Game Notes PDF
MOORHEAD, Minn -- The Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team (2-2, 0-0 NSIC) will travel to Springfield, Mo. to compete in the Drury Thanksgiving Classic.

HOW TO FOLLOW...
Drury: http://www.sidearmstats.com/drury/mbball/
William Jewell: http://www.sidearmstats.com/drury/mbball/

THIS WEEKEND...
The Dragons will play their last pair of nonconference games at the Drury Thanksgiving Classic. MSUM will face Drury on Friday at 3:15 p.m., and William Jewell on Saturday at 1 p.m.

LOOKING BACK...
The Dragons made their home debut last weekend when they hosted the Microtel Classic. MSUM first defeated Northern Michigan, 84-69. Tanner Kretchman finished with a game-high 23 points and added three assists that made him MSUM's all time career assist leader with 474. Evan Hines recorded his first career double double with career highs of 18 points and 14 rebounds. MSUM shot 57.1 percent (31-of-55) and outrebounded NMU 36-21.

MSUM wrapped up the Microtel Classic with a 89-82 overtime win over Michigan Tech. Kretchman and Hines led with 22 points each while Johnny Beeninga had 17 points and Addison Park added 10 points. The Dragons shot 51.9 percent compared to the Huskies at 44.7 percent.

MSUM completed its homestand with an exhibition game against crosstown rival, Concordia College on Tuesday. The Dragons defeated the Cobbers 97-61.   

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION...
Drury University
The Panthers are 2-1 early this season after defeating both Ottawa University  and Southwest Baptist University before falling to Emporia State University. Their top scorer is Isaac Johnson, who is averaging 12.7 points per game, while John Williams is averaging 12.3 points per game. Andrew Ballock leads in rebounds with 17, while Tyler Clanton has 15. Ballock also leads the Panthers in assists with nine. The Panthers are led by head coach Steve Hesser who is in his 14th season with a record of 281-106 at Drury.

William Jewell College
The Cardinals are 5-0 with its most recent victories over Southwest Baptist University (96-81) and Baker University (80-65). William Jewells top scorer is Keith Hays with 107 points, averaging 21.4 points per game. Patrick Whalan is averaging 18.6 ppg while Byron Harp is averaging 13.4 ppg. Gordon Pharroh leads the Cardinals with 56 rebounds and 15 assists. Whalen adds 30 rebounds and 13 assists. As a team the Cardinals are shooting  49.4 percent compared to its opponents at 44.1 percent. The Cardinals are led by head coach Larry Holley who is entering his 39th  at William Jewell with a record of 799-431.

MORE ABOUT MSUM...
Kretchman Breaks Records
Senior Tanner Kretchman became the all-time career assist leader last weekend in MSUM's victory over Northern Michigan. Kretchman now has 482 assists over assistant coach Jordan Riewer with 471. For the first time in the school's history Kretchman has posted back-to-back seasons with at least 200 assists. He is just 18 assists away from becoming the first Dragon to hit 500 career assists.

Sophomores Shine
With only one senior on the team this year some younger players stepped up to take a bigger role on the team.  Sophomore guard Evan Hines is second on the team with 54 points, averaging 13.5 points per game. Hines also leads with 8.8 rebounds per game. The Dragons starting lineup includes sophomores Johnny Beeninga and Matt Anderson. Beeninga is averaging 12.3 points per game and also adds eight assists and 13 rebounds. Anderson is averaging 9.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. He also adds two blocks and one steal.

Who's Back?
The Dragons return eight players from a season ago, including four of the top-seven scorers, including starter Tanner Kretchman. Kretchman averaged 16.7/ppg, sophomore forward Matt Anderson averaged 8/ppg, junior forward Addison Park averaged 7.7/ppg and sophomore guard Jonny Beeninga averaged 4.5/ppg.
 
Newcomers
The Dragons welcome seven newcomers to the squad this season. Junior guard Travaun Coad, junior forward Cody Cox, junior forward Jake Johnson, freshman guard Bryce Irsfeld, freshman guard Siman Sem, freshman guard Gavin Baumgartner and freshman center Jesse Bergh.

Riewer Returns
Former Dragon standout Jordan Riewer has returned this season, except instead of taking the court he will be on the sidelines. The Staples, Minn. native is in his first season as a Dragon assistant coach after playing overseas for the Oettinger Rockets in Germany. While a player, he was named the 2014-15 MSUM Male Athlete of the Year, and helped the Dragons reach the NCAA Division II Elite Eight for the first time in school history. He left MSUM with 1,382 points scored, and holds the school records with 470 assists and 226 three-pointers made.

Up Next
The Dragons will open NSIC play as they travel to face University of Mary Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. and Minot State University Dec. 2 at 6 p.m.