Minnesota Crookston Men Set for Home Non-Conference Game Against Golden Bears Wednesday; Head to Wisconsin for  Haribo Invitational Hosted by Parkside


#TIDBITS

Golden Eagle men's basketball opened up the season this past weekend in the Sooner State and had the best start to a season you could have. The Golden Eagles were able to knock off East Central on Friday afternoon, stretching their lead to as big as 30 in the second half and holding off a furious Tiger rally. On Saturday, the script was flipped, as the Golden Eagles trailed by eight with less than four minutes to go, only to go on a 14-4 run in the closing minutes to knock off the Bison for their first true road win in almost two years. This weekend, it will be three games in five days, as the Golden Eagles open up the home portion of their schedule against Concordia-St. Paul on Wednesday and then head to Kenosha, Wis., for a pair of games against Davenport and Parkside.

·   THE REID FACTOR. Last week, we talked about North Dakota transfer Reid Grant and how much of an impact he could have on both sides. Turns out, the impact he makes is pretty large. The junior from Iowa was every bit of outstanding this past weekend for the Golden Eagles. Grant played 37.5 minutes last weekend, the most by a Golden Eagle and averaged less than 14 points per game in the two games. He scored a career-high 16 points against East Central and 11 against Oklahoma Baptist, none bigger than his three-point make with three seconds left to give the Golden Eagles a 69-67 lead and a 2-0 record. Golden Eagle fans will get to see first hand just how much of an impact No. 3 makes on Wednesday.

• HEY (HOVER) SON, LET IT FLY. It's just two games, but the Golden Eagles lead the NSIC in three-point percentage, shooting at a clip over 50 percent and a big part of that is Dakota State transfer Ben Hoverson. The junior from Grand Forks shot 8-13 from deep and averaged 14.5 points per game on the weekend. Hoverson was a career-best 5-7 from deep in his first game as a Golden Eagle. Currently, Hoverson is third in the NSIC in three-point percentage and fourth in makes from deep.

·  STIFLING DEFENSE. The Golden Eagles are long, athletic and physical. Those three attributes are key to a solid defense. Minnesota Crookston showed a preview of what they can be on that side of the ball this past weekend. The Golden Eagles allowed 61.5 points per game, more than 20 points less than a season ago. The Golden Eagles allowed their two opponents to shoot just 33 percent from the field and 26 percent from deep, a recipe for success in the NSIC. The Golden Eagles are currently top five in the conference in both of those categories. It was a great start on that side of the ball and they will look for more of that success this weekend.

·   BLAIZE A TRAIL.  Blaize Sagna spent most of last season as the primary ball handler for the Golden Eagles. Through two games this year, he is playing more off the ball and it paid dividends. The junior from London scored in double-figures in both games this past weekend, including a huge 19 point performance against Oklahoma Baptist. Sagna scored nine of his 19 points in the last 10 minutes of the game and 13 of his team-high 19 in the second half. Big time players make big time plays and that's exactly what Sagna is.

·    STUFF THE STATS. Aguek Deng made timely plays and pulled down huge rebounds this weekend. The redshirt junior from Des Moines was outstanding this past weekend, averaging 11 rebounds per game, which leads the NSIC. Deng had a monster game on Saturday, scoring eight points, pulling down 10 rebounds and blocking four shots. Deng uses his length to affect the game in a huge way and he has been an outstanding addition to the Golden Eagles.

·   WEIRD STRETCH. The Golden Eagles will play a rare Wednesday night game against the Golden Bears. Minnesota Crookston's last game on a Wednesday night came all the way back in 2018, a 61-point win over Oak Hills Christian, inside Lysaker Gymnasium. This rare game will be the first of three games in four days and the first of four games in six days. The Golden Eagles will look to continue their success into this funky stretch for the next week or so.

