Game Notes PDF
MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team (6-3, 0-1 NSIC) continues Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action on the road this week. The Dragons will face the University of Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State University.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW…
Minnesota Crookston: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/msum/index.htm
Bemidji State: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/msum/index.htm
 
THIS WEEK…
MSUM is on the road for a pair of NSIC matchups as they face Minnesota Crookston on Friday at 7:30 and Bemidji State on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

LOOKING BACK…
The Dragons hosted Mayville State on Nov. 27 and then hit the road to open the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schedule against Northern State University on Dec. 1. MSUM defeated Mayville State 94-73 to conclude the nonconference portion of their schedule. The Dragons dropped a 70-54 decision to Northern State in the NSIC opener.
 
Five players scored in double-digits in the win over Mayville State with junior guard Johnny Beeninga leading the team with 16 points and three assists. Freshman center Jesse Berg had a career-high 16 rebounds to go along with 12 points. Seniors Addison Park and Travaun Coad each contributed 11 points. MSUM shot 52.9 percent (36-of-68) from the field compared to 40.8 percent (29-of-71) from Mayville State.
 
In the loss to Northern State, Addison Park had a team-high 21 points and nine rebounds. Freshman guard Gavin Baumgartner followed with 12 points and seven rebounds. Freshman guard Siman Sem had two assists and three steals.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION…
University of Minnesota Crookston
The Golden Eagles are 6-3 overall and 0-1 in the NSIC after a 96-95 overtime loss to Bemidji State. UMC is outscoring the opposition 79.2 to 64.1 this season and averages 38.9 rebounds per game compared to 35.7 from their opponents. Junior guard Harrison Cleary is the leading scorer and averages 18.2 points per game (eighth in the NSIC). Senior guard Chase Knickerbocker follows with 13.4 points per game and sophomore guard Ben Juhl has averaged 12.7 points per game in seven game. Sophomore forward Chase Johnson leads the team by averaging 5.6 rebounds per game, and Knickerbocker follows with 5.0 rebounds per game. With 4.7 assists per game, Harrison Creary leads the Golden Eagles and ranks fifth in the NSIC. Senior forward Gable Smith leads the team in blocks per game (2.4) and steals per game (1.7). MSUM was 1-1 against UMC last season and lead the all-time series 35-10. Head coach Dan Weisse is in his fifth year.
 
Bemidji State University
The Beavers are 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the NSIC. BSU averages 88.0 points per game compared to 73.8 from their opponents. The Beavers outrebound their opponents 44.4 to 28.8. Sophomore forward Derek Thompson averages 17.2 points per game to lead the team, while junior forward Logan Bader follows with 16.4 points per game. Thompson is the team's leading rebounder with 8.8 per game. Junior guard Ja Morgan averages 7.8 assists per game to lead the Beavers and the NSIC. Sophomore forward Zach Baumgartner and senior guard Jacob McNallan lead the team in blocks with 1.2 and 1.0 per game, respectively. Sophomore guard Jacob Hoffman averages 1.2 steals per game to lead the team. MSUM leads the all-time series 98-85. Head coach Mike Boschee is in his seventh season.
 
MORE ABOUT MSUM…
Consistency from Park
Senior guard Addison Park has been a steady presence on the court through the early stages of the season. Park is relied on for his statistical contributions on the court and takes ownership as a senior leader on a team that boasts seven freshmen. Park has scored in double-digits in eight of nine games, and he has scored a season-high 21 points on three occasions. Park's 15.2 points per game lead the team.
 
Freshmen Shine
Freshman guard Gavin Baumgartner has been a scoring threat so far this season. Baumgartner set a career-high 16 points against Dickinson State (N.D.) and wasted no time breaking that mark with a team-high 24 points against Concordia College. Freshman guard Bryce Irsfeld is holding his own in the college scene by averaging 11.9 points per game. Baumgartner and Irsfeld are the top three-point shooters with a .514 and .489 three-point percentage, respectively. Irsfeld averages a team-high 3.9 assists per game, and Baumgartner leads the squad with 1.4 steals per game. Freshman center Jesse Bergh uses all of his 6-10 frame and holds the team-high 1.6 blocks per game. Bergh is the team's leading rebounder with 6.7 rebounds 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 10.0 points per game or better. Addison Park (15.2), Travaun Coad (13.8), Gavin Baumgartner (13.6), Bryce Irsfeld (11.9), and Johnny Beeninga (10.1). Seven of the nine games have featured different leading scorers.
 
Walthall Back for Ninth Season
Head coach Chad Walthall is in his ninth season at the helm for MSUM. Walthall has amassed an impressive 172-79 during his first eight seasons as 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 Minnesota Crookston for the 46^th time and lead the series, 35-10. The Dragons are meeting Bemidji State for the 183^rd time, leading the series 98-85.
 
Up Next
The Dragons will return home to face U-Mary on Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Minot State on Dec. 15 at 5:30.