Topeka, KS. – March 9, 2025, will be a day remembered. A day that unlocked a historic milestone for one particular program at Minot State University. One setback in the NSIC Championship did not hinder a resume that was fortified after winning the first few rounds. A resume worthy of hearing their name called to the National bracket for the first time in program history.

That resume was put together by the 2024-25 Minot State men's basketball team. A group that has done something no other squad has accomplished since their inception. They will be making their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II National Tournament this weekend. A memorable season that started all the way back in November 8, 2024 continues on for the Beavers as they get their first taste of the big dance.

The team has arrived in Kansas as they are poised to begin a postseason run on a bigger stage. Starting out in the Central Region Quarterfinals, standing in their path is a familiar face. From the bracket results on selection Sunday, the 4^th-seeded Beavers will draw NSIC rival and 5-seed Concordia St. Paul.

Minot State (26-9) is set to face Concordia St. Paul (21-8) for the third time in the 2024-25 campaign. Once in the regular season, once at the NSIC Tournament, and now the NCAA National Tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for Saturday at 8:00 p.m.

The Beavers have handled business against the Golden Bears in the two prior meetings, winning on home court 92-78 (Jan. 24) and at the Sanford Pentagon 94-85 (Mar. 1). Both teams will square off for the 15^th time since the all-time series began in February 2013. It is also the first such meeting on the National stage between both squads.

Concordia St. Paul lost out in the Quarterfinal round of the NSIC Tournament at the hands of these Minot State Beavers but had a strong enough case to be selected for National Tournament play. Just like the Beavers, it is also their first NCAA Tournament at-large bid.

A standout performer in the NSIC Tournament and player to watch for Concordia St. Paul is Antwan Kimmons. He went off for 35 points in the Quarterfinal versus Minot State as he lives up to his NSIC Player of the Year tag and just recently the D2CCA Central Region Player of the Year. The Senior guard averages 25.0 PPG on 53 percent shooting from the field. Other players averaging double figures in scoring are Marcus Skeete (15.0), Ben Kopetzki (14.1), and Cade Meyer (13.8). While Kimmons got his buckets in the Quarterfinal, there was a three-way tie for the second highest scorer at 12 between Kopetzki, Skeete, and Japannah Kellogg.

They have done it once already, along with a second time, and now the Beavers will have to do it a third try to limit the talent on the Golden Bears side. Since Day 1, Minot State has been able to employ the same starting five unit which is all at double digit scoring averages. It begins with Caleb Van De Griend, who has been a beastly beaver in the post position and was just named to the Central Region First Team. The Australian big man is a double-double machine with a 20.7 PPG average with 13.1 RPG while shooting a brilliant 70% from the field. The Beavers are also dynamic at the guard spots. Jalen Cook and Ayouba Berthe come from the same hometown and are almost identical on the hardwood, with Cook averaging 13.4 PPG and Berthe 13.3 PPG. Both guys are shooting 42% from the field. Those are the players to watch coming from Minot State's part on the court.

The winner of this Central Region Quarterfinal contest will advance to face the winner between Washburn and Harding in the Central Region Semifinal at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday at Lee Arena.