Men's Basketball | 8/5/2026 1:38:00 PM

Crookston, Minn. -- Minnesota Crookston men's basketball and head coach Bryan Beamish announced their opponents and times for the 2026-27 season on Wednesday morning.

Beamish heads into his fifth season at the helm of the Golden Eagles and his 13th season overall with Minnesota Crookston.

Much like the past in the Beamish era, the Golden Eagles will have an extremely tough non-conference slate as they gear up for NSIC play.

Minnesota Crookston will open up the season a week earlier than a year ago and it will be a challenging home and season opener, as St. Cloud State makes their trek North to Crookston for some Monday night hoops and a 6 PM tip. The Huskies and Golden Eagles will meet in non-conference play.

Following their Monday home and season opener, the Golden Eagles will head down to Oklahoma for the second straight season and will play Central Oklahoma for the second straight season. The Bronchos defeated the Golden Eagles a season ago, 62-47. The trip to the Sooner State will close out with a matchup against Northwestern Oklahoma State for the first time in program history.

When they return from Oklahoma, Minnesota Crookston will be back at home for two straight games; A non-conference game with Valley City State on November 17 and will open NSIC play at home for the first time in three years against MSU Moorhead a week later. The Golden Eagles and Vikings will play for the first time since 2018.

The maroon and gold will wrap-up non-conference play in Florida with games against Saint Leo University and Florida Southern in Lakeland, Fla. The Golden Eagles will play the Saints and Mocs for the first time in program history. Florida Southern joins St. Cloud State as two non-conference opponents for Minnesota Crookston coming off a NCAA Tournament run in 2025-26.

Minnesota Crookston's conference schedule will feature 11 home games and 11 away games. 

The Golden Eagles will open December at home against Bemidji State and will feature a Thursday night tilt with Minot State and Saturday afternoon matinee with UMary.

As has been the case in recent years, January will feature only opponents from the NSIC South. Minnesota Crookston will welcome in Concordia-St. Paul and Winona State in early January and close out January welcoming in perennial powers Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls.

Minnesota Crookston will close out the regular season on the road at Bemidji State and end the year at home against Minnesota Duluth on Feb. 20 for Senior Day.

Minnesota Crookston will return a bevy of talent, including standout sophomores Spencer Swenson and Donez Lindsey. The Golden Eagles return about 90 percent of their scoring from a season ago and have two more double-digit scorers back in the fold in Alijah Washington and Kazadi Mukoma, Jr. Swenson became the first Golden Eagle ever to be named National Player of the Week as a freshman.

A number of other contributors return as well including Brayden Carlson, the lone true junior for the maroon and gold, J.D. Roberts and sophomores Owen Chervestad, Quincy Everson and Brady Westphal.

Minnesota Crookston finished 6-22 a season ago.