CROOKSTON, Minn. – It seems like only a week or two ago the Beavers tipped off the basketball season and now it's time for NSIC play.
While the start of the season actually was only a few weeks ago, the Minot State men's and women's basketball teams do have a few games under their belt as they head to Minnesota Crookston to take on the Golden Eagles this Tuesday for the NSIC openers for both schools.
The Minot State men (2-1 overall) play the Golden Eagles (3-2) at 5:30 p.m. on the road, then the Beaver women (1-5) take on host Minnesota Crookston (2-2) at 7:30 p.m. in the doubleheader.
The Beaver men built some momentum on the road with two big wins to start their season, but Saturday hit a bump in the road in a loss at Montana State Billings.
Minot State looks to bounce back against a Golden Eagles team they've beaten the last six times the two have met, including an 87-53 win by the Beavers last season in February.
Minnesota Crookston is led by the duo of Blaize Sagna, a returning 6-foot-3 junior guard, who is eighth in the NSIC this season averaging 19.2 points per game, and newcomer Aguek Deng, a 6-9 junior forward who is third in the league averaging 10.8 rebounds per game.
While the Golden Eagles have two impact players so far this season, the Beavers have relied on depth as
Jaxon Gunville leads the team averaging 13.7 ppg, while
Khari Broadway averages 13.0 ppg and 5.3 rpg,
Jalen Cook is scoring 11.5 ppg, and
Connor Hollenbeck adds 8.0 ppg and 6.0 rebounds per game.
Once the men have settled their contest, it'll be the ladies' turn as the Beavers head into the league opener with a deceptive record as three of the team's five losses are to Top 25 opponents, including a strong performance against No. 12 Montana State Billings at home on Saturday.
The Beavers led 33-31 but couldn't finish off the Yellowjackets. They look to build on that effort against the Golden Eagles, who Minot State beat in the team's last meeting in February, and who the Beavers have beaten 5 of the last 7 meetings, as well.
Key to date for the Beavers has been the play of junior-college All-American
Sydney Gustavsson who leads the team in scoring at 11.8 ppg and was named to the D-II Tip-off Classic All-Tournament Team earlier this month.
Returning sophomore forward
Lorelei McIver has also been an asset for Minot State, leading the team at 3.8 rebounds per contest and adding 3.3 ppg.
Of course, defense will be a key for Minot State – and is always a priority for the Beavers – as they go up against a Golden Eagles team that is second this season in the NSIC in scoring at 81.3 ppg and led by 5-1 sophomore guard Emma Miller who is averaging 20.8 points, fourth best in the NSIC, and 9.3 rebounds per game, third best in the NSIC.
