MINOT, N.D. — After splitting a pair of home NSIC contests last week, the Minot State men's basketball team heads back on the road for two conference matchups in Minnesota. The Beavers will travel to face the University of Minnesota Duluth on Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m., before taking on Bemidji State University Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.

Minot State enters the week with a 6-5 overall record and sits 3-2 in NSIC play following a competitive home stand. On Thursday, the Beavers battled Minnesota State Moorhead but fell 90-79 despite strong offensive performances from Darik Dissette and Deuce Benjamin. Dissette poured in a team-high 21 points while adding nine rebounds, and Benjamin followed closely with 20 points. Isaiah Alexander also contributed 13 points and six rebounds in the effort.

The Beavers responded on Saturday with a 69-61 victory over Minnesota Crookston, powered by a dominant defensive performance. Benjamin led the way with a game-high 27 points, while Dissette added 18 points and eight rebounds. Carson Yale chipped in 10 points and seven boards as Minot State held the Golden Eagles to just 30.2 percent shooting from the field and 26.9 percent from three-point range.

Thursday's matchup at Minnesota Duluth presents a challenging road test as the Bulldogs enter the week with a strong record and consistent offensive production. Duluth will look to protect its home court against a Beavers squad that has shown balance on both ends of the floor.

On Saturday, Minot State will square off with Bemidji State, who are also off to a solid start this season. The Beavers will look to carry their defensive intensity and efficient scoring into the matchup as they close out the pre-break portion of their schedule.

Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. December 18th in Duluth, and 1:30 p.m. December 20 in Bemidji. Following the completion of this weekend's games, the Beavers will return to action after the Christmas break.