MOORHEAD, Minn. -- The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) has announced the preseason coaches' poll for men's basketball. Senior forward Sam Hastreiter was named Minnesota State Moorhead's 'player to watch' while the Dragons were selected to finish seventh. Moorhead was picked second in the NSIC North Division poll. 

The Dragons claimed the seventh spot with 138 points in a poll that was topped by Southwest Minnesota State with 219 points and 11 first-place votes. St. Cloud State (2), Minnesota State (1), Concordia-St. Paul (1) and Augustana (1) earned the other first-place nods. In the divisional poll, Moorhead was selected second behind 43 points and two first-place votes. 

"We were able to quickly piece together a well-rounded group of players with positional size," said head men's basketball coach Jason Kemp, who embarks on his first season at MSUM in 2025-26. "Our coaching staff has been most impressed with how quickly they have bonded off the court and that has translated to our progress on the court in workouts."

Hastreiter played and started in all 34 games for the Dragons last season, averaging 7.2 points per game with 46 made three-pointers. He would shoot an effective 42.2 percent from both the field and three-point range. Hastreiter was also solid on the boards, snaring 140 rebounds for a 4.1 per game clip. The Lincoln, Neb., native scored in double figures on 14 occasions during the season, including a season-best 19 points against Winona State on February 21.

"Sam will provide elite shooting and versatility for our basketball team. He has the size to post up, and the skill set to operate on the perimeter at a high level," said Kemp of the senior. "Since coming to MSUM, he has been a great leader and consistent contributor. His leadership and experience will help our team tremendously."

Hastreiter makes up a group of six returners from last year's outfit that would win the NSIC Tournament Championship and qualify for the NCAA Central Region Championships. Eddie Beeninga, Levi Birkholz, Will Kinsey, Tysen Gerads and Adam Jenkins make up the remaining returner spots for MSUM. The remainder of the roster is made up of seven transfer student-athletes and two true freshmen. Of the transfers, five join the Dragons from NCAA Division I programs. 

Moorhead will begin the season on Thursday, October 23 in an exhibition against North Dakota State at 7 p.m. The Dragons will start the regular season where they ended 2024-25, taking on Washburn as part of the Regional Challenge in Pittsburg, Kan. Tipoff against the 'Bods is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, November 14.