• PETER PUNCHES OFF THE BENCH. After missing all of last season due to an injury, it was really good to see redshirt freshman Peter Fuchs, Jr., play and play well. The Wausau, Wis., native came off the bench both games and added a scoring punch, scoring seven points in both games against the Tigers and Bison. Fuchs, Jr., was able to get the rim and played solid defense as well and he will look to continue that punch off the bench throughout the season.


Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Bryan Beamish
Record at UMC: 4-26 Season at UMC: Eighth Season (Second as Head Coach)


Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears
Head Coach: Matt Fletcher
Record at CSP: 13-59 Season at CSP: 4th Season


Davenport University Panthers
Head Coach:Burt Paddock
Record at DU: 334-146 Season at DU: 16th Season


Parkside Rangers
Head Coach: Luke Reigel
Record at Parkside: 299-265 Season at Parkside: 21st Season


Concordia-St. Paul @ Minnesota Crookston
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 15
Time: 5 P.M.
Place: Lysaker Gymnasium / Crookston, Minn.
Watch: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/
Live Stats: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Series Record: CSP leads the all-time series 24-9
Last Meeting:84-68 win for the Golden Bears last season
Officials: Mark Riggs, Ben Wolden and Brad Sylliaasen


Minnesota Crookston vs Davenport
Date: Friday, Nov. 17
Time: 5 P.M.
Place: Kenosha, Wis. / De Simone Arena
Watch: https://team1sports.com/Parkside/
Live Stats: N/A
Series Record: These two teams have never met
Last Meeting: These two teams have never met
Officials: N/A


Minnesota Crookston @ Parkside
Date: Friday, Nov. 18
Time: 3  P.M.
Place: Kenosha, Wis. / De Simone Arena
Watch: https://team1sports.com/Parkside/
Live Stats: N/A
Series Record: Parkside leads the all-time series 1-0
Last Meeting: A 78-56 win for the Rangers in Kenosha, Wis., in 2019
Officials: N/A


Weekly Snapshot

Minnesota Crookston (2-0)
Projected Starters
Jr. G 3 Reid Grant (6-3, Johnston, Iowa) 13.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG
Jr. G 1 Blaize Sagna (6-3, London, England) 15.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG
R-Jr. F 13 Aguek Deng (6-9, Des Moines, Iowa) 5.5 PPG, 11.0 RPG
R-Sr. F 2 De'Antray Hughes (6-7 New Orleans, La.) 7.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG
Jr. F 33 Ben Hoverson (6-6, Grand Forks, N.D.) 14.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG
Top Bench Players
R-So. F 10 Jordan Mitchell (6-8, Columbus, Ohio) 1.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG
R-Fr. G 12 Peter Fuchs, Jr. (6-4, Wausau, Wis.) 7.0 PPG
Concordia-St. Paul (1-1)
Projected Starters
Jr. G 1 Markus Skeete (6-5, Aurora, Ill.) 17.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG
Sr. G 0 Antwan Kimmons (6-0, St. Paul, Minn.) 14.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG
Jr. F 4 Japannah Kellogg (6-8, Ames, Iowa) 7.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG
Jr. G 3 Ian Sluice (6-3, Tulsa, Okla.) 4.5 PPG, 1.5 RPG
Sr. G 35 Jordan Horn (6-2, St. Paul, Minn.) 21.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. G 5 Ben Kopetzki (6-0, Andover, Minn.) 10.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG
So. G 10 Sean Mathieu (6-2, New Orleans, La.) 6.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG
Fr. F 32 Chet Kloss (6-6, Apple Valley, Minn.) 2.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG
Davenport (0-2)
Projected Starters
Jr. G 2 Raishaun Brown (6-1, Arden, N.C.) 5.5 PPG, 1.0 RPG
R-Sr. G 3 Myles Belyeu (6-4, Cleveland, Ohio) 10.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG
R-Jr. G 5 Mercedus Leech, Jr. (6-5, Caruthersville, Mo.) 12.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG
R-Sr. F 11 Jakub Dombeck (6-11, Prague, Czech Republic) 6.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG
Jr. F 40 Jeff Carrier (6-7, Ludington, Mich.) 2.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG
Top Bench Players
Jr. C 51 James Felton (6-10, Mason, Mich.) 6.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG
Jr. G 12 Jovan Tucker (6-3, Chicago, Ill.) 4.0 PPG, 1.0 RPG
Fr. F 34 Aidan Moon (6-5, Ann Arbor, Mich.) 3.5 PPG, 2.0 RPG
R-So. F 10 Jaden Terrell (6-7, Wheeling, Ill.) 3.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG
Jr. F 30 Matas Deksnys (6-8, Lockport, Ill.) 3.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG


