Crookston, Minn. – After a 73-54 exhibition victory over Hamline University to open up the 2021-22 season, Minnesota Crookston men's basketball closes out the exhibition portion of their schedule with the Comets of Mayville State on Thursday night in Crookston.
 
Mayville State has already played six games on the season, but is 1-2 on the season, due to playing three exhibition games.
 
How to Follow
Mayville State @ Minnesota Crookston
Date: Thursday, Nov. 4
Time: 6 PM
Exhibition Game
Officials: Ben Wolden, Mike Gullingsrud and Blake Eggl
Live Stats: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
 
Note: Thursday's game will not be live-streamed on the NSIC Network.
 
University of Minnesota Crookston
Head Coach: Dan Weisse (8^th Season)
Record at UMC: 56-118
 
Mayville State University Comets
Head Coach: Darren Tighe (5^th Season)
Record at MSU: 77-32
 
About the Golden Eagles
Minnesota Crookston got their eighth season under the helm of head coach Dan Weisse off to a great start with a solid 19-point victory over the Pipers of Hamline University last Saturday afternoon. Minnesota Crookston will look to end their brief two game exhibition season with a win over a solid Comets team.
 
In the win over the Pipers, the Golden Eagles were led by redshirt junior Leonard Dixon (R-Jr., F, Demascus, Ore.), who finished with 16 points on 5-16 shooting from the field and 12 rebounds, which also led the Golden Eagles. Dixon finished with two double-doubles a season ago. Zach Westphal (R-Sr., G, West Fargo, N.D.) didn't miss a shot against the Pipers, finishing 5-5 from the field and 2-2 from deep to finish with 14 points.
 
A trio Golden Eagle newcomers had really nice debuts as well for the Golden Eagles. Uzo Dibiamaka (R-So., G, Adelaide, South Australia) joined Dixon and Westphal in double-figures, finishing with 11 points on 4-8 shooting from the field, while also dishing out three assists. Sam Tiley (Jr., F, Fort Collins, Colo.) and Zen Goodridge (R-Jr., C, Orlando, Fla.) finished with six points each. Goodridge also pulled down seven rebounds.
 
As a team, the Golden Eagles shot 41 percent from the field and 36 percent from deep, while holding the Pipers to shoot just 36.1 percent from the field and just over 22 percent from deep. Minnesota Crookston also outrebounded Hamline by 12. It was a good start on the defensive end for the Golden Eagles.
 
About the Comets
The Comets are expected to compete on the national level of the NAIA this season. So far, the Comets are 1-2 on the season, but gave Division I foe North Dakota all they could handle on Monday night, losing 68-64 at the Betty Englestad Sioux Center in Grand Forks. Mayville State trailed by just one to the Fighting Hawks with 1:37 remaining in the game.
 
The Golden Eagles have won two straight games against the Comets dating back to 2010-11. Both of those games were in the regular season.
 
In Monday's loss to UND, the Comets had three players in double-figures, led by Winder Joseph's 20 points, 17 from Latrelle Franklin and Colby Dillenbeck, who finished with 11 off the bench. Joseph and Franklin combined to take 27 shots from the field, each making six. Both Joseph and Franklin made three shots from deep as well.
 
On the season, Mayville State has two scorers averaging in double-figures through three games, led by Thomas Gieske. The Sartell, Minn., is averaging 18.0 points per game on 67 percent shooting from the field. Winder is the other double-figure scorer, scoring 14.7 per game on 61.3 percent shooting from the field. The duo hasn't missed much this season.
 
The Comets have allowed their opponents to shoot over 50 percent from the field on the season this season. The three-point line has been an issue for Mayville State, shooting 20-70 from deep, which is below 30 percent on the season.