MINOT, N.D. -- The Minot State men's basketball team, winners of seven of its last eight games, returns home this weekend as it hosts Minnesota State and Concordia-St. Paul in a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference games in the Minot State Dome.

The Beavers, who are 14-2 overall and 8-2 in the NSIC, face Minnesota State on Friday (Jan. 12) at 8 p.m. and then host Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday (Jan. 13) at 6 p.m.

Minot State extended its winning streak to seven straight with a victory over Minnesota State Moorhead last Friday before suffering just its second loss of the season on Saturday at nationally-ranked Northern State. The Beavers are currently in sole possession of second place in the NSIC North standings.

Minot State is seeking its first-ever victory over Minnesota State as the Mavericks have won all five of the previous meetings between the two teams. Minnesota State enters the game as the top team in the NSIC South with an 8-1 conference record and a 12-3 mark overall.

The Beavers remain one of the top defensive teams in the conference as they rank second in the NSIC in scoring defense (67.2) and field goal percentage defense (.432) and are third in the league in three-point field goal percentage defense (.325). Minot State is no slouch on the offensive end of the floor as they rank second in the conference in field goal percentage (.492) and fifth in scoring (79.5).

Minot State, who has posted an 8-1 record in the MSU Dome this season, is led by senior Tyler Rudolph who averages 22.1 points per game and leads the NSIC shooting 61.2 percent from the floor. Luis Ricci Maia ranks second in the conference in assists per game (7.0) and is fifth in steals per game (1.6).

Junior David Akibo is second on the Beavers in scoring averaging 11.5 points per game and also ranks second in rebounding collecting 7.1 per contest.

Minnesota State, which has won nine of its last 10 games, is led by Kevin Krieger (15.7 ppg) and Charlie Brown (15.5 ppg).

Minot State leads the all-time series with Concordia-St. Paul 4-1 and has won the last three meetings between the two teams.

Concordia-St. Paul, which is 2-13 overall and 1-8 in the NSIC, is led by Bryndan Matthews who scores 15.7 points per contest.