MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Fifth-ranked MSU Moorhead men's basketball continues their homestand this weekend as the Dragons host Minnesota Duluth on Friday at 7:30 p.m. before challenging Concordia, St. Paul on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
Live video and stats will be available at msumdragons.com. Note that this week's games are the beginning of the annual 'flip' in start times with women's games now being played prior to the men's contests.
Opening Tip
Quick Hits...The Dragons have won three of the last four contests against the Bulldogs with the most recent victory coming in last season's NSIC Tournament championship (79-69). Since Justin Wieck became head coach at UMD, the schools are 7-7 against one another. MSUM has bested CSP in each of the last four matchups. The Golden Bears last defeated the Dragons on December 31, 2017.
Equaling History...The Dragons moved to 15-0 for just the second time in school history in the overtime win over Southwest Minnesota State on Friday. In the victory, the 2023-24 Dragons also equaled the best start in school history, sharing the spot with the 1970-71 team that won 15 straight to begin that season. That 1970-71 team lost their 16th game of that season to Winona State, 70-68. Oddly enough, this year's Dragons dropped their 16th game of the year to Sioux Falls on Saturday, also by a score of 70-68. The 1970-71 Dragons lost in the NAIA Playoffs to Augsburg, 85-84, to conclude their campaign that season.
Cob Watch...Junior guard Jacob Beeninga was named to the Bevo Francis Top 100 Watch List on Monday. The top 100 list features players from NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, USCAA and NCCA. Considerations will be season statistics and individual achievements, awards, personal character and team achievements. This is an incredibly prestigious award, as this award will only be given to one player within Small College Basketball per season. Beeninga is the first Dragon player to be named to the watch list since Isaac Sevlie in 2015-16. In it's eighth year of existence, the Clarence 'Bevo' Francis award is given annually to the best overall player in small college basketball.
Top Five....Following the loss to Sioux Falls on Saturday, MSUM dropped to fifth in the weekly NABC Coaches' Poll after holding the top spot for the first time in program history a week ago. With their number one ranking, MSUM became the first Minnesota-based Divison II program to be named number one by the NABC since Winona State during the 2006-07 season. That Warrior team would finish national runner-up in 2007 and would win national championships in 2006 and 2008.
Chairman of the Boards...Senior Dane Zimmer hit the 900-rebound mark in Saturday's game against Sioux Falls, hitting the milestone right on the button. Zimmer becomes just the fourth player in program history to eclipse 1,000 points and 900 rebounds in a career. He joins Dragon greats Walt Whitaker (1978-82), Jim Kapitan (1876-79) and Alex Novak (2009-13) as the only players to accompish the feat. Novak holds the school's record for rebounds in a career (1,054).
Ja Rules...Junior swingman Ja'Kair Sanchez has been a vital piece to the Dragon bench over the last three games. Sanchez has averaged 11.6 points per game over the last three, including 18 points against Southwest Minnesota State on Friday. Sanchez has shot 50 percent from the floor in those games with 13 made free throws.
What They Do Well...Fifth-year Drew Blair guides the Bulldogs, scoring 20.6 points per game, which is third-best in the NSIC. Minnesota Duluth is also tight on the road, going 7-2 away from Romano Gymnasium this year. Concordia, St. Paul loves the threeball as they've shot 442 this season, which is the 11th-most in Division II and second to Northern State in the NSIC.
Scouting Report
Minnesota Duluth (12-4, 7-3 NSIC)
The Bulldogs are coming off a win in their lone NSIC contest last week, a 75-66 decision against St. Cloud State. Prior to that, Minnesota Duluth fell at home to Minot State, 85-69. Justin Wieck's team continued to work at the pace of graduate student star Drew Blair, who leads the Bulldogs with 20.6 points per game to go along with 5.3 rebounds a contest and a 44.8 percent success rate from the floor. The Bulldogs feature three other double figure scorers in Charlie Katona (12.6), Josh Brown (11.3) and Austin Andrews (10). Brown leads the team in rebound per game with 5.6 with guard Jack Middleton leading the way in assists in 2023-24 (41). Minnesota Duluth is wickidly efficient with their shots as they have made 49.4 percent of their field goal attempts this season.
Justin Wieck is in his sixth season as head coach of the Bulldogs.
Concordia, St. Paul (8-8, 3-7 NSIC)
The Golden Bears have dropped five of their previous six contests with their most recent result an 86-56 loss to St. Cloud State last week. Concordia, St. Paul's last win came on January 6 in a home win over Mary. The team has dealt with their share of injuries so far this season as one of their top guards, Antwan Kimmons, is injured and has only played in eight games this season. Transfer guard Jordan Horn has been a volume scorer for CSP, but has only competed in nine games this season. Never the less, Horn is averaging 21.7 points per game to lead the Golden Bears overall. Horn shoots 42 percent from the floor and 42.3 percent from long distance for the Golden Bears. Marcus Skeete is the other Golden Bear averaging double figures, pouring in 15.3 points a contest with a team-best 6.7 rebounds a game. Skeete also lead CSP with 41 assists this season. Concordia, St. Paul loves to shoot the three-pointer as they have attempted 442 this season at a collective 35.1 percent clip. For the season, CSP is making 45.1 percent of their shot attempts.
Matt Fletcher is in his fourth year as head coach of CSP.
