MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State basketball teams are set to celebrate Christmas this weekend by hosting a pair of top NSIC foes, along with some extra special events for the local fans.

The Beaver women's and men's basketball teams host NSIC North Division-leading Minnesota Duluth on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively, then entertain St. Cloud State – both of whose only league losses are to Duluth – on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. at the MSU Dome.

Saturday will be an event-filled evening with the first 150 community fans through the MSU Dome doors receiving a Christmas sweatshirt, and following the Minot State games the Velva and Des Lacs-Burlington High School boys take over the MSU Dome playing a varsity game scheduled for 7:45 pm.

The MSU Dome has proven to be friendly to the home teams as the Minot State women are 2-0 on the home hardwood this season, while the MSU men are 2-1.

It truly has been a tale of two teams for the Minot State women (5-4 overall, 1-2 NSIC) who cruised in their home debut to a 91-60 win over Dickinson State, then refused to lose as the Beavers sank a buzzer-beater for a 67-66 win over Northern State on Saturday.

Away from home, the Beavers have struggled of late, falling at MSU Moorhead and Mary as Minot State shot just 26.4 percent (32-of-121) from the field in those two road league losses.

Turning that trend around will be a challenge against the Bulldogs (6-2, 3-0) on Friday as UMD is No. 2 in the league allowing just 55.4 points per game.
Offensively, 6-foot-2 senior forward Brooke Olson leads the Bulldogs, and the NSIC, scoring 18.8 ppg.

As for the Huskies (5-2, 2-1), Katrina Theis, a 5-11 fifth-year senior forward, leads the way for St. Cloud State averaging 15.3 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, and she leads the NSIC as the league's top shooter at 63.6 percent (49-of-77).

As for the Beavers, senior Kate Head has been the consistent go-to player as she leads the team averaging 15.9 ppg, but also is setting up her teammates with 31 assists in nine games.

On the men's side, Minot State (4-3, 1-2) comes into the weekend after rolling to an 82-62 home win over Northern State last Saturday which shook off the ill-feelings of NSIC road losses at Mary (72-69) and at MSU Moorhead (84-63).

And the last time the Bulldogs (7-2, 3-0) visited the MSU Dome, Minot State handed then-No. 6-ranked Minnesota Duluth an 80-63 loss.

Ranked just outside the Top 25 currently, UMD comes in with the third-best offense in the NSIC as they average 85.0 points per game and shoot 48.2 percent (262-of-544) from the field.

Drew Blair, a 6-5 senior guard, leads the way averaging 20.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, and has tossed in a team-high 24 3-pointers for the Bulldogs.

As for the Huskies (5-3, 2-1), they're a long-range threat as they are No. 3 in the NSIC in 3-point shooting percentage at 38.6 (73-of-189).

Matthew Willert, a 6-6 junior forward, leads in 3-pointers with 19 as he shoots 39.6 percent (19-of-48) from long range and averages 14.9 ppg, while teammate Tommy Chatman, a 6-4 junior guard, chips in 13.4 ppg and 5.6 rpg.

As for the Beavers, 6-3 senior guard Cam'ron Dunfee leads the way averaging 12.9 ppg, while 6-0 sophomore guard Jaxon Gunville is averaging 12.7 ppg while dishing out 21 assists, and newcomer Khari Broadway, a 6-3 junior guard, is helping out with 10.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.