MOORHEAD, Minn. - The Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team (3-1, 0-0 NSIC) continues the 2016-17 regular season this week with a non-conference game on Friday (Nov. 22) and its first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game on Saturday (Nov. 26).
 
How to Follow...
Game 1: (Watch) http://bit.ly/2gD8peo
(Stats) http://bit.ly/2gbAvff
 
Game 2: (Watch) http://bit.ly/2dO8lDh
(Stats) http://bit.ly/21stzJp
 
Dragons Hit the Road...
The Dragons are on the road once again, continuing their non-conference schedule, and opening up NSIC play. MSUM plays Concordia College (1-1) on Tuesday (Nov. 22) at 7:45 p.m., turning around Saturday (Nov. 26) for their first conference game at Northern State (3-2).
 
A LOOK BACK AT LAST WEEK...
The Dragons went 2-0 on a road trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula last weekend, defeating Northern Michigan 104-68 on Friday (Nov. 18), and Michigan Tech 90-82 on Saturday (Nov. 19).
 
On a night that saw three Dragons set career-highs in points, it was senior guard Ayob Ayob who led the way with a career-high 24 points in the win over NMU. He shot 9-of-15 from the field, gathering five rebounds and four assists. Freshman guard Johnny Beeninga registered a career-high 10 points, two assists and two rebounds. Freshman guard Evan Hines saw his first action in a Dragon uniform, coming off the bench and scoring a career-high nine points off 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.
 
Against Michigan Tech, it was Ayob for the second straight night that led all Dragons with 24 points, matching his career-high from the night before. Senior guard Aaron Lien shot 8-of-12 from the field adding 21 points for MSUM. Junior guard Tanner Kretchman scored 17 points for the Dragons, including four assists to just one turnover.
 
Scouting the Opposition...
Concordia College
Concordia enters the contest 1-1 on the season, with the most recent game resulting in a win over Crown College, 88-64. The Cobbers are averaging 79.0 points per game, are averaging 50.0 percent from the field, and grabbing 37.5 rebounds per game, while having 15.0 assists per game. Austin Nelson leads the Cobbers offense averaging 19.0 pts/game. Nelson is shooting .500 from beyond the arc, while averaging 5.0 rebounds per game. Dylan Alderman and Kevin Wolfe are averaging 11.5 and 11.0 points per game, respectively.
 
Northern State
The Wolves, who play Mayville State before the game with MSUM, currently stands at 3-2 overall, with the most recent game resulting in a 82-76 overtime win over Black Hills State. NSU is averaging 83.6 ppg, are shooting 50.7 percent from the field, and averaging 36.4 rebounds per game. Mack Arvidson leads the Wolves in scoring with 16.4 points per game, shooting 51.0 percent from the field. DJ Pollard is adding 15.0 ppg, while Logan Doyle and Ian Smith area adding 13.4 and 12.4, respectively. Doyle leads Northern State on the glass, averaging 9.4 rebounds per game.
 
Crosstown Rival
Since the arrival of head coach Chad Walthall MSUM is 5-1 in non-conference games against the Moorhead, Minn. crosstown rival in Concordia College. Last year, the Dragons used six double-digit scorers to top the Cobbers 90-82. Ayob Ayob recorded his first career double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Career Weekend
After the opening weekend which saw two Dragons, Jon Doss and Matt Anderson, set career-highs in points, three more Dragons recorded career-highs this past weekend. Senior forward Ayob Ayob (24 points), freshman guard Johnny Beeninga (10 points) and freshman guard Evan Hines (9 points) all set career-highs on the Michigan road trip.
 
NSIC's Finest
Two Dragons currently sit atop the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) in a statistical category. Ayob Ayob leads the NSIC in scoring averaging 21.5 points per game. Tanner Kretchman leads the conference in both assists per game (6.3) and assist-to-turnover ratio (8.3). Kretchman ranks third nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio, a statistical category he finished first in at the end of the 2015-16 season.
 
Offensive Distribution
The Dragons have gotten some great offensive distribution early in the season with four players averaging at least 13.0 points per game. Ayob Ayob (21.5), Aaron Lien (19.3), Tanner Kretchman (15.0) and Jon Doss (13.3).
 
Make it Rain
MSUM has continued to find success behind the three-point line. Shooting 51-of-111 MSUM is shooting 45.9 percent from behind the arc. The Dragons rank first in the NSIC in the category and 14th nationally in the category.
 
Season Opener Success
Following the 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 vs. Harding
2015-16: L, 80-84 OT vs. No. 11 California Baptist
2014-15: W, 75-66 vs. Northwest Missouri State
2013-14: W, 84-51 vs. Mayville State
2012-13: W, 72-67 vs. Lincoln Missouri
2011-12: W, 80-65 vs. Valley City State
2010-11: W, 81-68 vs. Dickinson State
 
Taking Advantage of the Charity Stripe
MSUM is making 83.3 percent of its free throws so far this season, ranking second in the NSIC, and seventh nationally. Five players have missed just one free throw or less: Johnny Beeninga (1-of-1), Tanner Kretchman (16-of-17), Ayob Ayob (9-of-9), Matt Anderson (9-of-9), 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 coaching staff by Justin Wieck (third season) and Tim Bergstraser (second season).
 
Up Next
MSUM hosts its first home game of the 2016-17 season. The Dragons host U-Mary in a NSIC matchup. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m.