FULL PDF NOTEBOOK   |  LIVE STATS  |  LIVE VIDEO   |  LIVE AUDIO  |  TICKETS

RECORDS: Minot State is 4-0 overall and 0-0 in Northern Sun play this season. University of Mary sits with a 2-3 overall record and a 0-0 mark in NSIC play.

COACHES CORNER: Minot State's Matt Murken is in his second season as head coach of the Beavers. He is 14-17 with Minot State and is 60-33 throughout his coaching career. In his first season with the MISU, Murken increased the Beavers' win total by six from the previous year including the program's first ever win against a NCAA Division II ranked opponent (68-62, No. 19 St. Cloud State, Jan. 5, 2012). The Marauders are coached by Jevin Budde. Budde is in his third season as head coach of the U-Mary program and has compiled a 14-45 overall record during his tenure. Budde was an assistant for the Marauders the previous two seasons and helped his team reach their first even NCAA Division II Tournament as they went 23-6 in 2010-11.

FOLLOW THE BEAVERS: The game is broadcast locally on KCJB 910-AM with Scott Kittell calling the play-by-play. Live audio can be accessed online at kcjb.com. MSU provides live video and live stats as well as links to the live audio at msubeavers.com. Minot State Athletics also is active on Facebook, Twitter and You Tube with all feeds accessible at msubeavers.com/stayconnected.

RANKINGS: Both Minot State and University of Mary did not receive any votes in the Nov. 26 NABC Division II Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll.

RECENT HISTORY: The Beavers pushed their record to 4-0 overall with a 65-44 victory over Valley City State University on Sunday Nov. 24. Yet again, it was rebounding and defense that led to success for MISU as they held VCSU to just 26.3% shooting from the field while out-rebounding the Vikings 47-33. After starting 2-0 on the 2013-14 campaign, University of Mary dropped three straight games at the Alaska Invitational in Fairbanks, Alaska. The Marauders dropped 57-84 to host team University of Alaska Fairbanks to open the tournament and then lost to Fresno Pacific University 64-67 and Emporia State University 68-79 to close out their Alaskan road trip.

OVERALL SERIES: Dating back to the 1976-77 season, Minot State and University of Mary men's basketball have faced each other 61 times on the hardwood. The series is near even as Minot State holds a 31-30 advantage of the Marauders.

NOTING THE MARAUDERS: Since going 23-6 during the 2010-11 season, University of Mary has totaled just 14 wins in their last 59 games. Last season, U-Mary could muster just four wins on the season with one of those wins coming against Minot State (12/1). This season, the Marauders are shooting 44.6 percent from the field but have struggled shooting beyond the arc with just a 30.8 percent shooting percentage on long range shots. Marc Musungayi leads U-Mary with 12.4 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per game. Musungayi was named to the GCI Alaska Invitational All-Tournament Team as he averaged 16.7 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per game over the three game tournament. Jalen Jaspers, who led U-Mary in scoring last season, is also off to a strong start averaging 11.0 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game.

GETTING TO THE CHARITY STRIPE: E.J. Williams (Sr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) has attempted 32 free throws in just four games this season. Williams has converted on 27-of-32 attempts for a .844 free throw percentage, leading the Beavers from the line (minimum 10 attempts). Williams is no stranger to success on the free throw stripe, in 2012 he hit 75-of-88 free throws (85.2 percent) to lead MISU.

CLEANING THE GLASS: One of the biggest keys to Minot State's early season success has been their ability to rebound the basketball. The Beavers, who are averaging 46.8 rebounds per game, have out rebounded their opponents 187-113 so far this season, a rebounding margin of plus-18.5. Last season when MISU went 10-17, they had a minus-1.4 rebounding margin and only out-rebounded the opposition 10 times. In those ten games the Beavers were just 4-6 overall.

KORF'S SURPASSES 500 POINTS: Thomas Korf (Jr., G, St. Cloud, Minn.) has hit 12 three-point shots this season and has notched 55 total points in four games (13.8 points per game). Korf now has 525 career points in 60 career games played in a Minot State uniform, the most career points at MISU by an active member of this year's squad.

COMING OUT PARTY: With a year of NCAA Division II playing experience, Samuel Johnson (Sr., F, Las Vegas, Nev.) knows what it takes to succeed at this level.  Johnson, who is nearly averaging  a double-double (13.0 points per game, 9.3 rebounds per game) has been a catalyst for the Beavers in 2013-14. For his solid efforts in two Minot State wins, NSIC officials named Johnson NSIC Men's Basketball Player of the Week on Monday Nov. 18, the first NSIC Player of the Week award in program history.

MCDONALD BATTLES BACK: After missing the season's first two games due to a foot injury, Dominque McDonald (So., G, Raleigh, N.C.) has come back strong and seen more minutes the last two games. In the win over VCSU, McDonald scored nine points, dished out six assists, grabbed five rebounds and also collected two steals in 27 minutes of play. A year ago, McDonald led MISU in assists and ranked third in scoring.

FAMILY AFFAIR: The past two seasons, Minot State men's basketball has had two unique families be a part of their team. Brothers Dan Yale (So., G, Berthold, N.D.) and Matt Yale (Jr., G, Berthold, N.D.) have both appeared in all four games this year, averaging 4.0 points per game together. Also, cousins E.J. Williams (Sr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) and Dominque McDonald (So., G, Raleigh, N.C.) have been key pieces to the Minot State team the last two seasons.  

BY THE NUMBERS
.500: One area where the Beavers struggled in their 65-44 win over Valley City State University was the charity stripe. The Beavers went 13-of-26 from the line for a .500 percentage, the worst MISU has shot from the line since they went 8-of-17 (.471) against Minnesota State on Feb. 2, 2013.

14: Last season when Minot State defeated U-Mary 49-48 on Jan. 15, Adam Randall (Jr., G, Steele, N.D.) notched a season-high 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the floor. As a freshman, Randall also recorded his career-best 18 points in a double-overtime victory over U-Mary.

54.0: Along with rebounding, the Beavers defense seems much improved from that of a year ago. This season Minot State has allowed just 54.0 points per game and held opponents to just 33.2 percent shooting from the floor.