Men's Basketball | 1/9/2019 1:54:00 PM
Game Notes
MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team (11-5, 5-3 NSIC) returns home to host Bemidji State University and University of Minnesota Crookston in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action.
HOW TO FOLLOW…
Stats (Bemidji State): http://web.mnstate.edu/livestats/basketball/xlive.htm
Stats (Minnesota Crookston): http://web.mnstate.edu/livestats/basketball/xlive.htm
Video/Audio: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/msum/index.htm
Both games will be televised live on WDAY'Z Xtra
THIS WEEK…
MSUM returns to Nemzek Fieldhouse to face Bemidji State on Jan. 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Minnesota Crookston on Jan. 12 at 5:30 p.m.
LOOKING BACK…
The Dragons opened the new year on the road last week as they faced Winona State University and Upper Iowa University.
Four Dragons scored in double figures in a 68-65 win over Winona State. Junior guard
Johnny Beeninga led the team with 14 points, while freshman guard
Gavin Baumgartner and senior forward
Addison Park each contributed 13 points. Senior guard
Travaun Coad had 11 points and a team-best 12 rebounds. Freshman guard
Siman Sem had four blocks on the night.
MSUM shot 47.3 percent (26-of-55) from the field compared to 33.3 percent (24-of-72) from the Warriors. The Warriors held a 39-36 edge in rebounds.
MSUM followed-up the win with a 99-95 overtime victory against Upper Iowa on Saturday night. Beeninga recorded a season-high 24 points, and the Dragons had six players score in double-digits. Park had 18 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Baumgartner had 15 points, and Coad had 13 points and led the team with five assists.
MSUM shot 51.3 percent (40-of-78) from the field compared to 41.1 percent (30-of-73) from UIU. The Dragons held a 45-34 edge in rebounds.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION…
Bemidji State University
The Beavers are 4-8 overall and 1-7 in the NSIC. Last week BSU fell to Minnesota Duluth by a score of 72-57 and dropped a 107-101 double-overtime game to St. Cloud State the following night. BSU averages 78.2 points per game compared to 79.4 from their opponents. The Beavers outrebound the opposition 37.8-32.7. Derek Thompson is the scoring leader and averages 15.2 points per game. Thompson also lead the team with 7.1 rebounds per game. Logan Bader averages 13.4 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game. Jacob McNallan has averaged 6.4 rebounds per game and 1.3 steals per game in nine games. Ja Morgan is the team's leader in assists per game with 5.9.
Minnesota Crookston
The Golden Eagles are 10-6 overall and 4-4 in the NSIC. Last week UMC defeated St. Cloud State by a score of 76-57 and Minnesota Duluth by a score of 96-88. Harrison Cleary averaged 28.5 points per game last week en route to his second NSIC Player of the Week honor this season. UMC averages 79.3 points per game compared to 69.5 from their opponents. The Golden Eagles average 13.8 points off turnovers compared to 7.4 from the opposition. Cleary leads the team and the conference by averaging 23.7 points per game. Cleary also leads the team with 3.9 assists per game. Gable Smith leads the team with 5.1 rebounds per game. He is followed by Josh Collins and Chase Knickerbocker who average 4.5 and 4.4 rebounds per game, respectively. UMC ranks second in the NSIC in three-point FG percentage (42.5).
MORE ABOUT MSUM…
Consistency from Seniors
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 13 games this season and ranks second on the team with 14.8 points per game. Park also contributes 4.9 rebounds per game.
Travaun Coad averages 13.4 points per game and has scored in double-digits in 12 games. Coad is the team leader in rebounds per game with 5.1.
Jake Johnson has played in 13 game and
Briton Bussman has played in 15. The two average 4.5 and 3.8 points per game, respectively.
Freshmen Shine
Freshman guard
Gavin Baumgartner has been a scoring threat this season and leads the team with 16.1 points per game. Baumgartner has been a clutch performer with a career-high 28 points in wins over Bemidji State and Minot State. Baumgartner is third in the NSIC in field-goal percentage (.591). Freshman guard
Bryce Irsfeld averages 9.8 points per game, 3.3 assists per game, and is 22-of-22 from the free-throw line.
Siman Sem has contributed 7.3 points per game. Freshman center
Jesse Bergh averages 4.9 points per game, 1.3 blocks per game, and 4.7 rebounds per game. Freshmen have contributed 44 percent of the team's total points this season.
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 four players who average 11.6 points per game or more:
Gavin Baumgartner (16.1),
Addison Park (14.8),
Travaun Coad (13.4),
Johnny Beeninga (11.6). MSUM is averaging 87.4 points per game to lead the conference.
Dragons in the NSIC Team Rankings
MSUM ranks in the top three in the NSIC in several team categories.
1
st: Scoring Offense (88.7 ppg) 2
nd: Total Steals (104)
Field-Goal Percentage (.511) 3
rd: Assists Per Game (14.9)
Total Assists (239) 3-Point FG Percentage (.420)
Total 3-Point FG Made (144)
Total Rebounds (565)
Walthall Looks for 300
th Career WIN
Head coach
Chad Walthall is in his ninth season at the helm for MSUM. Walthall has amassed an impressive 172-79 record in his first eight seasons as head coach for the Dragons. Walthall has a career record of 299-152 and will look for his 300
th win this week. Walthall is joined on the coaching staff by
Tim Bergstraser (first season) and
Spenser Bland (first season).
All-Time vs. Opponents
MSUM will meet Bemidji State for the 185
th time and holds a 99-85 advantage. MSUM has faced Minnesota Crookston 47
th time and leads the all-time series 35-11.
Up Next
The Dragons remain home to face Wayne State (Neb.) on Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Augustana (S.D.) on Jan. 19 at 5:30 p.m.
