MINOT, N.D. -- The Minot State men's basketball team opens the 2017-18 season in Texas as part of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference/Great American Conference Challenge which begins on Friday (Nov. 10).

The Beavers will open challenge play on Friday against Southern Arkansas at 5 p.m. and then battle Henderson State on Saturday (Nov. 11) at 2 p.m.

This will mark the third consecutive season in which Minot State has participated in the NSIC/GAC Challenge. In 2015-16, Minot State lost to Southern Arkansas and then bounced back to defeat Henderson State. Last season Minot State lost to Henderson State and Southern Arkansas to bring the Beavers all-time record to 1-3 in challenge play.

Minot State was picked to finish fourth in the NSIC North and seventh overall by the conference head coaches after posting a 14-15 overall record last season.

Minot State returns three starters and seven letterwinners from last year's squad led by senior Tyler Rudolph. The Bismarck, N.D. native was named First Team All-NSIC last season after averaging 21.1 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Rudolph, who was also named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II All-Central team and the D2 Conference Commissioner's All-Central Region team, led the NSIC in total rebounds (291) and double-doubles (14).

Seniors Luis Ricci Maia and Russ Davis also return for Minot State in 2017-18. Ricci Maia, who started 22 games last season, was second on the Beavers averaging 12.9 points per game and he reached double figures in scoring 19 times. Davis, who made 26 starts last year, averaged 9.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per contest.

Seniors Nathaniel Moore and Brandon Green return for their final season with the Beavers. Moore played in all 29 games last season and averaged 10.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per contest, while Green played in 21 games and averaged 1.8 points per outing.

Sophomore Trevor Rothstein, senior Liam McRae and redshirt freshman Max Cody also return for Minot State.

Minot State split a pair of exhibition games to begin the year. The Beavers downed Valley City State 86-76 and lost to Dickinson State 73-67.