Minnesota Crookston Host Mavericks and Golden Bears to Open Up Four Game Homestand


            • The Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team is back home in Lysaker gymnasium looking to end a four-game skid. The four game losing streak were games all on the road and comes after the Golden Eagles won three in a row at home against Jamestown, Winona State and Upper Iowa. The Golden Eagles will look to get a statement win over MSU, Mankato, after coming up just eight points shy against Sioux Falls last Saturday night. After trailing by 14 midway throught the second quarter, Minnesota Crookston went on a 15-0 run to take a one point lead. The Golden Eagles would have their biggest lead of five late in the game, but the Cougars proved to be too much at home. The Golden Eagles have proven to be one of the best teams offensively in the NSIC. The Golden Eagles are still in the top ten in multiple offensive categories, including scoring offense (8th), scoring margin (8th), free throw percentage (9th) and three point percentage (4th). The Golden Eagles will look to continue the consistent offensive output this weekend against Minnesota State University, Mankato and Concordia-St. Paul. Tip-off with the Mavericks is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday night in Lysaker Gymnasium. The Golden Bears and the Golden Eagles will do battle at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon in Crookston.

            • LINEUP CHANGE. The Golden Eagles changed things up on Saturday night at Sioux Falls. Minnesota Crookston inserted Malcolm Cohen and Javier Nicolau into the starting lineup for the first time this season. Cohen, the redshirt junior from Detroit, Mich., scored 13 points on Saturday night, the eighth time the lefty has scored in double figures this season. On the season, Cohen is averaging 8.6 PPG on 44 percent shooting from the field. Nicolau, the 6-10 junior from Castellon, Spain had his best outing in a Golden Eagle. Nicolau had 10 points in the game, including six in the second half, all of which came on three point makes. Nicolau made the most of his first career start as a Golden Eagle and he will look to continue that momentum this weekend.

            • BALANCED ATTACK. The key to the success this season for Minnesota Crookston has been the balanced scoring that the Golden Eagles have seen this year. The Golden Eagles are led by junior guard Harrison Cleary, who is scoring at an impressive rate, 21.8 PPG. Chase Knickerbocker and Ben Juhl are also averaging in double figures this season for Minnesota Crookston, sitting at 11.2 PPG and 10.5 PPG, respectively. Cohen, Josh Collins and Brian Sitzmann are each averaging more than 7 PPG. The Golden Eagles will look to continue the balanced attack this weekend.

            • HE'S ONLY A JUNIOR. Coming into the season, Harrison Cleary was a household name in the NSIC. 25 games into the season, Cleary is making it clear that he will go down as one of the best scorers in conference history. This past weekend, Cleary passed two NSIC legends in Casey Schilling of Augustana on Friday night for seventh all-time and former Golden Eagle great Joe Hasz for sixth all-time on the conference scoring list. Cleary, who currently sits at 1,390 conference points as a chance to move into the top five this weekend. Cleary needs just four points to pass Cody Schilling of Augustana. Cleary also needs just 32 points to move past Hasz on the school scoring list. Hasz set the school record with 1,917 points all-time, a record that has been standing for 15 seasons.


          • HE'S A SAVAGE. Redshirt freshman Brian Sitzmann is coming into his own as a Golden Eagle. Sitzmann has started the last six games for Minnesota Crookston and is averaging 9.8 PPG in his last six starts. In that six game stretch, Sitzmann has scored in double-figures in half of those games. The Savage, Minn., native, also got his first real test defensively as a Golden Eagles. On Saturday night, Sitzmann was on Trevon Evans, who came into that game with the third best scoring average on the season, right behind Ryan Bruggeman, who the Golden Eagles saw on Friday night and Gage Davis of St. Cloud State University. Evans, who was averaging 22.0 PPG on the season, scored just 13 points on Saturday night, his second lowest output of the season.

          • RESILIENCY. Coming off of a tough loss last Friday evening at the hands of Southwest Minnesota State, the Golden Eagles were looking to rebound in a big way on Saturday and upset Sioux Falls. Midway through the second half, the Cougars led by 14, but the Golden Eagles came storming right back. Minnesota Crookston went on a 15-0 run to take a one point lead. The resiliency of the Golden Eagles is something that Minnesota Crookston will look to continue this season.