Parkside (2-0)
Projected Starters
R-Jr. G 3 Josiah Palmer (6-2, Flossmoor, Ill.) 16.5 PPG, 2.0 RPG
So. F 4 Ethan Ivan (6-7, Batavia, Ill.) 5.5 PPG, 1.5 RPG
R-Jr. F 12 Nick Brown (6-5, Elkhorn, Wis.) 12.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG
So. G 14 Jack Rose (6-5, Bristol, Wis.) 12.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG
R-Jr. F 20 Colin O'Rourke (6-8, Plainfield, Ill.) 9.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. G 5 Rokas Castillo (6-0, Lemont, Ill.) 7.5 PPG, 1.5 RPG
5th F 24 Sam DeVault (6-9, Evansville, Ind.) 12.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG


KNOW THE OPPONENTS

Concordia-St.Paul. The Golden Bears will meet the Golden Eagles in non-conference action for the second time in five seasons, the first was on a neutral floor, this one will be on the road at Minnesota Crookston. CSP came into Crookston 1-1 on the year with a pair of one basket games last weekend. CSP lost a two point game to Newman to open the season, but bounced back with a two point victory against Rogers State. The Golden Bears are a dynamic offensive team, scoring 80 points or more in both games, but they struggle defensively, allowing more than 80 points in both games this past weekend.

A STAR IS HORN. Jordan Horn has played just a pair of games at his hometown school, but he is a star for the Golden Bears. Horn was a Mr. Basketball finalist back in 2017 at Tartan High School, then continued his outstanding career at Division I Siena College in New York where he played 55 career games. He then transferred to UT-Permian Basin where he was outstanding, averaging over 17 points per game as a Falcon and made the All-Lone Star Conference team in 2021-22. Horn is now back in his home city and is fourth in the NSIC in scoring with 21.5 points per game. He adds another scoring threat to a team that already had no trouble doing it last season.

Davenport. The Panthers will be 0-2 when they meet the Golden Eagles and lost a pair of games by more than 15 points last weekend. The Panthers were 7-21 a season, but they are just two years removed from making the NCAA Tournament after being a Division II program for just five seasons. The Panthers were an NAIA power and will look to store that power at the NCAA level.

CLEVELAND ROCKS. Cleveland, Ohio native Myles Belyeu will be one of the go-to players this year for the school based in Grand Rapids, Mich. Belyue is one of two Panthers averaging double-figures and scored 11 points in a loss to Rockhurst just last Saturday. Expect Belyeu to be a main contributor on Friday and this season.

Parkside. The Rangers are 2-0 and have a pair of outstanding wins to open up the season with victories over the University of Indianapolis and Illinois-Springfield. The Rangers were 21-9 a season ago and advanced to the NCAA Tournament, where they fell in the first round to Missouri-St. Louis. It will be a tall task for the Golden Eagles this Saturday, who will look for their second true road win of the season and some revenge for 2019, when Parkside knocked off the Golden Eagles by 22.

THE ARC OF JOSIAH. Josiah Palmer was a huge reason why the Rangers were able to win their first two games of the season and knock off perennial power and 2022-23 NCAA Tournament team, UIndy, last Friday. Palmer, the junior from Illinois, was outstanding, finishing with 26 points on 8-11 shooting from the field and added eight assists and three rebounds. Palmer is the head of the snake for the Rangers, who average 77 points per game.