-10 NSIC
2011-12: 21-10, 14-8 NSIC
2010-11: 15-12, 12-10 NSIC
Walthall Readies for 7th Season
Head Coach
Chad Walthall is entering his seventh season at the helm for MSUM. Walthall has amassed an impressive 141-51 record (.734) during his time as the head coach of the Dragons. Walthall is joined on the MSUM men's basketball coaching staff by
Justin Wieck (third season) and
Tim Bergstraser (second season).
Up Next
MSUM heads to Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. for a non-conference matchup. Tip-off is set for 7:45 p.m.
