MOORHEAD, Minn. - The Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team (9-1, 5-0 NSIC) continues the 2016-17 regular season this week with a pair of home games against NSIC opponent Northern State (7-4, 3-2 NSIC) on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 6 p.m., and non conference opponent Mayville State (6-4, 0-3 NSAA) on Monday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m.
The Dragons return to Moorhead for only their third and fourth times this season. MSUM defeated U-Mary and Minot State in its only contests held in Nemzek Fieldhouse this season.
MSUM improved to 9-1 and with wins over Bemidji State (90-84) and Minnesota Crookston (82-81) last weekend. The Dragons currently sit atop the NSIC North Divisional Standings at a perfect 5-0 mark.
Senior forward
Ayob Ayob has found himself as the leading scorer and rebounder for MSUM averaging 18.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Three other Dragons are averaging in double figures. Senior guard
Aaron Lien (17.7), junior guard
Tanner Kretchman (14.7) and senior guard
Jon Doss (11.7) are all averaging in double figures. Kretchman has a team-high 64 assists, with a 6.4 assist to turnover ratio, a mark that is second-best in the NCAA, and first in the NSIC. Ayob has a team-high eight blocks, while Lien leads the team with nine steals.
The Dragons are first in the NSIC averaging 91.5 points per game, and are outrebounding their opponents 34.2-32.0.
Head coach
Chad Walthall is in his 7th season with an overall record of 150-53.
How to Follow...
Game 11: (Watch) https://portal.stretchinternet.com/msum/index.htm
(Listen) https://portal.stretchinternet.com/msum/index.htm
Game 12: (Watch) https://portal.stretchinternet.com/msum/index.htm
(Listen) https://portal.stretchinternet.com/msum/index.htm
Scouting the Opposition...
Northern State
Northern State enters the matchup with MSUM riding a two-game winning streak. The Wolves defeated Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston in their last outings, winning by an average score of 34 points per game. Northern State is 3-2 in conference play, currently sitting tied for third place. The Wolves conference losses came at the hands of MSUM (93-92) and U-Mary (77-75).
Senior guard Mack Arvidson leads the Wolves in scoring with 18.1 points per game, and is one of four players to average in double figures. Junior guard Dj Pollard (14.0), sophomore guard Ian Smith (12.9) and junior forward Logan Doyle (12.8) round out the leading scorers for Northern State.
Doyle leads Northern State in rebounding and blocks with 8.3 rebounds per game and nine blocks. Smith has a team-high 39 assists, while Arvidson leads the team with 11 steals.
Northern State is second in the NSIC in scoring, averaging 86.7 points per game, while holding its opponents to 78.1 points per game.
Mayville State
The Comets of Mayville State currently sit at 6-4 overall and 0-3 in the NorthStar Athletic Association. Mayville is on a three-game losing streak, but plays the University of Jamestown before the tilt with the Dragons.
Daniel Lindgren is the leading scorer for Mayville State averaging 11.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. Garek Droog averages a team-high 6.0 rebounds per contest, while scoring 8.2 points per game. As a team the Comets are scoring 73.3 points per game, with their opponents scoring 69.8.
Division II Media Poll Sponsored by D2SIDA (Dec. 13)
MSUM has found itself ranked in the Division II Men's Basketball Media Poll, sponsored by D2SIDA.
Rank School W-L Pts. Prev.
1. Northwest Missouri St. 9-0 349 1
2. Fairmont State 8-0 318 4
3. St. Thomas Aquinas 9-0 306 5
4. Bellarmine 8-1 297 6
5. Queens 10-0 382 8
6. California Baptist 8-1 275 3
7. West Liberty 7-1 255 7
8. West Texas A&M 12-1 237 12
9. Alabama-Huntsville 5-1 205 9
10. Angelo State 6-0 202 13
11. Drury 8-0 199 16
12. Barry 7-1 178 11
13. Saginaw Valley State 8-1 162 2
14. Shippensburg 8-0 126 20
15. Tarleton State 8-1 123 21
16. San Francisco State 1 0-0 119 24
17. Western Washington 7-0 116 17
18. Augusta (Ga.) 7-1 100 19
19. Southern New Hampshire 7-1 93 18
20. MSU Moorhead 9-1 91 RV
21. UC San Diego 7-1 81 14
22. Lincoln Memorial 7-2 76 22
23. Augustana 8-2 75 10
24. Southern Indiana 7-0 75 RV
25. Wheeling Jesuit 6-1 33 25
NSIC Player of the Week 3X
A player for MSUM has been awarded the NSIC North Men's Basketball Player of the week three times out of the five weeks the award has been given out during this season. Senior forward
Ayob Ayob has won the award twice (Nov. 22, Dec. 12), while senior guard
Aaron Lien has won once (Nov. 28).
Climbing the All-Time Ladder
Senior guard
Aaron Lien and junior guard
Tanner Kretchman continue to climb in the all-time points and assists ladders for MSUM. Lien is 12th all-time with 1,313 points, while Kretchman moved just eight assists away from second place all-time with 331 assists.
NSIC's Best
MSUM currently ranks first in the NSIC in five categories:
Scoring offense (14th NCAA) - 91.5 ppg
Field Goal Pct. (3rd NCAA) - 53.1 percent
3-Pt. Field Goal Pct. (2nd NCAA) - 46.9 percent
3-Pt. FGs Made (3rd NCAA) - 12.2
Assist/Turnover Ratio (2nd NCAA) - 1.91
Pass Me the Rock
Junior guard
Tanner Kretchman continues to impress at the point guard position. Kretchman's 6.4 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks first in the NSIC, and third nationally in the NCAA. He has had six assists or more five times this season, including 10 assists with no turnovers in an 82-66 win over the University of Mary.
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 150-53 record (.739) 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 continues its home stand after the holiday break with games against Minnesota State Mankato (Dec. 30) and Concordia-St. Paul (Dec. 31).
