MINOT, N.D. -- The undefeated Minot State men's basketball team welcomes Valley City State to the Minot State Dome on Monday (Nov. 20) to begin a stretch of three games in six days over the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Beavers, who are currently 4-0 on the season, will face Yellowstone Christian on Wednesday (Nov. 22) and then open Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play against Mary on Saturday (Nov. 25).

Minot State, which is the last unbeaten team in the NSIC, has used a suffocating defense in opening the year with four straight victories. The Beavers currently rank first in the NSIC in scoring defense (57.2), field goal percentage defense (.393) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.234). Minot State held Henderson State (50) and Mayville State (46) to 50 points or less and have not permitted more than 70 points in any game this year, while also holding three of its four opponents to 42.9 percent, or less, shooting from the field.

While the defense has carried the team, the offense has also been productive as the Beavers rank fifth in the conference in scoring at 83.5 points per game and have scored at least 78 points in all four games.

Minot State, which is attempting to become the first MSU team to start the year 5-0 since 2013-14, has also been very comfortable playing with the lead. The Beavers have held the lead for an astounding 146:47 out of 160 minutes played and has yet to trail in the second half of any game this year. Minot State didn't trail against either Southern Arkansas or Dickinson State and Henderson State and Mayville State led for a combined 3:13.

Minot State senior Tyler Rudolph has gotten off to a hot start to his final year in a Beaver uniform. Rudolph scored a career-high 40 points in the victory over Mayville State and leads the NSIC averaging 24.5 points per game and shooting 52.6 percent from the three-point line. Rudolph also tops the team averaging 7.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game.

David Akibo and Russ Davis also are averaging in double figures in scoring for Minot State. Akibo ranks second on the team averaging 11.3 points per game, while Davis is scoring 11.0 points per outing.

Akibo also is second on the team averaging 6.5 rebounds per contest, while Luis Ricci Maia is third on the squad averaging 4.5 boards per game. Ricci Maia paces the Beavers averaging 4.8 assists per game.

Minot State leads the all-time series with Valley City State 40-39 and has won three straight games in the series, while this will mark the first-ever meeting between the Beavers and Yellowstone Christian.

Monday and Wednesday's tip times are both scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. following the conclusion of the women's games.

The Minot State-Valley City State game will be broadcast on the BEK Broadcasting Network. The game can also be seen on www.msubeavers.com with Leif Bakken calling all of the action and heard on KCJB 910 AM with Scott Kittell providing commentary.