The Scoop
The Golden Eagles are looking to back on track as they have lost their last six games. They will look to get back on the winning track as they face the top team in the NSIC South Minnesota State University-Mankato Fri., Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. They will take on the last seed in the NSIC South Sat., Jan. 27 at 4 p.m. as they take on Concordia University, St. Paul. 

Previewing the Golden Eagles
Minnesota Crookston is looking to find their identity as they have had several injuries this season and added University of North Dakota transfer Josh Collins (Jr., F, Minneapolis, Minn.) at the break. The Golden Eagles are still off to their best start in the program's time in NCAA Division II. They are currently fighting for seeding as they are tied for fifth in the NSIC North with a 8-12 (5-9 NSIC) mark.

The Golden Eagles are led by the NSIC's leading scorer Harrison Cleary (So., G, Oak Creek, Wis.). The program's second-leading scorer of all-time is averaging 24.0 points per game, which is good for sixth in all of NCAA Division II. Cleary leads the nation by shooting 95.7 percent from the charity stripe. He has also been strong from beyond the arc where he is shooting 48.6 percent. In addition to his points, Cleary is tallying 4.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.

In addition to Cleary, Alan Hodge, Jr. (Jr., G, Dallas, Texas) is coming off the bench for 16.1 points per game. Hodge is shooting 41.0 percent from beyond the arc. Cleary and Hodge are aided in the back-court by freshman Ben Juhl. Juhl is notching 10.5 points per game. He is a 34.2 percent shooter from beyond the arc on the season.

In the post, Minnesota Crookston is led by Gable Smith, who is one of the best defensive players in the country. Smith leads the nation with 3.75 blocked shots per game. He has also come around offensively as he is notching  8.1 points per game and a team-high 6.9 rebounds per game. Division I transfer Collins continues to come into his own. In six games this season, he is averaging 6.2 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

The Golden Eagles have overall been a strong offensive team this season with 77.0 points per game. 

Minnesota Crookston has struggled in recent games averaging just 66.3 points per game. The Golden Eagles are shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from behind the three-point line. The Golden Eagles are shooting 77.1 percent from the foul line.  Minnesota Crookston is being out-rebounded on the season 35.7 to 33.4. 

Previewing the Mavericks
Minnesota State University is off to one of their best starts since they went 30-5 on the 2013-14 season. The Mavericks have three Division I transfers and two Division II transfers on their roster. They are paced by point guard Charlie Brown's 15.6 points per game. In addition, Kevin Krieger has had a strong season for Minnesota state with 14.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Krieger is a 52.0 percent three-point shooter. Guard Chris Kendrix has also had a major impact with 12.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Kendrix is a 50.0 percent three-point shooter. In the post, Cameron Kirksey leads the way with 12.2 points per game.

The Mavericks look to Carlos Anderson off the bench with 11.2 points per game.

Minnesota State has been a high-scoring offense with 84.1 points per game. The Mavericks are allowing 74.7 points per game defensively. Minnesota State is shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 43.7 percent from three-point range. The Mavericks are shooting 76.9 percent from the foul line.

Previewing the Golden Bears
Concordia-St. Paul has struggled on the 2017-18 season with a 3-17 (2-12 NSIC) mark. The Golden Bears has lost four-straight games. 

The Golden Bears are led by junior guard Bryndan Matthews with 15.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. In addition, guard Avan Ward is notching 14.4 points per game. In the post, center Ted Brown is tallying 8.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

Concordia-St. Paul is shooting 44.5 percent from the field this season. The Golden Bears struggle from beyond the arc where they are shooting just 32.6 percent. Concordia-St. Paul is led from beyond the arc by Max Keefe, who shoots 39.4 percent. Ward is hitting at a 36.3 percent clip this season. The Golden Bears shoot just 70.4 percent from the charity stripe.

Concordia-St. Paul has been strong on the boards this season with 35.0 rebounds per game to their opponents 32.1 rebounds per game. Matthews leads the team with 7.3 rebounds per game, while Brown notches 5.2 boards per game. The Golden Bears have struggled with ball control this season as they are averaging over 14 turnovers per game. 

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Dan Weisse
Record at UMC: 25-76 Season at UMC: Fourth Season

Minnesota State Mavericks
Head Coach: Matt Marganthaler
Record at MSU: 367-147 Season at MSU: 17th Season

Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears
Head Coach: Joey James
Record at CSP: 41-69 Season at CSP: Fourth Season

Date: Jan. 26, 2018
Time: 8 p.m.
Opponent: Minnesota State University-Mankato
Site: Mankato, Minn. (Taylor Center, 4,800)
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/mnsu/mbball/
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/mnsu/
Date: Jan. 27, 2018
Time: 6 p.m.
Opponent: Concordia University-St. Paul
Site: St. Paul, Minn. (Gangelhoff Center, 4,000)
Live Stats: http://cspbears.com/sports/2012/10/12/MBB_1012123535.aspx?id=81
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/csp/
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM
Officials (Friday): Jason Nickelby, Jeff Coombe, Travis Gardner
Officials (Saturday): Bill Fisher Darren Sheldon, Levi Pearson
Last (MSU): Minnesota State leads the all-time series 18-0
Series: U-Mary leads the NCAA Division II series 17-5.
Last (CSP): Concordia-St. Paul leads the all-time series 22-5. 
Series: Minot State leads the all-time series 9-2 over Minnesota Crookston.

