Game Notes PDF
MOORHEAD, Minn. -- The Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team (0-0, 0-0 NSIC) will open the 2016-17 season this week at the Region Challenge in Lancaster, Texas.

HOW TO FOLLOW...
Live stats (Henderson State): http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=191356
Live stats (Southern Arkansas): http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=191359

OPENING WEEKEND...
The Dragons will open the 2017-18 regular season this weekend when they take on Henderson State on Friday at 3 p.m. before facing Southern Arkansas at noon on Saturday.

REVIEWING THE EXHIBITION OPENER...
The Dragon men played their first exhibition game on Monday night, as they defeated the Valley City State University Vikings, 90-64, at Nemzek Fieldhouse. The Dragons were led by sophomore guard Evan Hines, who scored 17 points. Senior guard Tanner Kretchman had 16 points, with junior forward Addison Park adding 15 points and seven rebounds. Kretchman also led the team with five assists, while junior guard A.J. Nywesh led the way with three steals.

The Dragons shot 56.5 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free throw line. MSUM outrebounded the Vikings 36-25. The Dragons took a 51-41 lead into halftime before pulling away in the second half. This was the first time since 2014 that the Dragons faced the Vikings.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION...
Henderson State University
The Reddies are 1-1 in preseason play, with a 92-78 win over East Texas Baptist University and a 90-53 loss to Wichita State University. They finished last season with a 16-13 record, but fell in the first round of the Great American Conference Championships to East Central University. The Reddies return eight players from last year, including Honorable Mention All-GAC guard Kaylon Tappin. Last season Tappin led HSU with a total of 413 points, averaging 14.2 points per game. Head coach Jimmie Elgas is in his third season. The Dragons are 0-1 against the Reddies all-time.

Southern Arkansas University
The Muleriders have yet to play this season. Their first action will be Friday at 5 p.m. when they face Minot State University. They are led by redshirt junior CJ Elkins, who led the team in scoring, field goals made, free throws made, and assists, among other categories. The Muleriders add five newcomers to their roster this season. Head coach Andy Sharpe is in his sixth season at the helm of the Mulerider's.  This will be the first meeting between the Dragons and the Muleriders.

More about MSUM...
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.

Walthall Readies for 8th Season
Head Coach Chad Walthall is entering his eighth season at the helm for MSUM. Walthall has amassed an impressive 165-57 record (.743) during his time as the head coach of the Dragons. Walthall is joined on the coaching staff by Justin Wieck (fourth season) and Jordan Riewer (first season).

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 afrer 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.

Senior Leadership
Senior guard Tanner Kretchman, a native of Fargo, N.D., led the nation last year in assist/turnover ratio with 4.7. Kretchman averaged 16.7 points, 6.7 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game. The senior has been named to the ALL-NSIC First Team twice, and last season was named to the NABC Coaches' Division II All-District Central Region Second Team. Kretchman is the lone senior on the roster this season.

Big Shoes to Fill
The Dragons are tasked this season with replacing Ayob Ayob, Matt Nelson, and Aaron Lien, each of whom were large contributors last season. Ayob averaged 5.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, while Nelson averaged 4.2 points per game. Lien led the team last season with 18.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

Season Opener
The Dragons are 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

NSIC Champs
MSUM won the NSIC Regular Season Championship for the second time in the past three seasons last year. The Dragons also won the NSIC North Division Title for the fourth consecutive season.

Back-to-Back
For the first time in MSUM's history, junior guard Tanner Kretchman posted back-to-back seasons with at least 200 assists. Kretchman posted 210 assists during the 2015-16 season and finished last season with 200 assists. He is just five assists shy of breaking the all-time record of 471 set by Jordan Riewer.

Unfamiliar Foe
The game between MSUM and Southern Arkansas will be the first ever meeting between the two men's basketball programs.

Up Next
The Dragons will return home to host the Microtel Classic. MSUM will face Northern Michigan, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. and Michigan Tech, Nov. 18 at 4 p.m.