MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead men's basketball will wrap up the 2023-24 regular season this weekend with road tilts against Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State. The Dragons are scheduled to take on the Cougars at 7:30 p.m. on Friday before meeting the Mustangs on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
Live stats and video will be available at msumdragons.com.
Opening Tip
Quick Hits... Sioux Falls snapped MSUM's historic win streak to begin the season, defeating the Dragons 70-68 back on January 13. The Coo have taken three of the last five matchups against MSUM dating back to February 2020. The Dragons topped the Mustangs in overtime, 88-87 on January 12 behind a game-winner from Jacob Beeninga. MSUM enters Saturday with a three-game win streak over SMSU.
Crown 'Em...Senior forward Dane Zimmer entered rarefied air on Saturday as he collected 13 rebounds to move his career total to 1,000. He also blocked his 100th shot on Saturday as well, making him one of two players in program history with over 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 100 blocks. Zimmer is currently the only player in school history with those totals and a 60+ percent lifetime field goal clip.
Block Party...Sophomore big man Jacob Jennissen has emerged as one of the NSIC's elite shot blockers. Jennissen collected four blocks in MSUM's two games last weekend, headlined by three swats against Augustana. Jennissen is fifth in the conference in total blocks this season (29). Jennissen has had eight games of two or more blocks this season. Dane Zimmer is not far behind Jennissen on the conference list, sitting in 10th with 24 blocks this year (including four against Augie on Saturday). Jennissen also scored 10 points with nine rebounds against the Vikings on Saturday.
Curbing The Takeaways...Wayne State would do a phenomenal job of frustrating the Dragons offensively on Friday night, forcing 12 MSUM turnovers in the game (the second-highest team total this season). Despite the giveaways, MSUM still remains at the top of the heap in the NSIC in turnover margin. The Dragons hold a plus-3.31 turnover margin and have committed 86 less turnovers than opponents this season. From a national perspective, MSUM has the 22nd-best turnover margin and is third in the country in turnovers committed per game (8.5).
Pay The Price...Junior guard JaMir Price helped guide the Dragons against Wayne State on Friday night. Price scored 20 points on 58.3 percent shooting and a perfect six of six from the free throw line. Price was seemingly able to get to the rim at will and scored on his signature floaters and attempts at the cup. Price has had four games where he has scored 20 or more points this season. Of the 22 games he has played this season, Price has scored in double figures in all but six of those contests.
Earning It At The Stripe...Junior guard Jacob Beeninga has found success at the free throw line over the last month. Prior to MSUM's loss to Winona State on January 26, Beeninga had been shooting 80 percent from the line (84-105). Since then, Beeninga has made all but one foul shot (35-36) for a 97.2 clip. Beeninga is fourth in the NSIC in free throw percentage entering the weekend (84.4 percent).
What They Do Well...USF's stellar guard Jack Thompson cooked MSUM for 34 points back on January 13. The Mustangs offer up the best defense in the NSIC, only surrendering 67.9 points per game.
Tim Bergstraser is in his second season as MSUM's head men's basketball coach.