Minnesota Crookston
Projected Starters
So. PG 0 Harrison Cleary, 6-1, Oak Creek, Wis. 24.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 4.2 APG
Fr. SG 2 Ben Juhl, 6-1, Clive, Iowa 10.5 PPG, 2.4 RPG
Jr. 3G 13 Darin Viken, 6-2, Fosston, Minn. 2.7 PPG, 2.5 RPG
Jr. SF 30 Josh Collins, 6-6, Minneapolis, Minn. 6.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG
R-Jr. PF 24 Gable Smith, 6-7, Lodi, Wis. 8.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.8 BPG
Top Bench Players
Jr. G 1 Alan Hodge, Jr., 6-0, Dallas, Texas 16.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG
Jr. F/C 44 Javier Nicolau, 6-11, Castellon, Spain 3.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG
R-Fr. G 10 Gabrys Sadaunykas, 6-4, Vilnius, Lithuania 1.6 PPG, 1.2 RPG

Minnesota State

Projected Starters
Sr. PG 11 Charlie Brown, 6-1, Joplin, Mo. 15.6 PPG, 3.9 APG
Sr. SG 33 Chris Kendrix, 6-5, Springfield, Mo. 12.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG
Jr. 3G 10 Cole Harper, 6-5, Spring Field, Ill. 6.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG
So. SF 25 Kevin Krieger, 6-6, Plainfield, Ill. 15.3 PPG, 5.9 RPG
So. PF 21 Cameron Kirksey, 6-6, Apple Valley, Minn. 12.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG

Top Bench Players
Jr. G 2 Carlos Anderson, 6-4, Alton, Ill. 11.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG
Sr. F/C 34 Isaac Kreuer, 6-10, Harrisonville, Mo. 5.1 PPG, 2.1 RPG
Fr. G 1 Jamal Nixon, 6-6, Oak Park, Ill. 3.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG
So. F 5 Carter Asche, 6-9, Raymond, Minn. 3.2 PPG, 1.1 RPG

Concordia-St. Paul
Projected Starters
So., PG 0 Avan Ward, 6-0, Kansas City, Mo.  14.4 PPG, 4.2 RPG
Sr. 3G 2 Ahmad Newsome, 6-2, East Lansing, Mich. 5.2 PPG, 2.6 RPG
Jr. 3G 23 Bryndan Matthews, 6-4, Eagan, Minn. 15.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG
So. SF 32 Max Keefe, 6-7, Germantown, Wis. 4.8 PPG, 2.6 RPG
So. PF 33 Ted Brown, 6-10, West Des Moines, Iowa 8.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG
Top Bench Players
Jr. F 22 Evan Wesenberg, 6-6, Germantown, Wis. 6.1 PPG, 4.2 RPG
Jr. F 1 Brandon McRoy, 6-4, Chicago, Ill. 5.3 PPG, 2.5 RPG
Jr. G 3 Elliot Kane, 6-2, Champlin, Minn. 5.2 PPG, 2.0 RPG
Fr. F 35 Cody Carlson, 6-9, Duluth, Minn. 4.3 PPG, 3.1 RPG

#5StoryLines
1. Can the Golden Eagles get added scoring this weekend off of the bench and from players other than Harrison Cleary? 

2. Can Minnesota Crookston limit the scoring from the Minnesota State starting five?

3. Can the Golden Eagles limit the CSP backcourt of Bryndan Matthews and Avan Ward?

4. Will Gable Smith continue to be a pest in the paint with his blocked shots? 

5. Will Harrison Cleary have a big weekend for the Golden Eagles?

#SensationalScorer
Minnesota Crookston sophomore guard Harrison Cleary has had a 
phenomenal start to his young career. Cleary leads the league with his 24.0 points per game, which is sixth nationally. In addition, he leads the nation as a free throw shooter by hitting at a 95.7 percent clip. Cleary is also potent from beyond the arc where he leads the Golden Eagles by shooting 48.6 percent. He has already surpassed 1,000 points in his career and is looking to continue his strong start to his career. Cleary averaged 31.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game last weekend. 

#Denied
Minnesota Crookston redshirt junior Gable Smith has always been a shot block machine with a school-record 198 blocks. Smith has taken it to a new level this year with an NCAA Division II leading 3.75 blocks per game. Smith has tallied five or more blocks in seven games this season. He has also continued to progress as an offensive player where he is averaging 8.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Smith leads the team by shooting 60.5 percent from the field. He tallied 10 points, six rebounds and four blocks last Saturday against Minot State. He will look to have a big weekend on the road as the Golden Eagles take on Minnesota State and Concordia-St. Paul. 

#NewAddition
The Golden Eagles added 6-6 forward Josh Collins at semester break. The junior transfer from Division I University of North Dakota has started four-straight games for Minnesota Crookston. Collins continues to come into his own as he acclimates to the Division II game and his new teammates. The junior is averaging 8.5 points per game in his last two. He will look to be a major factor for Minnesota Crookston against Minnesota State and Concordia-St. Paul. 

#DefenseOffTheBench
Golden Eagle redshirt freshman Gabrys Sadaunykas has earned minutes due to his defense, but the Vilnius, Lithuania native came up in the clutch last weekend with two three-pointers down the stretch as it put pressure on Minot State in the final minutes. Sadaunykas continues to grow as a player on both fronts and will look to play a major impact down the stretch for the Golden Eagles.