MINOT, N.D. -- The Minot State men's basketball team will take the second-best start in school history and a six-game winning streak on the road this weekend as it battles Minnesota State Moorhead and Northern State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.

The Beavers will meet Minnesota State Moorhead on Friday (Jan. 5) at 8 p.m. and then play No. 13 Northern State on Saturday (Jan. 6) at 6 p.m.

In what is arguably the Beavers most difficult road test of the season, Minot State will attempt to win at Minnesota State Moorhead for the first time since the 1988-89 season and at Northern State for the first time since the 1987-88 campaign.

Minot State, which is 13-1 overall and 7-1 in the NSIC, defeated Minnesota State Moorhead 78-65 on Dec. 2 in the Minot State Dome. Tyler Rudolph scored 28 points to lead the Beavers, while David Akibo and Luis Ricci Maia each posted a double-double in the victory. Akibo had 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Ricci Maia finished with 14 points and 12 assists.

Northern State pulled away from the Beavers in the second half in the earlier meeting this season on Dec. 1. The Wolves led 33-31 at halftime, but outscored the Beavers 53-29 in the second half on their way to an 86-60 win. Rudolph led Minot State with 19 points, while Nathaniel Moore scored 18 points off the bench.

Minot State's 13-1 start to the season trails only the 1971-72 team, which began the season with a 22-1 record, for the best start in school history. The Beavers have received votes in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Top 25 Poll for five consecutive weeks and are ranked 21st in the latest Division II computer rankings generated by David Wilson.

The Beavers, who are currently second in the NSIC North with their 7-1 record, are led by Rudolph who is second in the conference averaging 23.9 points per game. The senior also ranks second in the NSIC shooting 61.8 percent from the floor and is fourth in the conference averaging 7.7 rebounds per game.

Fellow senior Ricci Maia is currently second in the NSIC averaging 7.1 assists per game and fourth in steals with a 1.4 per game average. Akibo ranks second on the team averaging 12.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per contest.

Minnesota State Moorhead enters Friday's game with a 4-10 overall record and a 2-6 record in conference play, while Northern State is currently 14-1 overall and 8-0 in league play.