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THIS WEEK: The Minot State University men's basketball will try for two key Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division wins this weekend as they look to snap a three-game losing streak. The Beavers will face Bemidji State University Friday Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. and then take on University of Minnesota Crookston on Saturday Feb. 8 at 6 p.m.

RECORDS: The Minot State is 7-13 overall and 3-13 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play this season. Bemidji State is currently 15-5 overall and 12-4 in the NSIC, good enough for first place in the North division. University of Minnesota Crookston is just 4-16 overall with a 1-15 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 17-30 with Minot State and is 63-46 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). Bemidji State is coached by second year man Mike Boschee who has a record of 33-17 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. Minnesota Crookston is coached by Jeff Oseth. In his 12th season as head coach of the Golden Eagles, Oseth has led UMC to a 59-257 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.

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 Feb. 4 National Association of Basketball Coaches' Poll. However, two Northern Sun teams did receive votes as Winona State received three points in the poll while Minnesota State received 85 points as they are ranked No. 21 in all of NCAA Division II.

RECENT HISTORY: After snapping a six-game losing streak to Minnesota Crookston on Jan. 24, Minot State has lost three in a row including two road games last weekend. MISU fell in a hard fought battle, 66-65 to Concordia University, St. Paul on Friday before losing in a shootout with No. 22 Minnesota State, 106-95. Bemidji State University continued their high offensive output last weekend, but went just 1-1 as they beat Southwest Minnesota State University 91-82 Friday Jan. 31 but lost the following night to University of Sioux Falls, 87-78. Minnesota Crookston both of their games against the NSIC South division opponents as they fell in a close 75-73 battle to University of Sioux Falls on Friday night before falling 79-53 to SMSU on Saturday night.

OVERALL SERIES: Minot State and Minnesota Crookston have faced each other 18 times according to Minot State records with the Beavers holding a 13-5 all-time advantage. Last season, MISU's first in the NSIC, the Beavers swept UMC. Bemidji State holds a 5-3 advantage over Minot State on the basketball court. Last season, MISU and BSU split with each team winning on their home court. Earlier this season, Minot State beat Minnesota Crookston 79-58 and lost to Bemidji State 84-68.

NOTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES: University of Minnesota Crookston has lost fourteen 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 .1 rebounds per game. Brandon Burns is the Golden Eagles' main scoring threat, averaging 11.0 points per game. 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. However, it was sophomore Derrick Redd who led the Golden Eagles with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting last time these two teams faced off.

NOTING THE 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 (51.8 percent), free throw percentage (77.0 percent) and three-point percentage (41.9 percent). The Beavers are also one of the better passing teams in the league as they rank second with 15.7 assists per game. In fact, over this season, BSU has an assist on 55 percent of their made field goals. Brock Lutes leads the Beavers and Northern Sun in scoring with 19.0 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 9.5 rebounds per game and 25 blocks on the year.

UNCONSCIOUS SHOOTING: Dominique McDonald (So., G, Raleigh, N.C.) had a career-night against Minnesota State. McDonald put up a career-high 29 points on 10-of-15 shooting while also dishing out three assists and grabbing two rebounds in 35 minutes. It was McDonald's ability to shooting the three ball that made his night as he hit a career-high eight three-point field goals on just 10 attempts.

COLD AND THEN HOT: Friday night against Concordia University, St. Paul, Minot State scored just 65 points, the third lowest point total of the 2013-14 season. The next night they rebounded with a season-high 95 points against No. 22 Minnesota State but still ended up with a loss despite the huge offensive output. The 30 point increase was the largest increase in points in consecutive games since the 2011-12 season when MISU put up just 38 points against Upper Iowa before putting up 76 points against Winona State the following night. Like last weekend, both games against UIU and WSU resulted in Minot State losses.

STEADY SAM: Beaver senior Samuel Johnson (F, Las Vegas, Nev.) showed consistency in his play on the weekend as he averaged 19.5 points per game, 9.0 rebounds per game, 2.0 assists per game while also shooting an impressive 64.3 percent from the floor. Against Concordia, St. Paul on Friday, Johnson recorded his second double-double as a Beaver with 20 points and 10 rebounds in 37 minutes of play.

GODLEN EAGLES FLYING LOW: Since joining the NSIC and NCAA Division II in 2012-13, Minot State has gone a perfect 3-0 against University of Minnesota Crookston. Through those three matchups, MISU has averaged to 73.7 points per game while holding UMC to just 53.7 points per game, an average margin of victory of 20 points. The Beavers have averaged 43.7 percent shooting from the floor in those games while also outrebounding the Golden Eagles an average of 38.3 rebounds per game to 28.7 rebounds per game.

NO BENCH POINTS: For the first time in 47 games, Minot State had a game where they had no point production from the bench. Against Concordia, St. Paul the Minot State bench combined for zero points on 0-of-6 shooting in 41 combined minutes. That last time this happened to the Beavers was during the 2011-12 season finale against Black Hills State University.

KORF GETTING IT DONE: Over the last seven games Thomas Korf (Jr., G, St. Cloud, Minn.) has quietly put together a solid stat line for the Beavers. During that stretch Korf has averaged 11.6 points per game, 3.1 rebounds per game while shooting 47.6 percent (20-of-42) from beyond the arc. He has also gone a perfect 9-of-9 from the charity stripe, improving his season percentage to 91.9 percent.

103: 1 Prior to the 106-95 loss to No. 22 Minnesota State, Minot State went a stretch of 103 games without giving up 100 or more points in game. The last time that happened was on Oct. 30, 2010 when MISU gave up 107 points to Graceland University in a double-overtime loss.

6: Broke Lutes, Bemidji State's and the NSIC's leading scorer, scored a season-low six points in the 87-78 loss to University of Sioux Falls. The Cougars held Lutes' jump shot in check as he went just 3-of-13 from the floor including 0-of-6 on three-point shots.

17: With the 79-53 loss on Feb. 1, it was UMC's 17th straight loss to Southwest Minnesota State University. The Golden Eagles were outscored 46-22 in the first 20 minutes of the game.