Men's Basketball | 12/31/2024 11:11:00 AM

#TIDBITS

Golden Eagle men's basketball hopes to ring in the New Year this weekend with some home cookin'. The Golden Eagles will welcome in their first 'South' NSIC opponents this weekend, as Southwest Minnesota State and The University of Sioux Falls make their way to Crookston for the first of two meetings this season. Minnesota Crookston is coming off of a split last weekend at Northern State and MSU Moorhead and now will look to rack up some wins in the thick of NSIC play.

·   WACHS W. The Golden Eagles have been extremely close multiple times to earning a win at Wachs Arena, known as one of the toughest places to play in the Northern Sun. They were close in 2001, 2011, 2017 and 2019 to earning that elusive win in Aberdeen. Finally, in 2024, the Golden Eagles were able to grit and grind their way to a huge conference win for their first ever win in Aberdeen, S.D. The win saw the Golden Eagles overcome multiple double-digit deficits, including a 14-point deficit, which was their largest of the night. Chandler Meeks capped off the win with a go-ahead jumper with 21 seconds left for the 73-71 win.

• GETTING POINTS AT THE STRIPE. In that win for the Golden Eagles over Northern State, junior Andrew Stokes once again stood out. Stokes, the junior from Illinois, finished the night with 17 points, eight rebounds and two assists. His 17 points were a little unconventional. Stokes finished the game 3-11, but he was outstanding at the charity stripe, going 11-13 at the all-important free throw line. Stokes' 11 makes from the charity stripe were the most made in a game since Blaize Sagna made the same amount a season ago and the most since Harrison Cleary was 12-12 at the stripe against Southwest Minnesota State, which was also the same game he broke the NSIC scoring record. Stokes also pulled down a massive rebound late in the game.

·  MAKE WAY FOR MEEKS. When the Golden Eagles needed a bucket or a big play in the Friday night win at Northern State, they looked the way of their redshirt sophomore guard Chandler Meeks, more often than not. That included when the game was tied at 71. Meeks drilled a straightaway jumper, giving the Golden Eagles a comeback win and their second conference win of the year. Meeks was outstanding in that game, finishing with 12 points and pulling down five rebounds in 31 minutes, the most he's played in more than a month. This Friday, Meeks will play Southwest Minnesota State for the first time since his career-high 27 points leading to an upset win over SMSU two years ago.

·   SPREAD THE WEALTH.  The Golden Eagles have seen an uptick in their offensive output in conference play, averaging almost eight points better in conference play than in non-conference play. In fact, the Golden Eagles are averaging 73 points per game in conference play and a big part of that has been their balance. The Golden Eagles currently have four players averaging double-figures, led by Reid Grant and his 15.6 points per game. The Golden Eagles aren't too far off of having all five starters in double-figures, as Jordan Mitchell is averaging a career best 8.6 points per game.

·    EXTRA POSSESSIONS. When teams take care of the ball, that is a great formula to equal more wins. So far this season, the Golden Eagles have taken care of the ball and have been able to get more shots at the rim. Currently, the Golden Eagles are averaging just 11.3 turnovers per game, which ranks 42nd nationally and seventh in the NSIC. Aside from their season-high 27 against UTampa right after Thanksgiving, the Golden Eagles are averaging just 9.9 turnovers per game. The Golden Eagles are currently on pace for their lowest turnover averages since 2019-20, when they averaged just 11.2 as a team.

·   STALWART DEFENSIVELY. Jordan Mitchell is doing everything he can to help the Golden Eagles win games in the ultra-difficult NSIC. He is averaging a career-high in points and he has been nothing short of outstanding on defense. The redshirt senior leads the NSIC in blocks and blocks per game and is 11th in rebounds per game. The Columbus, Ohio native might be on the short list as one of the best defensive players in the NSIC.

• RING IN THE NEW YEAR. This Friday night, the Golden Eagles will look to celebrate and ring in 2025 with a win over the Mustangs. This will be the third straight year that the Mustangs will make their way to Crookston, with Minnesota Crookston returning the trip for their penultimate regular season weekend later this year. The Golden Eagles will look to do something they haven't done since 2019; win their first game of the new year. The last win for the Golden Eagles in a new year came in 2018-19, when they controlled nationally-ranked St. Cloud State from start to finish for a double-digit win. The Golden Eagles will surely look for that same result this Friday night and break that six year streak.

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Bryan Beamish
Record at UMC: 11-57 Season at UMC: 11th Season (Third as Head Coach)

Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs
Head Coach: Brad Bigler
Record at SMSU: 250-193  Season at SMSU: 16th Season 

University of Sioux Falls Cougars
Head Coach: Chris Johnson
Record at USF: 289-220  Season at USF: 17th Season

Southwest Minnesota State @ Minnesota Crookston
Date: Friday, Jan. 3
Time: 7:30 P.M.
Place: Crookston, Minn. / Lysaker Gymnasium
Watch: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/
Stats: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Series Record: SMSU leads 31-3
Last Meeting: 77-67 win for SMSU last season in Crookston

Sioux Falls @ Minnesota Crookston
Date: Saturday, Jan. 4
Time: 5:30 P.M.
Place: Crookston, Minn. / Lysaker Gymnasium
Watch: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/
Stats: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Series Record: USF leads 10-3
Last Meeting: 74-47 win for the Cougars last season