          •   SHOOTER'S TOUCH. Senior forward Josh Collins is continuing to prove his worth for the Golden Eagles this season. The transfer from the University of North Dakota is in the top five in field goal percentage in the NSIC and has started in every single game this season. Collins has made 41 shots on the year and has missed just 33 shot attempts on the season. 


Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Dan Weisse
Record at UMC: 41-94 Season at UMC: Fifth Season

MSU Mankato Mavericks
Head Coach: Matt Margenthaler
Record at MSU: 390-160 Season at MSU Mankato: 18th Season

CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL GOLDEN BEARS
Head Coach: Joey James
Record at CSP:51-90 Season at CSP: Fifth Season

MSU Mankato at Minnesota Crookston
Date: Fri., Feb. 8
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/#liveEventsTab
Live Stats: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Series Record: MSU Mankato leads the all-time series 16-0
Last Meeting: The Mavericks won the last meeting 80-78 on Jan. 26, 2018 in Mankato, Minn.
Trends: Harrison Cleary has scored 42 and 46 points in the last two meetings against the Mavericks
Refs: Doug Votava, Levi Pearson, Darren Sheldon


Concordia-St. Paul at Minnesota Crookston
Date: Sat., Feb. 9
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/#liveEventsTab
Live Stats: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Series Record: CSP leads the all-time series 21-5
Last Meeting: CSP won the last meeting 74-68 in St. Paul on Jan. 27, 2018
Trends: These two programs have split the last two meetings.
Refs: Reggie Jackson, Jeff Mosca, Mike Gullingsrud

Minnesota Crookston
Projected Starters
Jr. PG 0 Harrison Cleary (6-1 180, Oak Creek, Wis.)  21.8 PPG 3.2 RPG 4.0 APG
R-Fr. SG 14 Brian Sitzmann (5-4 192, Savage, Minn.) 7.0 PPG 2.3 RPG
R-Jr. G/F 12 Malcolm Cohen (6-6 210, Detroit, Mich.)  8.6 PPG, 2.8 RPG
Sr. PF 30 Josh Collins (6-6 230, Minneapolis, Minn.)  8.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG
Jr. F/C 44 Javier Nicolau (6-10 220, Castellon, Spain)  3.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG
Top Bench Players
So. G 2 Ben Juhl (6-1 186, Clive, Iowa) 10.2 PPG 2.1 RPG 1.5 APG
Sr. G 13 Darin Viken (6-1 200, Fosston, Minn.)  3.0 PPG, 1.8 RPG
R-Sr. C 24 Gable Smith (6-7 225, Lodi, Wis.)  5.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.2 BPG
R-So. F 21 Chase Johnson (6-8 240, La Crosse, Wis.)  3.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG
Sr. SF 25 Chase Knickerbocker (6-7 210, Annandale, Minn.) 11.5 PPG, 4.4 RPG

MSU MANKATO
Projected Starters
Jr. G 0 Juwan Mccloud (6-0 170, Germantown, Wis.) 12.3 PPG 2.1 RPG 3.3 APG
So. G 1 Jamal Nixon (6-6 210, Plainfield, Ill.) 5.7 PPG 4.5 RPG
Sr. G 2 Carlos Anderson (6-4 205, Alton, Ill.) 14.2 PPG 4.8 RPG
Jr. F 21 Cameron Kirksey (6-6 210, Apple Valley, Minn.) 18.7 PPG 5.6 RPG
Jr. G 25 Kevin Krieger (6-6 215, Plainfield, Ill.) 13.6 PPG 8.1 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. G 13 Tre Baumgartner (6-1 170, Columbus, Ohio) 7.1 PPG 2.5 RPG
Sr. G 22 Karson Arrenholz (6-1 170, Delevan, Ill.) 4.8 PPG 1.6 RPG

