MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead men's basketball will look to snap their two-game losing streak in a pair of contests this week. The Dragons host Minnesota Crookston on Tuesday beginning at 7:30 p.m. before traveling to take on Bemidji State on Saturday at 3 p.m. 

Live stats and video will be available at msumdragons.com.

Opening Tip

Quick Hits... MSUM won the opening meeting over the Golden Eagles on December 14 in an 84-67 game. The win extended MSUM's win streak over Minnesota Crookston to seven games entering Tuesday. The Dragons also topped Bemidji State at home on December 8, 82-74. MSUM has won eight of their last nine against BSU.

It Ain't A Pattern...MSUM's current two-game losing streak is rare for the program, especially over the last few seasons. The Dragons have not lost more than two consecutive games since December 2021. That year's Dragons lost three straight to Sioux Falls, Mary and Minot State before defeating Bemidji State on December 10. MSUM would conclude that season winning the program's first NSIC Tournament championship, winning eight of their last nine to close that campaign. 

Career Night...Junior guard Ja'Kair Sanchez helped push Minnesota State to the brink on Saturday evening as Sanchez poured in 22 points in the second half alone. The Syracuse, N.Y., product would help MSUM erase a 16-point deficit in less than seven minutes against the Mavericks. Finishing with 28 points, Sanchez set a new Dragon career high and ended up one point short of his collegiate best. Sanchez scored 29 points for Roberts Wesleyan against College of Staten Island on February 2, 2022. 

Cob Moving Up The List...Jacob Beeninga connected on his 199th career three-pointer against Minnesota State on Saturday. With one more make, Beeninga will become just the seventh player in school history to make 200 or more three-pointers. The junior is seven makes shy of passing Jake Driscoll for sixth all-time in MSUM history. Cob is also a basket short of 1,300 for his career. 

The Board Room...With his 15 total rebounds over the weekend, Dane Zimmer moved into third in program history in career rebounds. Zimmer enters Tuesday with 939 snares during his MSUM career. The senior surpassed Jim Kapitan for third on the list with his fourth rebound against Winona State on Friday.

Killer Kinsey...Sophomore Logan Kinsey continues to open up and showcase his offensive talent for the Dragons. Kinsey averaged 14.5 points per game for MSUM over the weekend to go along with six rebounds a contest. He made 52.7 percent of his shot attempts and currently bolsters a 51.2 percent clip for the year. That mark is fifth-best in the NSIC this season. 

What They Do Well...Minnesota Crookston is an ever-improving team with loads to talent and scoring. They will go at the rate of guard Blaize Sagna, who leads the NSIC in scoring average, putting in 22.9 a game. Sagna scored 36 of UMC's 67 points against the Dragons back in December. Bemidji State commands a hefty amount of respect on the glass led by posts Dalton Albrecht and John Sutherland. The duo combined to score 42 points for Bemidji State against MSUM in early December. Sutherland is one of the most dynamic scorers in the NSIC as he nets 20.4 per contest.

Tim Bergstraser is in his second season as MSUM's head coach.

Scouting Minnesota Crookston (6-14, 3-11 NSIC)

The Golden Eagles ended a four-game losing streak last Saturday in a thrilling win over Concordia, St. Paul. Prior to that, UMC had dropped games to Minnesota Duluth, Southwest Minnesota State, Sioux Falls and Minnesota State. Minnesota Crookston is led by their star guard Blaize Sagna, who is currently leading the NSIC in points per game average with 22.9 per game. Reid Grant is the only other Golden Eagles averaging in double figures with 14.1 per game as Grant also leads the team in assists with 71. Agueck Deng is the top rebounder for UMC as he grabs an average of eight per game.

Bryan Beamish is in his second season as UMC's head coach. 

Scouting Bemidji State (10-10, 6-8 NSIC)

The Beavers have hit some snags in their latest NSIC stretch as the Beavers have dropped the last four games they have played heading into a Thursday night road matchup with Minot State. Bemidji State has fallen to the likes of Minnesota Duluth, Concordia, St. Paul, Wayne State and Augustana in their previous four games heading into Thursday. BSU is led by their stellar post John Sutherland, who pours in 20.4 points per game to go along with eight rebounds. Fellow post Dalton Albrecht is the other Beaver to average double figures, scoring 16.1 points per game as well as 10.2 rebounds a game. Sutherland leads the team in total assists witih 80 for the year. 

Mike Boschee is in his 12th season as the Beaver head coach.