Game Notes

Gameday Info

Away Team: University of Minnesota, Crookston (3-19, 0-18 NSIC)
Home Team: University of Mary (3-19, 2-16 NSIC)
Date: Fri., Feb. 15
Arena: McDowell Activity Center
Live Stats: http://216.235.170.75/livestats/basketball_men/xlive.htm
Away Team: University of Minnesota, Crookston (3-19, 0-18 NSIC)
Home Team: Minot State University (8-14 (7-11 NSIC)
Date: Sat., Feb. 16
Arena: MSU Dome
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/minotstate/mbball/scoreboard.aspx
Twitter: UMCAthletics
Facebook: Golden Eagle Sports

Quick Hits


•Consistency from Harrell
    Ashton Harrell has shown strokes of his potential this season as the junior college transfer is averaging 8.4 points per game this season and has grown an even bigger part of UMC's offense recently. One problem for Harrell has been consistency but he was able to put up his most consistent weekend of the season against Minnesota State and Concordia-St. Paul last weekend as Harrell led the team with 14 points in both games.

•Dishing it Up
    Almir Krdzalic has stepped up his game overall and especially in his role of a point guard as of late. The senior from Sioux Falls, S.D. is averaging 4.7 assists per game in the last 10 games and has upped his season average to 3.8 assists per game. Krdzalic had a season-high seven assists against Northern State University earlier this season. Krdzalic is currently ranked sixth in the NSIC for assists. He tallied four assists against Concordia-St. Paul and five versus Minnesota State last weekend. Krdzalic is slowly closing in on the school record for career assists. The senior has 268 assists and is just 30 dishes behind Lee Roberts' school record of 298 which is feasible to accomplish in the four regular-season games and one guaranteed conference tournament game.

•Looking to get on a Winning Track
    The Golden Eagles remain winless in the NSIC and are currently on a 17-game losing streak with their last win coming Nov. 20 at Mayville State. UMC has been close several times in the losing streak as five of the losses have been by eight points or less including a last second one-point loss to U-Mary and a five-point loss to MSU Moorhead. UMC will look to snap the skid against University of Mary and Minot State University.

• An Added Spark
    A.J. Barge saw his most extensive playing time two Saturday's ago against Southwest Minnesota State and then against No. 5 Minnesota State, he came off the bench late and tallied a career-high 12 points in eight minutes against the Mavericks.  Barge, the starting quarterback for the football team during the last two seasons, joined the basketball team at semester break. Barge scored five points against the Mustangs. During Barge's time in the game, UMC was unable to cut their deficit from 10 points to two. Barge has scored 33 points since joining the team in January.

The Scoop

    The University of Minnesota, Crookston men's basketball team will head to North Dakota this weekend to face-off against a pair of NSIC North Division rivals as the Golden Eagles face University of Mary Friday in Bismarck, N.D. and Minot State University Saturday in Minot, N.D. The Golden Eagles are looking to end an 18-game losing streak.


Previewing the Golden Eagles
    Men
    The University of Minnesota, Crookston comes into the weekend with a 3-19 (0-18 NSIC) mark. The Golden Eagles have been led this season by Brandon Burns (Jr., F, Baton Rouge, La.), who is averaging 10.7 points per game while point guard Almir Krdzalic (Sr., G, Sioux Falls, S.D.), the sixth-best assist man in the NSIC, has had a strong season averaging 8.6 points per game and 3.8 assists per game. Ashton Harrell (Jr., G, Houston, Texas) has also been more productive of late as the junior led the team in scoring last weekend in both games. Harrell comes in averaging 8.4 points per game. The Golden Eagles are shooting 41.0 percent from the field and 32.6 percent from beyond the arc. Opponents are out-rebounding UMC 32.9 to 29.1 this season. UMC is led on the boards by James Sparkman's (R-Jr., F, Ypsilanti, Mich.) 5.0 rebounds per contest.
   
Previewing the Marauders

    Men
    The University of Mary Marauders come into the weekend with a 3-19 (2-16 NSIC) mark overall. The Marauders are on a 13-game losing streak as the team's last NSIC win came against UMC Dec. 15. The
Marauders have been without leading scorer and leading rebounder Alex Dorr recently. Dorr is averaging 13.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per season In his absence, U-Mary will have to rely even more on Josh Turner and Marc Musungayi. Turner comes in averaging 13.0 points per game while Musungayi is averaging a 10.0 point per game clip. Th Marauders come into the game shooting 44.1 percent as a team and 38.7 percent from beyond the arc. U-Mary is out-rebounding their opponents 33.2 to 31.0 this season.


Previewing the Beavers

    Men
    The Minot State University Beavers enter the weekend with an overall record of 8-14 (7-11 NSIC). The Beavers have lost three straight as they lost to Minnesota State University, Mankato, University of Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State University in their last three games. Minot State is led on the season by E.J. Williams' 10.9 points per game while Josh Johnson is averaging 9.8 points per contest. Minot State is shooting 40.7 percent as a team and 30.8 percent from beyond the arc. The Beavers are being out-rebounded 35.9 to 34.8 this season.