MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Minnesota State Moorhead men's basketball embarks on the 2025-26 season this Thursday in exhibition action against North Dakota State University. Red River Hoops for Charity Presented by Gate City Bank pits the Dragons and Bison in a 7 p.m. game from SCHEELS Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex. 

Live video and stats will be available at msumdragons.com. Please note that Midco Sports Plus is a pay-per-view service. Fans can also take in the game on their television sets on WDAY's Extra channel. The contest will also be broadcast over the airwaves on AM 1660/FM 92.7 with Sam Neidermann and Dexter Werner on the call. As a reminder, fans can purchase tickets using code FIREDUP and Gate City Bank will donate $1 to Make-a-Wish Minnesota. 

Matchup History...Last season was the first time  the two programs met since the 2012 season. Moorhead led for 35 minutes of last season's installment before a late Bison run led them to a 67-63 victory. Before last season, MSUM and NDSU last faced off on November 3, 2012, an overtime exhibition win for NDSU. The Dragons bested the Bison the year prior in a 90-84 double overtime barnburner. The two programs have not played a regular season contest against one another since December 13, 2003 when the Dragons upended the Bison, 83-72, inside Nemzek Fieldhouse. North Dakota State holds the series record, having won 86 matchups to MSUM's 33.  The first meeting between the schools came on January 8, 1908 when the North Dakota Agricultural College defeated the Moorhead Normal School,  45-12.

Preseason In The Air...Moorhead was selected to finish seventh overall in the NSIC preseason coaches' poll behind 138 points. In the NSIC North Division Poll, MSUM was selected to finish second after garnering 43 points and a pair of first-place votes. Senior forward Sam Hastreiter was named Moorhead's 'Player to Watch' for the upcoming season. The Lincoln, Neb., native averaged 7.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in 2024-25. Hastreiter started every game for the Dragons a season ago and buried 46 three-pointers at a 42.2 percent clip.

Death, Taxes and Beeninga...The Beeninga lineage will continue in Moorhead as Eddie Beeninga enters his senior campaign. The Maple Grove, Minn., native made appearances in 33 of MSUM's 34 games a season ago, scoring a season-high 16 points against Minnesota Crookston on December 21. The senior is one of five fourth or fifth-year players for the Dragons. 

Returning Ruffians...This year's Dragon outfit is led by six returners from the 2024-25 season, including the aforementioned Hastreiter and Beeninga. Juniors Levi Birkholz and Will Kinsey will look to use their energetic play to their advantage. Kinsey was masterful on defense a season ago while Birkholz can fill the box score in a hurry. The sophomore class is paced by Tysen Gerads and big man Adam Jenkins, both of whom will be looked upon in both the scoring a rebounding columns. 

New Faces Throughout...Head coach Jason Kemp was swift in his approach to roster building ahead of the 2025-26 season. The Dragons added two true freshmen as well as seven transfers in the offseason. True frosh Sam Hondl and Isa El-Amin have already proven their terrific talent with minutes surely on the horizon. Kemp and the Dragons also added pure scorers in Dominic Gooden (formerly of Northern Illinois) and Nic Smith (South Florida). The shooting category is sure to get a lift with the addition of Landin Hacker (Bellarmine), who has drained 72 career three-pointers. Kemp also bulked up the post play with forwards Timaris Brown (IU Indy), Rodrick Payne (Western Illinois) and Kabine Kaba (Wayland Baptist). All three are able to log a double-double on any given night. Junior swingman Soren Anderson (U of Northwestern) will also provide length and athleticism on the wing and down low for the Dragons. 

Fullcourt Circle...First-year head coach Jason Kemp spent time at both MSUM and NDSU early in his career. Thursday's tilt will be Kemp's first time coaching against the Bison since November 6, 2004. In his first-ever game as an assistant coach with the Dragons, Kemp and MSUM fell to NDSU in exhibition play, 70-56.

Jason Kemp begins his first season as MSUM's head men's basketball coach in 2025-26.