Game Notes PDF
MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team (0-0, 0-0 NSIC) opens the 2017-18 season this week at home before traveling across town to face Concordia Moorhead.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW…
Minnesota Morris (live stats): http://web.mnstate.edu/livestats/basketball/xlive.htm
Dickinson State (N.D.) (live stats): http://web.mnstate.edu/livestats/basketball/xlive.htm
Live Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/msum/index.htm
 
OPENING WEEKEND…
The Dragons will open the regular-season this week when they take on Minnesota Morris on Friday at 7 p.m. before facing Dickinson State (N.D.) on Saturday at 5 p.m. MSUM will take a short drive to compete against Concordia Moorhead on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
 
REVIEWING THE EXHIBITION OPENER…
The Dragons defeated the University of Jamestown 100-83 in their lone exhibition contest. Freshman guard Bryce Irsfeld had 21 points, nine assists, and five rebounds. Senior guard Travaun Coad had 21 points and four rebounds. Freshman guard Gavin Baumgartner had 19 points while senior forward Addison Park had 14. Freshman center Jesse Bergh added five rebounds to share the team lead with Irsfeld. MSUM shot 59 percent (36-of-61) for the game compared to 44.4 percent (28-of-63) for the Jimmies. MSUM his 15-of-29 threes (56.3 percent), including 10-of-14 in the first half.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION…
Minnesota Morris
The Cougars have yet to play this season. The faceoff against MSUM will be their first game of the season. Minnesota Morris is led by senior forward Noah Grove who was an All-UMAC Second Team honoree last season. Grove averaged 19.3 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, and 2.3 assists per game in 2018. Senior forward Jeffrey Halvorson returns after averaging 8.0 points/game, 5.3 rebounds/game, and 1.2 blocks/game last season. Senior forward Trey Heinsuis was a 2018 All-UMAC Defensive Team honoree after averaging 6.0 points/game, 3.7 rebounds/game, and 1.1 steals per game. Head coach Paul Grove is in his 17^th season.
 
Dickinson State (N.D.)
The Blue Hawks are 2-2 this season, with the most recent game being a 100-70 victory over Salish Kootenai College on Nov. 4. Last season, Dickinson State finished with a 16-13 record and concluded their season with a 73-70 loss to Mayville State in the NSAA Tournament Championship. Senior guard/forward Austin Payne is the most experienced returner after playing in 28 games last season. Payne averaged 5.4 points/game, 3.2 rebounds/game, and had 24 blocks. Tanner Davidson, a sophomore guard, played in nine games as a true freshman and averaged 3.8 points/game. Junior guard Kenny Jackson is leading the team this season with 17.5 points/game and 4.5 rebounds/game, while Payne has contributed 13.5 points/game and 2.5 rebounds/game. Head coach Josh Vaughan is in his second season.
 
Concordia Moorhead
The Cobbers opened the season with an 81-49 exhibition loss to North Dakota State University. Last season, the Cobbers posted a 6-19 overall record with a 4-16 record in conference action. Concordia Moorhead is led by senior guard Collin Larson who averaged 11.6 points/game. Larson also led the team with a .491 3-point percentage. Sophomore guard Bryden Urie led the Cobbers with 17 steals and 2.3 assists/game. Senior forward Jordan Davis also returns after averaging 7.5 points/game last season. Davis also averaged 3.7 rebounds/game and had 19 blocked shots in 25 games. Head coach Grant Hemmingsen is in his second season.
 
MORE ABOUT MSUM…
Who's Back?
The Dragons return three starters from a year ago, led by junior guard Johnny Beeninga, who averaged 14.8 points per game last season. Senior guard Travaun Coad returns after averaging 12.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game a year ago. Also returning with experience from 2017-18 are forward Jake Johnson (29 appearances last season) and forward Joe Sevlie (21 games appeard in).
 
Newcomers
The Dragons welcome five newcomers. The freshman class includes forward Wyatt Hanson and guards Jake Mertens and Nathan Rund. Senior Todd Barnes Jr. joins the team after three seasons at Pasadena City College. Junior guard/forward Christian Carmichael enters the season after two years with Colby Community College. In addition to the newcomers, the Dragons roster boasts four redshirt-freshman.
 
Player to Watch
Senior Addison Park was named MSUM's Preseason Player to Watch. In Park's junior campaign, he averaged 12.3 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game. Park shot a team-best 57. percent from the field. He scored in double figures 19 times last season, and he has started 59 games the past two years.
 
Big Shoes to Fill
The Dragons are tasked this season with replacing guard Tanner Kretchman. Kretchman is the all-time leader in assists at MSUM with 562--he is the only Dragons basketball player, male or female, to surpass 500 career assists. Kretchman earned three All-NSIC honors in his career (two First Team, one Second Team). He led the nation in assist/turnover ratio in 2015-16 (3.96) and 2016-17 (4.65). He ranks seventh on the MSUM all-time scoring list with 1,630 points.
 
An Even Attack
In the exhibition matchup against the University of Jamestown the Dragons had four players who scored in double figures. Freshman guard Bryce Irsfeld and senior guard Travaun Coad each had 21 points. Freshman guard Gavin Baumgartner had 19 points and senior forward Addison Park had 14.
 
Season Opener
The Dragons are 6-2 in season opening games under the direction of head coach Chad Walthall:
2017-18: L, 80-93 vs. Henderson State
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
 
Walthall Back for Ninth Season
Head Coach Chad Walthall is entering his ninth season at the helm for MSUM. Walthall has amassed an impressive 172-79 record (.685) during his time as the head coach of the Dragons. Walthall is joined on the coach staff by Tim Bergstraser (first season) and Spenser Bland (first season).
 
Up Next
MSUM will hit the road for the Simon Fraser Classic in Vancouver, B.C. from Nov. 16-19. The Dragons will play in four games over the four-day span.