Concordia-st.paul 
Projected Starters
Sr. G 3 Eliott Kane (6-2 185, Champlin, Minn.) 7.6 PPG 2.9 RPG
Sr. G 15 Isaiah Mckay (6-2 170, Brooklyn Park, Minn.) 19.5 PPG 4.6 RPG 3.4 APG
Fr. F 21 Hayden Baughman (6-5 210, Cornell, Wis.) 8.4 PPG 3.5 RPG
Sr. G 23 Bryndan Matthews (6-4 190, Eagan, Minn.) 19.1 PPG 8.4 RPG 4.0 APG
So. F 35 Cody Carlson (6-9 210, Duluth, Minn.) 8.4 PPG 4.5 RPG
Top Bench Players
So. G 5 Lee Higgins (6-3 185, Chicago, Ill.) 4.6 PPG 2.5 RPG
Fr. G 10 Noah Kannegiesser (5-11 160, Hancock, Minn.) 4.3 PPG
Jr. F 32 Max Keefe (6-7 210, Germantown, Wis.) 5.1 PPG 2.5 RPG

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MAVERICKS.   The Mavericks go into Friday's contest with a 15-7 overall record and a strong 11-5 conference record.  They are currently ranked 2nd in the South, just trailing Wayne State by one loss.  Minnesota State is scoring 83.1 PPG, while the rest of the conference is scoring 76.1 PPG.  They are looking to add another win to their record this weekend against the Golden Eagles.

BASKETBALL FACTORY.  6'6" junior forward from Apple Valley, Minn., a high school basketball powerhouse in the land of 10,000 lakes, Cameron Kirksey has helped lead the Mavericks to success this season.  In 22 games, Kirksey has scored 355 points while averaging 18.7 PPG and is currently 10th in the conference for scoring.  He is a key offensive player who is hoping to improve their record and pick up a road win. Kirksey would have been teammates with Duke freshman star Tre Jones, who is the brother of current Minnesota Timberwolf Tyus Jones.

GO-TO. Native of Alton, Ill., Carlos Anderson has been a key player for the Mavericks this season.  Anderson leads in minutes played (681) and has started all 22 games during the 2018-2019 season.  He has had 128 rebounds this season, 93 of which are offensive.  The 6'4" senior guard is also averaging 14.2 PPG, and has scored a total of 312 points.  

SPARKPLUG. Kevin Krieger, a 6'6" junior guard from Plainfield, Ill., has come off the bench for the Mavericks in all 22 games, helping them with their successful record.  Krieger has had 218 points so far this season, averaging 13.6 PPG.  He is also leading Minnesota State in rebounds, 130, 106 of those are defensive.  

CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL GOLDEN BEARS. Heading into Saturday's game with an 8-14 overall record and 3-13 conference record, the Golden Bears are hoping to pick up another win against the Golden Eagles.  Ranked seventh in the South, they are currently outshooting the Golden Eagles by 0.6 points.  They average 79.2 PPG while UMC is scoring 78.6 PPG. 

MCKAY MAKES IT LOOK EASY. Senior guard from Brooklyn Park, Minn., Isaiah McKay has been a key player for the Golden Bears.  Starting all 22 games this season, McKay is leading Concordia for points per game at 19.5, and points this season with 430.  Within 695 minutes, he has had 93 rebounds, 74 assists, and 19 steals.  He looks to add another win to their record on Saturday.

BOOK IT BRYNDAN.Native of Eagan, Minn., senior guard Bryndan Matthews is another player to watch during Saturday's contest.  Matthews is leading the Golden Bears in rebounds (140), assists (89), steals (24), and minutes played at 821 minutes.  He is also a big scorer as well, with 19.1 points per game and 421 on the 2018-2019 season.  He will be a threat to the Golden Eagles this weekend.

NICE START. A 6'5" freshman forward from Germantown, Wis., Hayden Baughman has stepped up to the plate during his first season.  Making an appearance in all 22 games this season, Baughman is averaging 8.4 points per game, with 168 points on the season.  He has had 69 rebounds, 61 of which are defensive and has played a total of 514 minutes.  Baughman hopes to continue his impressive first season. 

#5StoryLines

1. Can Minnesota Crookston bounce back in Lysaker Gymnaisum?

2. Can Malcolm Cohen continue to give the Golden Eagles a spark offensively?

3. Can the Golden Eagles get a statement win?

4. Can Harrison Cleary continue to carry the load offensively?

5. Who will step up off the bench for 
Minnesota Crookston?