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RECORDS: Minot State is 6-10 overall and 2-10 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play this season. The Golden Eagles are currently 4-12 overall and just 1-11 in the NSIC while Bemidji State sits with a 12-4 overall record and are currently in first place in NSIC North with a 9-3 mark in the conference play.

COACHES CORNER: Minot State's Matt Murken is in his second season as head coach of the Beavers. He is 16-27 with Minot State and is 62-43 throughout his four year head 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). Minnesota Crookston is coached by Jeff Oseth. In his 12th season as head coach of the Golden Eagles, Oseth has led UMC to a 59-252 overall record. Last season, Oseth led his squad to a big upset over No. 22 St. Cloud State as UMC beat the Huskies 80-77 during the last weekend of the regular season. Bemidji State is coached by second year man Mike Boschee who has a record of 30-16 during his short tenure at BSU. However, Boschee doesn't lack experience as a head coach as he spent nine seasons as head coach at Central College in Pella, Iowa. Last season, his first with the Beavers, he led the team to 18 wins including an appearance in the NSIC/Sanford Health Men's Basketball Tournament and made a run to the championship game – their first-ever appearance in the championship contest.

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: Minot State, University of Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State did not receive any votes in the Jan. 21 National Association of Basketball Coaches' Poll. However, two Northern Sun teams did receive votes as Winona State received six points in the poll while Minnesota State received 158 points as they climbed to No. 14 in all of NCAA Division II.

RECENT HISTORY: Minot State encountered two tough losses last weekend as they fell to University of Minnesota Duluth 88-80 on Friday night and then lost a tough-fought 88-85 overtime battle to St. Cloud State. The six-game losing streak is the longest losing streak for Minot State since the program lost nine consecutive games during the tail end of the 2011-12 season. University of Minnesota Crookston went 0-2 last weekend as they were blown out twice. UMC lost Friday night to Northern State, 72-49 and then lost Saturday night to Minnesota State University Moorhead, 87-63. In the two losses, UMC managed to shoot just 38.7 percent from the field. Bemidji State won both their games last weekend, pushing their season-high winning streak to five games. BSU beat MSU Moorhead Friday night by the score of 77-51 and then took down the NSU Wolves 85-77 on Saturday night.

OVERALL SERIES: Minot State and Minnesota Crookston have faced each other 17 times according to Minot State records with the Beavers holding a 12-5 all-time advantage. Last season, MISU's first in the NSIC, the Beavers swept UMC. Bemidji State holds a 4-3 advantage over Minot State on the basketball court. Last season, MISU and BSU split with each team winning on their home court.

NOTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES: University of Minnesota Crookston has lost ten straight games heading into this weekend's matchup, with all the losses coming in Northern Sun play. The three previous seasons the Golden Eagles have averaged just six wins per year. As a team, UMC ranks last in the Northern Sun in scoring margin, as opponents outscore them on an average of 16.2 points per game. They also rank last in rebounding margin, as their opponents outrebound them on an average 5.1 rebounds per game. Ashton Harrell is the Golden Eagles' main scoring threat, averaging 15.3 points per game. Harrell scored a season-high 34 points in the lone NSIC win for UMC, a 87-85 win over Minnesota Duluth. Tyler West is also notable performer for UMC as he is averaging 8.8 points per game while leading the team in rebounding with 5.8 rebounds per game.

NOTING THE BSU BEAVERS: Bemidji State has been towards the top of the NSIC this season in large part due to their ability to make shots. BSU ranks first the conference in field goal percentage (51.2 percent), free throw percentage (76.1 percent) and three-point percentage (42.4 percent). The Beavers are also one of the better passing teams in the league as they rank second with 16.3 assists per game. In fact, over this season, BSU has an assist on 57 percent of their made field goals. Brock Lutes leads the Beavers in scoring with 19.2 points per game while three other Beavers average 10.0 points per game or more. Maxie Rosenbloom has proven to be a force down low with 9.3 rebounds per game and 22 blocks on the year.

WORKING OVERTIME: Minot State has played three overtime games during the 2013-14, tied for the most overtime games in the Northern Sun. The Beavers are just 1-2 in those games after a 88-85 extra period loss to St. Cloud State. MISU and SCSU were tied 72-72 after regulation, but overtime got out to a rough start for the Beavers. Within the first 30 seconds, SCSU went on a 4-0 run and Minot State never recovered. Since the 2011-12 season, MISU has played eight overtime games with a record of 3-5.

TOO MANY POINTS: Over the Beavers' six-game losing streak they have struggled on the defensive end as they have given up 82.7 points per game. Over this stretch, MISU has allowed more points than any other team in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Prior to the losing streak, MISU was giving up just 69.6 points per game.

SAM I AM: Beaver senior Samuel Johnson (F, Las Vegas, Nev.) has scored 185 points during his final season, his first season with Minot State. He spent his junior year at Montana State University-Billings where he scored 300 points over 30 games for the Yellowjackets. Although it will not count in Minot State official records, Johnson is 15 points away from recording his 500th career point at the NCAA Division II level. He would join teammates Chris East (Sr., F, Toronto, Ontario), E.J. Williams (Sr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) and Thomas Korf (Jr., G, St. Cloud, Minn.) to achieve such a feat. Adam Randall (Jr., G, Steele, N.D.) isn't far behind with 465 career points.

Name                             Career Points
Thomas Korf                637
Chris East                     571
E.J. Williams                 563
Samuel Johnson*       485
Adam Randall              465
*Indicates of season at MSU-Billings

EFFICIENCY SHOOTING: Offense has not been an issue during the past six games, especially not in the games against UMD and SCSU. On the weekend, Minot State thrived with the ball as they shot 49.1 percent from the floor including 46.2 percent from beyond the arc. The 18 three-point makes are the most over a two-game stretch for MISU all season. Last year against UMC and BSU, the Beavers hit a season-best 24 three-pointers resulting in two Minot State wins.

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS?: Earlier in the season, Minot State's recipe for success was getting to the free throw line and outrebounding their opponent. That formula has not held up the past two games as the Beavers outrebounded both opponents this past weekend but still walked out with losses. MISU outrebounded UMD 34-31 and then outrebounded St. Cloud State 40-32.

GANDY RETURNS: After sitting out the first ten games of his senior season, Isiah Gandy (G, West Palm Beach, Fla.) has made his return to the court. In six games, Gandy has averaged 13.5 minutes per game and 2.7 points per game. His best game this season came against Upper Iowa University where he scored eight points on 3-of-6 shooting.

BIG WEEKEND BY WILLIAMS: E.J. Williams (Sr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) recorded his largest scoring weekend of his Minot State career last weekend. In two games against UMD and SCSU, Williams scored 48 points on 54.8 percent shooting from the field and 91.7 percent shooting from the free throw line. He also snagged 12 rebounds, seven assists and four steals on the weekend.

BY THE NUMBERS
20: Minot State committed a season-worst 20 turnovers in the 88-85 overtime loss to St. Cloud State. The Beavers only forced 12 turnovers, giving SCSU eight extra possessions

59.4: The Golden Eagles have struggled scoring the basketball over their 10-game losing streak as they have only averaged 59.4 points per game over this stretch.

24: Bemidji State's Maxie Rosenbloom made school history earlier this season in a win over St. Cloud State. Rosenbloom recorded a school record 24 rebounds in the win. He also scored 21 points, making Bemidji State's first ever 20 point, 20 rebound performance in 91 years of basketball.