Game Notes PDF
MOORHEAD, Minn. -- The Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team (4-10, 2-6 NSIC) returns home to host Minot State University and University of Mary.

HOW TO FOLLOW...
Minot State: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/msum/index.htm
U-Mary: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/msum/index.htm

THIS WEEKEND...
The Dragons will begin a four-game home stand when they face Minot  State, Friday at 8 p.m., before taking on U-Mary, Saturday at 6 p.m.

LOOKING BACK...
MSUM went 0-2 last weekend after falling to both Minnesota State Mankato (81-58) and Concordia-St. Paul (72-62).

In the Dragons loss to the Mavericks, Johnny Beeninga and Briton Bussman led with 11 points each, while Addison Park had nine points. Park led MSUM with seven rebounds and two blocks. Beeninga had three assists, while Tanner Kretchman and Joe Sevlie each had two.

Against the Golden Bears, Travaun Coad had 16 points and seven rebounds. Park scored 13 points, while  Beeninga and Kretchman scored ten each. Sophomore forward Matt Anderson led with nine rebounds off the bench.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION...
RV-Minot State University
The Beavers are 13-1 overall, and 7-1 in NSIC play this season after defeating both St. Cloud State (82-80) and Minnesota Duluth (80-71) in its last pair of games. Minot State's top scorer is Tyler Rudolph who is averaging 23.6 points per game. Rudolph ranks second in the NSIC in points and third in rebounds with 7.7 per game. David Akibo is averaging 12.0 ppg, while Luis Ricci Maia is averaging 10.6. Ricci Maia is leading the Beavers with 99 assists and 19 steals.  As a team Minot State is averaging 80.6 ppg while holding its opponents to 67.1 ppg. The Beavers hold and NSIC-best field goal percentage of .495. Minot outrebounds its opponents 36.7-30.8. Matt Murken is in his sixth year as head coach with a record of 61-80.

University of Mary
The Marauders are 2-10, 1-6 NSIC after falling to Minnesota Duluth, 63-58, and St. Cloud State, 77-66 last weekend. U-Mary is led by Keith Hunter who is averaging 14.9 points per game, while Trevor Zacher  and Matthew Kreklow is averaging 10.8 and 10.3 points per game, respectively. Kreklow is leads with 5.3 rebounds per game and adds 16  blocks, while Jaylan White leads with 44 assists. The Marauders are averaging 72.9 points per game compared to its opponents at 80.7 points. Mary's opponents hold an 35.2-29.1 edge in rebounds. Joe Kittell is in his third season as head coach of the Marauders with an overall record of 31-29.

MORE ABOUT MSUM...
Kretchman Breaks Records
Senior Tanner Kretchman became the all-time career assist leader earlier this season in MSUM's victory over Northern Michigan. Kretchman now has 516 career assists. For the first time in the school's history Kretchman has posted back-to-back seasons with at least 200 assists. In MSUM's loss to Northern State he became the first MSUM player to reach 500 assists. Kretchman is also 12th all-time in scoring with 1,383 points and is now fourth in career three-point field goals made with 222. The senior is also leading the NSIC this season in three-point field goals made, averaging 2.8 per game.

Park Prevails
Junior Addison Park has been steady player for the Dragons to rely on this season. Park has scored in double-digits six of the last eight games, including a career-high of 21 points at Northern State. The junior is averaging 4.6 rebound per game and also holds a team-best in blocks with 12. Park leads the Dragons in field goal percentage with .609 (67-of-110), also ranking at seventh in the NSIC.

Sophomores Shine
With only one senior on the team this year some younger players stepped up to take a bigger role on the team. The Dragons starting lineup includes sophomores Johnny Beeninga whom scored a career-high 26 points in the Dragons win at U-Mary. He is second on the team, averaging 14.1 points per game and adds 34 assists. Another prominent sophomore is Matt Anderson who is averaging 7.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, including a season-high of nine rebounds at Concordia-St. Paul. He also adds four blocks and two steals.

Offensive Distribution
The Dragons have gotten some great offensive distribution early in the season with four players averaging at least 11.0 points per game. Tanner Kretchman (16.2), Johnny Beeninga (14.1) , Addison Park (11.2) and Travaun Coad (11.2).

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 is second in school history with 471 assists and holds the record with 226 three-pointers made.

Walthall Back 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).

All-Time vs. Opponents
MSUM will meet Minot State for the 37th time with the Dragons leading  the series, 27-10. When the two teams met earlier this season, Minot State came out on top with a 78-65 win.

The Dragons and the Marauders are meeting for the 28th time with MSUM leading the series 16-12. Previously this season, the Dragons defeated U-Mary 89-82.

Up Next
The Dragons will remain home to complete its four-game home stand as they take on Augustana Jan. 12 and Wayne State Jan. 13.