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THIS WEEK: The Minot State University men's basketball will attempt to finish out their regular season home schedule with two victories as they host two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division opponents. The Beavers will take on University of Sioux Falls Friday Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. before the battle Southwest Minnesota State University on Saturday Feb. 15 at 6 p.m.

RECORDS: The Minot State is 8-14 overall and 4-14 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play this season. University of Sioux Falls is currently 12-10 overall and 9-9 in the NSIC while Southwest Minnesota State is 15-9 overall with a 12-6 mark in Northern Sun competition.

COACHES CORNER: Minot State's Matt Murken is in his second season as head coach of the Beavers. He is 18-31 with Minot State and is 64-47 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). The Cougars are coached by Chris Johnson in his sixth season at the helm of the USF men's basketball program. During his time as head coach, he has led USF to a 113-69 overall record including back-to-back 20 win seasons during the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 seasons. During his first year in the NSIC, he led the cougars to a 12-15 overall record. The Mustangs are coached by fifth year head coach Brad Bigler. Bigler sports a record of 79-60 during his time at the helm of the Mustang men's basketball program. In 2011-12, Bigler led SMSU to the school's first ever NSIC Tournament Championship, rattling off three straight wins in the tournament. The Mustangs then made their third-ever NCAA Division II Tournament as the Central Region's No. 4 Seed. Bigler played his collegiate basketball as SMSU where he led Mustangs to the 2000-2001 Central Region Championship and Elite Eight appearance.

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 Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State University  did not receive any votes in the Feb. 11 National Association of Basketball Coaches' Poll. However, two Northern Sun teams did receive votes as Winona State received 13 points in the poll while Minnesota State received 114 points as they are ranked No.18 in all of NCAA Division II.

RECENT HISTORY: Minot State put an end to a four-game skid as they defeated University of Minnesota Crookston on the road on Saturday Feb. 8 by a score of 87-64. In the win, the Beavers made just nine turnovers. Prior to beating UMC, MISU fell to Bemidji State on Friday Feb. 7, 80-63. The Cougars split their games last weekend in two high scoring ball games. USF beat Concordia University, St. Paul Friday by the score of 97-84 before falling to Minnesota State University 109-64, their largest loss on the season. Southwest Minnesota State University also split on the road games last weekend, falling 77-68 to the hands of Minnesota State before bouncing back with a 68-52 win over Concordia, St. Paul at the Gangelhoff Center.

OVERALL SERIES: In program history, Minot State is winless against both University of Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State University. The Beavers are 0-5 all-time against USF, including a 82-59 loss a season ago. MISU is 0-2 all-time against SMSU including a 78-68 loss at the R/A Facility a season ago.

NOTING THE COUGARS: University of Sioux Falls is entering this weekend's matchups as winners in four of their last five games. Through that stretch of games, USF has been putting the ball in the hoop at ease, shooting 46.2 percent from the floor and averaging 84.0 points per game. For the season, the Cougars have not put much emphasis on the defensive end of the floor as they allow 81.9 points per game, the second worst average in the NSIC. USF have six players that do the majority of their scoring, each averaging over 9.0 points per game. That group is led by Charles Ward who averages 12.4 points per game while also leading the team in steals. Jordan Stotts leads USF with 6.0 rebounds per game while also putting up 10.2 points per game.

NOTING THE MUSTANGS: Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball has a history of success and highly competitive teams in the Northern Sun. In 2008-2009, SMSU made their second ever trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament. That feat was accomplished two seasons ago as SMSU ran the table in the NSIC Tournament to earn their automatic bid to the tournament. Last year, the Mustangs finished 16-14 overall while this season they are paced to pass that win mark led by their defense. SMSU opponents average just 70.7 points per game, ranking them third in the NSIC. Five players average double-digits for SMSU led by Nick Smith with 12.0 points per game. Smith also leads the team with 7.1 rebounds per game while Vinard Birch chips in with 11.3 points per game and 4.3 assists per game.

BALANCED ATTACK: All five of Minot State's starters scored in double-digits as they picked up their fourth NSIC win of the year last Saturday night. E.J. Williams (Sr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) led the way with 23 points while teammate and cousin Dominique McDonald (So., G, Raleigh, N.C.) scored 21 points in the win; his second game in the last three games scoring over 20 points.

BEAVERS DON'T HAVE TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA: Minot State hit 13 three-point field goals in just 21 attempts for a season high 61.9 shooting percentage from beyond the arc in the 87-64 win over Minnesota Crookston. Thomas Korf (Jr., G, St. Cloud, Minn.), E.J. Williams (Sr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) and Dominique McDonald (So., G, Raleigh, N.C.) each hit four shots from beyond the arc. MISU's season-high in three-point field goals is 14 in a loss to Minnesota State.

YALE'S CAREER-HIGH: Sophomore Dan Yale (G, Berthold, N.D.) has seen an increase in minutes played over the past four game. Yale, who averages 9.6 minutes per game on the season, has seen 17.5 minutes per game over this stretch. He recorded two career-highs in the loss at Bemidji State as he played 26 minutes and scored 11 points, including three 3-point field goals.

TAKING CARE OF THE BALL: In their past two games, Minot State has taken care of the ball exceptionally well, committing just 13 turnovers. The Beavers average 12.7 turnovers per game this season, ranking them seventh in the Northern Sun. It was the first time in four seasons that MISU has consecutive games with 10 or fewer turnovers.

TWO DARK HORSE DUNKERS: Saturday's matchup between Minot State and Southwest Minnesota State will be unique as it will feature two seniors with a history of high flying dunks. MISU's Sam Johnson (F, Las Vegas, Nev.) and SMSU's Will Giddings are 2-of-16 contestants in the 2014 State Farm "Dark Horse Dunker" Competition. The online bracket style tournament is decided by fan's votes on their opinions of the best dunker. The winner of the tournament, who will compete at the NCAA Dunk Contest at the Final Four in Dallas, Texas, will be announced on March 17.

SENIOR SALUTE: Four Minot State players, Chris East (Sr., F, Toronto, Ontario), Isiah Gandy (Sr., G, West Palm Beach, Fla.), Sam Johnson (Sr., F, Las Vegas, Nev.) and E.J. Williams (Sr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) will be playing in their final home games of their collegiate careers this weekend. This senior class accounts for 50.6 percent of MISU's scoring and 48.6 percent of the team's rebounds.

BY THE NUMBERS
46.7: University of Sioux Falls senior Derek Brown has hit 46.7 percent of his three-point shots during his final year with the Cougars. That percentage ranks him third in the NSIC from beyond the arc.

3,097: Southwest Minnesota State will also be graduating four seniors after this season. So far through their careers, they have amassed 3,097 points for the Mustangs.

28: Minot State has recorded just 28 blocked shots during the 2013-14 season, the fewest in the Northern Sun. A season ago, MISU had 78 on the year.