Men's Basketball | 1/28/2026 9:54:00 AM

#TIDBITS

Golden Eagle men's basketball will be back at home this weekend to close out the bitter cold month of January. The maroon and gold will return home following a wild week that featured three games on the road and an impressive road win over the University of Sioux Falls, who had won eight straight up until that point. The Golden Eagles will look to finish the weekend strong for a February that could lead to some big games.

·   WILD, WILD WEST. Brady Westphal arguably had his best game of his young career on Friday night in the win over Sioux Falls. Westphal finished with eight points against the Cougars, including two massive threes in the second half to give the Golden Eagles the lead on two different occasions. His three from the right wing to put the Golden Eagles up 73-71 was the start of an 8-0 Golden Eagle run that helped propel the Golden Eagles to their second conference win. Freshmen have been the story of the season for the Golden Eagles and Westphal has begun to write his own chapter in that story.

• FANTASTIC FRIDAY. The biggest reason for the Golden Eagles win over Sioux Falls was the play of Spencer Swenson. Swenson was every bit fantastic, especially in the second half. The Golden Eagles just let #1 get to his spot and boy, did he ever deliver. Swenson finished with a career-high 27 points on 9-18 from the field and 3-4 from long range, while also pulling down 13 rebounds, all of which were career watermarks. His 27 points were the most by a Golden Eagle freshman since Josh Dilling scored 28 against Bemidji State in 2021; His 21 second half points were the most by a Golden Eagle since Blaize Sagna scored 27 in a half in a win over Concordia-St. Pail in 2024; Finally, his 27 bench points were the most by a Golden Eagle since February of 2013 when Ashton Harrell scored 29 in an upset win over St. Cloud State.

·  LOOK TO THE BENCH. The Golden Eagles dominated an important part of the game on Friday night in their win over Sioux Falls. The Minnesota Crookston bench outscored the Cougars bench by 17 points (40-23). They were helped by the 27 from Swenson, but they got eight from Brady Westphal and a massive five points from GD Deng, which was a season-high for the senior.

·   LIMIT THE THREE. For the most part, the Golden Eagles have done a really good job this season of limiting the three ball. In their two conference wins this season over Winona State and Sioux Falls, they have limited both the Warriors and Cougars to shoot a combined 7-42 from long range. That might be the factor for the Golden Eagles to get some more wins. Minnesota Crookston has held their opponents to seven or less makes from long range 11 times this season, which is a really good number.

·    LAUNCH PAD. The Golden Eagles have let it fly this season from long range. The Golden Eagles are averaging over 26 attempts from long range, which is by far and away on pace to be a school record. In 2018-19, the most successful season in program history, the Golden Eagles averaged 22 attempts from long range. The Golden Eagles are on pace to finish in the top-five in that category in the NSIC, something they have never done. Minnesota Crookston currently has attempted 524 shots from long range; To put that in perspective, the 2011-12 team finished with just 300 attempts from three.

·   SECOND CHANCE AT POINTS. The numbers would suggest that the Golden Eagles are a pretty good rebounding team, especially offensively. The Golden Eagles are currently averaging just under 11 offensive rebounds per game at 10.9, which ranks seventh in the NSIC. Dating back to 2011-12, it would be the highest number of offensive rebounds per game for the Golden Eagles. The maroon and gold have done a fantastic job of rebounding their miss and trying for second chance points.

• ASSIST TO TURNOVER RATIO. For nine games this season, Minnesota Crookston has finished with more assists than turnovers, including in their win over Sioux Falls where they had 10 assists to nine turnovers. The Golden Eagles also have six games this season with less than 10 turnovers this season and are on pace to eclipse last year's mark of eight games with less than 10 turnovers.

• NUMBER TWO.  Donez Lindsey has lived up to the hype and then some this season. The Stockton, Calif., native currently leads the Golden Eagles in points per game, minutes played, minutes played per game, assists and makes from three. The freshman has scored in double-digits in 19 of his 20 games started and has 10 games this season with four or more assists.

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Bryan Beamish
Record at UMC: 17-87 Season at UMC: 12th Season (Fourth as Head Coach)

Minnesota State Mavericks
Head Coach: Matt Margenthaler
Record at MSU: 521-232  Season at MSU: 25th Season 

St. Cloud State Huskies
Head Coach: Quincy Henderson
Record at SCSU: 57-52  Season at SMSU: 4th Season

Minnesota State @ Minnesota Crookston
Date: Friday, Jan., 30
Time: 7:30 PM
Place: Crookston, Minn. / Lysaker Gymnasium
Watch: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/
Stats: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Series Record: MSU leads all-time series, 22-1
Last Meeting: 90-63 win for the Mavericks last season in Mankato

St. Cloud State @ Minnesota Crookston
Date: Saturday, Jan. 31
Time: 3:30 P.M.
Place: Crookston, Minn. / Lysaker Gymnasium
Watch: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/
Stats: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Series Record: SCSU leads 36-4
Last Meeting: 15 point win for the Huskies earlier this year in non-conference play