Weekly Snapshot

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles (3-9)
Projected Starters
Sr. G 3 Reid Grant (6-3, Johnston, Iowa) 15.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 5.6 APG
R-So. G 5 Chandler Meeks (6-1, Omaha, Neb.) 10.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG
Jr. F 25 Andrew Stokes (6-5, Westchester, Ill.) 10.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG
Jr. G 13 Micah Garrett (6-3, Portland, Ore.) 10.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG
R-Jr. F 10 Jordan Mitchell (6-8, Columbus, Ohio) 8.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.6 BPG
Top Bench Players
Sr. F 33 Ben Hoverson (6-6, Grand Forks, N.D.) 3.0 PPG, 1.3 RPG
Jr. G 1 Christian Bowen-Webb (6-2, Atchison, Kan.) 5.9 PPG
Fr. F 23 Brayden Carlson (6-9, Woodbury, Minn.) 1.4 PPG, 1.0 RPG
Fr. G 12 Landon Dimler (6-5, Mankato, Minn.) 4.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG
Fr. G 11 Caiden Swenby (6-3, Fertile, Minn.) .8 PPG
Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs (10-3)
Projected Starters
So. F 00 Aeron Stevens (6-7, Plainfield, Ill.) 16.3 PPG, 7.1 RPG
Jr. G 1 Jakob Braaten (6-0, Byron, Minn.) 13.0 PPG, 6.4 RPG
So. G 5 Steven Kramer (6-5, Johnston, Iowa) 10.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG
Sr. G 10 Dunwa Omot (6-3, Mankato, Minn.) 11.9 PPG, 2.5 RPG
Jr. G 13 Mason Lund (6-7, Rice, Minn.) 9.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG
Top Bench Players
So. G 2 Mekhi Shaw (6-0, Eau Claire, Wis.) 9.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG
R-Fr. F 4 Calvin Buss (6-6, West Bend, Wis.) 4.3 PPG, 2.3 RPG
Jr. F 22 Caleb Schlaak (6-8, Cedar Rapids, Iowa) 3.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG
Sioux Falls Cougars (6-7)
Projected Starters
R-Fr. G 00 Taylen Ashley (6-0, Sioux Falls, S.D.) 11.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG
Sr. G 3 Shawn Warrior (6-4, Wichita, Kan.) 10.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG
Jr. G 5 Kenji Scales (6-2, Richfield, Minn.) 7.3 PPG, 1.1 RPG
Sr. G 6 Josh Baker (6-4, Marshall, Minn.) 2.2 PPG, 2.5 RPG
Sr. C 23 Creighton Morisch (6-10, Spirit Lake, Iowa) 10.8 PPG, 8.8 RPG
Top Bench Players
R-So. G/F 22 Kyle Ingwerson (6-6, Omaha, Neb.) 10.1 PPG, 4.1 RPG
R-Sr. G/F 4 Noah Puetz (6-6, Marshall, Minn.) 12.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG
Fr. G 24 Jacoby Mehrman (6-4, Harrisburg, S.D.) 1.8 PPG, 2.3 RPG
Gr. G 1 Jack Cartwright (6-3, Sioux Falls, S.D.) 4.1 PPG, .9 RPG
Fr. F/G 20 Brandon Hrncir (6-8, Farmington, Minn.) 6.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG

KNOW THE OPPONENTS

Southwest Minnesota State. Every weekend in the NSIC is challenging and that continues this weekend as the Mustangs make their way into Crookston. SMSU, one of the better and consistent programs in the Northern Sun, have 10 wins in 13 games this season and have spent time ranked in the national polls this season. Minnesota Crookston has won two of the last three games between these two programs.

POLISHED ON OFFENSE. Much like the Golden Eagles, the Mustangs have a very balanced offense. SMSU has four players in double-figures and two players that average nine points per game. The Mustangs average almost 77 points per game and are really good on the defensive side, as well.

BEEN THERE, DUN THAT.  Dunwa Omot might be one of the more experienced Mustangs and he has had a really solid senior season. The senior from Mankato is third on his team in scoring and has three, 20 point outputs this season, including a 25 point game against Minnesota Duluth. Omot finished with 16 points against the Golden Eagles and buried three shots from long range.

UNCONVENTIONAL. In this day and age, it's very tough to win games without making a lot of threes, but the Mustangs are doing just that. The Mustangs average just 19 field goal attempts from three this season and make just 6.4 per game on the year, both of those numbers rank near the bottom in the Northern Sun. SMSU's opponents have made 40 more threes than them, which is a staggering number.

Sioux Falls. The Cougars will hope that the start of 2025 treats them better than the end of 2024 did. USF is in the midst of a four game losing streak, but their last win was a great win over then nationally ranked, Minnesota Duluth. USF has won the last four meetings with the Golden Eagles.

SIOUX FALLS STUD. The Cougars didn't have to look very far to find their next future star. Taylen Ashley could join a long list of standout Cougars and he is off to a great start in his career. The redshirt freshman from Sioux Falls is averaging 11.8 points per game and has scored in double-figures in three straight games, including 23 three games ago against the defending national champions, Minnesota State. Ashley will be a tough guard this Saturday.

LONE GAME THIS WEEKEND. With just 15 teams in the league for this season, there have been some interesting schedule quirks in the Northern Sun and that will be seen this weekend. The Golden Eagles will play a pair of games this weekend, while Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls will play just the Golden Eagles this weekend. What teams have the advantage with that scheduling oddity.

HE PUTS THE SPIRIT IN SPIRIT LAKE.  Spirit Lake, Iowa native Creighton Morisch is another Cougar who is having a fantastic season. He is one of five Cougars averaging in double-figures at 10.8 points per game and leads the Cougars in rebounding at nearly nine per game. The senior isn't too far from a weekend where he scored 13 points and pulled down 12 rebounds against Wayne State College and followed that up with 22 points and 12 rebounds against Minnesota State.