Game Notes PDF
MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team (7-4, 1-2 NSIC) returns home for a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference matchups this week. The Dragons will face the University of Mary and Minot State University.

Friday's game will be televised live on Midco Sports Network while Saturday's game will be broadcast live on WDAY'Z Xtra. Check local listings for availability in your area.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW…
Stats: http://web.mnstate.edu/livestats/basketball/xlive.htm
Video/Audio: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/msum/index.htm

THIS WEEK…
MSUM is back home for two NSIC games as they face the University of Mary on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Minot State on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
 
LOOKING BACK…
The Dragons were on the road last week as the team faced Minnesota Crookston on Dec. 8. MSUM fell to the Golden Eagles 108-88 but bounced back the following night as they downed Bemidji State 100-97.
 
In the loss to Minnesota Crookston, senior guard Travaun Coad led the team with a career-high 28 points. Freshman guard Gavin Baumgartner followed with 18 points. Junior guard Johnny Beeninga and freshman guard Siman Sem also scored in double digits with 14 and 12 points, respectively. MSUM 55.9 percent (33-of-59) from the field while UMC shot 57.4 (39-of-68). MSUM outrebounded UMC 32 to 25.
 
In the victory over Bemidji State, the Dragons saw another career-high from freshman guard Gavin Baumgartner who scored 28 points. Sem also posted a career-high 19 points, and Coad had 17 points. MSUM shot 61.0 percent (36-of-59) from the field while BSU shot 55.2 percent (37-of-67). MSUM was 16-of-18 from the free throw line, and free throws were the ultimate deciding factor in the final minute to solidify the victory.  
 
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION…
U-Mary
The Marauders are 5-4 overall and 2-1 in the NSIC this season. Last week U-Mary dropped a 76-64 game to St. Cloud State and won the following night against Minnesota Duluth, 73-70. U-Mary is outscoring their opponents 68.9 to 62.0 this season, and they are narrowly outrebounding the opposition with a +1.3-rebounding margin. Junior guard Jaylan White leads the team in scoring with 13.4 points per game and assists per game with 3.6. Senior forward Tom Kubank and sophomore forward Matthew Kreklow follow with 11.6 points per game. Kreklow and Kubank are one and two in rebounds per game with 5.8 and 5.4, respectively. Kreklow ranks sixth in the NSIC with 1.7 blocked shots per game. MSUM was 1-1 against U-Mary last season and leads the all-time series 16-13. Head coach Joe Kittell is in his third year at the helm.
 
Minot State
The Beavers are 5-7 overall and 0-3 in the NSIC this season. Last week, Minot State was 0-2 with a 70-65 loss to Minnesota Duluth and a 76-69 loss to St. Cloud State. MSU is narrowly outscoring their opponents 66.7 to 65.7 and hold a +1.7-rebounding margin. The Beavers have four players scoring in double-digits, and senior forward David Akibo leads the charge with 16.3 points per game. Akibo is the team's leading rebounder with 8.2 per game (seventh in NSIC). Sophomore guard Max Cody averages 4.6 assists per game which ranks fifth in the NSIC. Cody leads the Beavers with 1.7 steals per game. MSUM was 0-2 against the Beavers last season, but leads the all-time series 27-11. Head coach Matt Murken is in his seventh year at the helm.
 
MORE ABOUT MSUM…
Consistency from Park
This year's senior class has been a steady presence on the court throughout the season. With seven freshmen on the roster, the seniors are relied on for their leadership and experience. Addison Park has scored in double-digits in eight games this season, and ranks third on the team in scoring with 13.3 points per game. Park is second on the team in rebounds per game with 4.5. Travaun Coad has scored in double-digits in nine games this season and has improved his offensive production from 12.9 to a team-best 15.4 points-per-game this year. Britton Bussman and Jake Johnson are averaging 4.6 and 5.4 points per game, respectively.
 
Freshmen Shine
Freshman guard Gavin Baumgartner has been a scoring threat this season and ranks second on the team in points per game with 15.3. Baumgartner had a crucial performance in a win over Bemidji State where he scored a career-high 28 points. Freshman guard Bryce Irsfeld averages 11.3 points per game and leads the team with 4.2 assists per game. Baumgartner and Irsfeld are the leading three-point shooters with a .587 and .473 three-point percentage, respectively. Freshman center Jesse Bergh uses all of his 6-10 frame to lead the team with 6.4 rebounds per game and 1.5 blocked shots per game.
 
Offensive Distribution
There has been no shortage of offense this season, and the points are coming from a variety of players on the court. The Dragons have five players who average 10.4 points per game or more. Travaun Coad (15.4), Gavin Baumgartner (15.3), Addison Park (13.3), Bryce Irsfeld (11.3), and Johnny Beeninga (10.4). Seven of the 11 games have featured different leading scorers.
 
Dragons in the NSIC Team Rankings
MSUM ranks in the top three in the NSIC in several team categories.
            1^st: Three-Point Field Goal Attempts (246)               2^nd: Assist Turnover Ratio (1.44)
                   Field-Goal Percentage (52.6 percent)                          Assists Per Game (16.4)
                   Scoring Offense (90.6 points per game)                      Total Rebounds (398)
                   Total Three-Point FGM (104)
                   Total Assists (180).                                                  3^rd : Scoring Margin (14.0)
                   Total Steals (81)                                                               Turnover Margin (3.2)
                                                                                                            Turnovers Forced (14.55)
 
 
Walthall Back for Ninth Season
Head coach Chad Walthall is in his ninh season at the helm for MSUM. Walthall has amassed an impressive 172-79 record during his first eight seasons at head coach for the Dragons. Walthall is joined on the coaching staff by Tim Bergstraser (first season) and Spenser Bland (first season).
 
All-Time vs. Opponents
MSUM will meet U-Mary for the 30^th time and lead series, 16-13. The Dragons are meeting Minot State for the 39^th time, leading the series 27-11.
 
Up Next
The Dragons remain in Moorhead as they face Northern State on Dec. 19 at 8:00 p.m. The game will be held at the Concordia-Memorial Auditorium on the campus of Concordia Coll