Sioux Falls, SD. – The first NSIC Semifinal matchup is set.

The Minot State men's basketball team will face Minnesota State-Mankato in the Semifinals after the Mavericks defeated the St. Cloud State Huskies in the Quarterfinal round by a score of 78-72 on Sunday.

Minot State (25-8) and Minnesota State-Mankato (20-11) will battle on the Pentagon for a chance to go to the conference championship. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Monday. Coach Murken is anticipating a good matchup on hand.

"It will be a tough battle. We both won the game on our home court. We are both playing good basketball right now. It's exactly what a semifinal matchup should be. Two good teams battling it out," Murken said.

Counting both regular season and postseason, this will be the 3^rd time in the 2024-25 campaign that both teams meet on the hardwood. Each have one win defending their respective home court as a neutral site contest commences. The Beavers took the first game back on January 4 in a narrow finish, 75-72. Then, the Mavericks answered on February 14 with a 96-91 decision. All-time, it is the 15^th encounter and 2^nd in the playoffs (February 24, 2018) between Minot State and Minnesota State-Mankato.

The Mavericks entered this year as the defending national champions. Even with some familiarity in the regular season, they bring a new challenge to the postseason environment for Minot State.

Before they entered Tournament play, MSU-Mankato finished with 19 wins, where 15 of them were within the conference.

The Mavericks are led by a dynamic duo of Kyrese Willingham with 19.6 PPG and Justin Eagins at 15.6 PPG. Those two carried a heavy bulk of the load against St. Cloud State in the quarterfinals. Willingham paced the team with 24 points, while Eagins was right behind Willingham with 23 as they combined for more than half of the Maverick points. Those are the players to watch on Mankato's side.

If the Beavers want to claim victory in the third try against Mankato, the top guns will have to have big games once again on both ends of the court. Caleb Van De Griend (NSIC First Team) drives the Beavers' starting unit, as the big man continues to keep up a double-double average with 20.5 PPG and 13.0 RPG. He posted 17 points with 13 rebounds in the Quarterfinal win against Concordia St. Paul. Ayoube Berthe (13.5 PPG) has emerged nicely for the Beavers late in the season and into the postseason. He led the way in scoring with 23 points against CSP. Jalen Cook (13.7 PPG) also found a groove in the Quarterfinal victory, picking up 15 points as he and the others look to step up again. Maybe what is most impressive from the Quarterfinal round was Jaxon Gunville (12.1 PPG, 39% 3PT) also topping at 15 points all while not having a registered three-point attempt in the box score. Look for him to start shooting the rock when he sees an opportunity as he remains a threat from long range.

The winner of this NSIC Semifinal will move on to the Championship game on Tuesday, March 4. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Sanford Pentagon.