Huskies host rival MSU in nonconference game

ST. CLOUD, MINN. – The nationally ranked St. Cloud State University men's basketball certainly isn't taking it easy to start the 2018-19 season. The Huskies have played three games since the season officially opened on November 9 and won all three in that short time span. On Saturday, St. Cloud State may face its toughest challenge yet, as the team looks for its fourth consecutive win against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) rival Minnesota State at 4 p.m. in Halenbeck Hall.

While the Mavericks may be the Huskies biggest NSIC rival, Saturday's game between the two teams will not count toward their conference record, as NSIC play does not officially start until after Thanksgiving break. However, the game promises to be one of the best and toughest challenges for St. Cloud State this season, as the Huskies have defeated or lost to Minnesota by fewer than 10 points in three of their last six meetings.

Live stats, video and WJON's live radio broadcast will be available for fans who cannot attend the game in person. Score updates can also be found on St. Cloud State men's basketball official Twitter page (@SCSUmensbball).

Here are the five things to know before this weekend's contest:

13 – The Huskies moved to No. 13 in the nation in the D2SID Division II after its 2-0 weekend at the MIAA/NSIC Challenge last weekend. St. Cloud State remained at No. 18 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) poll.

182 – The Huskies and Mavericks have played each other 182 times in their storied histories, with St. Cloud State holding a 97-85 advantage over Minnesota State. In fact, it is one of the longest standing series in all of college basketball, with the first meeting between the two teams occurring back in 1923-24. While it's not known who won that first meeting, the Huskies are currently riding a two-game win streak against the Mavericks, winning both contests last season by scores of 72-64 and 80-71 respectively.

4 – Like this season, St. Cloud State and Minnesota State met in a nonconference game in early November, with the Huskies coming out on top 72-64. Four different student-athletes from St. Cloud State scored in double-digits in the victory, including Sean Smith (Athens, Ga. / Canarias Basketball Academy), Brindley Theisen (St. Cloud, Minn. / St. Cloud Cathedral) and Trevon Marshall (Evanston, Ill. / Evanston Township). Those three Huskies scored a combined 39 points against the Mavericks, while former standout Jon Averkamp led the way with a 19-point performance.

33 – There was one key person missing in St. Cloud State's first meeting with Minnesota State last season: current senior guard Gage Davis (Bolingbrook, Ill. / Bolingbrook). The then junior missed the game due to an ankle injury. However, he certainly made his presence known in the Huskies second meeting with the Mavericks, as he led the team to a 80-71 victory. Davis scored 33 points in the victory with eight rebounds to boot.

62.0 – St. Cloud State is coming off its biggest victory of the season thus far with its 121-81 win over Crown College Tuesday. In the game, the Huskies shot 62.0 from the floor, 58.3 from beyond the arc and 56.3 from the free throw line in their best offensive game of the season.

Bonus number:

22 – St. Cloud State currently leads the nation in total blocks, with 22 total in three games this season. The Huskies 7.3 blocks per game average currently ranks third in the nation but leads all Division II teams that have played two or more games. Smith accounts for 17 of the teams 22 blocks and leads the nations in blocks per game (5.5) this season.

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Players Mentioned

Jon Averkamp

Gage Davis

Trevon Marshall

Sean Smith

Brindley Theisen

Saint Cloud State University Athletics