#HEADLINES
1. Finally back at home

2. Last NSIC South opponents of the season

3. Can the Golden Eagles defeat another hot team in Minnesota State?

4. Second matchup with the Huskies this season

5. Have to get stops

Weekly Snapshot

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Projected Starters
So. F 23 Brayden Carlson (6-9, Woodbury, Minn.) 3.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG
Jr. F 10 Kazadi Mukoma, Jr. (6-8, Grand Island, Neb.) 12.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG
Fr. G 2 Donez Lindsey (6-0, Stockton, Calif.) 14.4 PPG, 3.4 RPG
R-Jr. G 15 Alijah Washington (6-4, San Bernardino, Calif.) 12.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG
Jr. G/F 21 J.D. Roberts (6-6, Parkville, Mo.) 4.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG
Top Bench Players
Sr. G 3 GD Deng (6-4, Des Moines, Iowa) 1.3 PPG, 2.2 RPG
So. G 11 Caiden Swenby (6-3, Fertile, Minn.) 1.8 PPG, 1.1 RPG
Fr. F 1 Spencer Swenson (6-8, Sauk Rapids, Minn.) 10.4 PPG, 6.1 RPG
Fr. G 4 Brady Westphal (6-2, West Fargo, N.D.) 5.4 PPG, .8 RPG
Minnesota State Mavericks
Projected Starters
Jr. G 2 Arhman Lewis (6-2, Madison, Wis.) 10.9 PPG, 2.6 RPG
Sr. F 14 Malcolm Jones (6-8, Prior Lake, Minn.) 13.5 PPG, 8.0 RPG
Jr. G 15 Traijan Sain (6-4, Cedar Rapids, Iowa) 13.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG
Fr. G 21 Colton Benson (6-5, New Ulm, Minn.) 8.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG
Fr. G 23 Phoenix Childs (6-5, Chicago, Ill.) 7.6 PPG, 2.0 RPG
Top Bench Players
So. F 0 Carson Schweim (6-7, Mankato, Minn.) 3.8 PPG, 2.9 RPG
So. G 10 Will Opsahl (6-7, Goodhue, Minn.) 7.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG
Jr. F 11 Caden Kirkman (6-8, Wilton, Iowa) 10.7 PPG, 6.1 RPG
St. Cloud State Huskies
Projected Starters
Jr. G 1 Anish Ramlall (6-2, Rosemount, Minn.) 7.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG
So. G 4 Lee Marks III (6-5, Chicago, Ill.) 7.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG
So. G 12 Luke Winkel (5-11, Ankeny, Iowa) 19.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG
Jr. G 32 Wyatt Hawks (6-7, White Bear Lake, Minn.) 11.5 PPG, 8.8 RPG
So. G 44 Kynan Philippe (6-5, Melbourne, Australia) 6.9 PPG, 4.5 RPG
Top Bench Players
R-So. G 3 Nathan Bunkosky (5-11, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) .8 PPG, 1.1 RPG
R-So. G 14 Izaac Neal (6-6, Oak Creek, Wis.) 2.9 PPG, 2.1 RPG
Fr. G 34 Azayah Washington (6-2, St. Cloud, Minn.) 6.3 PPG, 1.5 RPG
So. G 40 Bob Griechen (6-5, Geraldton, Australia) 12.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG
R-Fr. G 42 Will Brands (6-3, Champlin, Minn.) 1.0 PPG, .9 RPG

KNOW THE OPPONENTS

Minnesota State. The Mavericks are just two years removed from winning the National Championship and although it was a slow start by their standards, the Mavericks have been on a roll as of late. MSU has won six in a row and is 6-0 against NSIC North opponents.

ASSIST FROM ARHMAN. Arhman Lewis is the straw that stirs the drink for the Mavericks. MSU relies on the junior from Madison, Wis. to run their offense and find the open man. Lewis, the reigning NSIC South Player of the Week, averaged 18 points, 4.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists in a weekend sweep over Northern State and Jamestown. Lewis has eight straight games with four or more assists, including 12 in a win over Bemidji State.

MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE. Malcolm Jones has taken a massive step forward this season for the Mavericks and could be high on the list as one of the more improved players in the conference, numbers wise. Jones is averaging a near double-double at 13.5 points per game and eight rebounds per game, well above his previous career high of 6.1 points per game he averaged as a freshman. Jones has six double-doubles on the season and will be a tough cover this weekend for the Golden Eagles.

THREE IS MORE THAN TWO. It could turn into a three-point contest on Friday night inside Lysaker Gymnasium. The numbers from beyond the arc with the Mavericks and Golden Eagles are eerily similar. MSU has 537 attempts and 175 makes from three, while the Golden Eagles have 524 attempts from three and 171 makes. The three ball could be a key factor, especially in the second half.

St. Cloud State. If the Mavericks are on a roll, the Huskies are scorching hot. SCSU has won eight games in a row and sit atop the Northern Sun standings at 12-2. The Huskies defeated Minnesota Crookston earlier this season in non-conference play.

WINK. For a program with a long line of superstars, the Huskies have found their next one. Luke Winkel is having a fantastic season for a sophomore and is averaging 19.8 points per game, which is fourth in the NSIC. Winkel gets to the free throw line a ton, making 96 on the season. Winkel finished with 25 points on 9-13 from the field earlier this year in a win over Minnesota Crookston.

LOCK YOU UP.  It will be the second straight Saturday that the Golden Eagles will meet a stout defensive team. The Huskies give up just 66.5 points per game, second in the NSIC. They're one of the best rebounding teams in the entire nation and with an offense that is tenth in the NSIC, their defense is what gets them to the finish line, more often than not.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE HAWKS.  Wyatt Hawks leads the Northern Sun this season with seven double-doubles, but has been on a tear in that category in the month of January, having four straight games with a double-double, including a 11 point, 15 rebound game in a win at UMary.