St. Cloud State
University of Minnesota Crookston
11/7/2026 12:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Huskies to play non-conference contest to open the season
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State Men's Basketball will play their regular season opener against the University of Minnesota-Crookston on Monday, November 9th at 6:00 p.m. CT. This will count as a non-conference game for the two NSIC teams.
Follow the Huskies
Monday's game will be streamed live on Midco Sports + (Purchase Required). There will also be a radio broadcast on the Varsity Network, with Gideon Teuber on the call. Live stats will be provided by UMN-Crookston.
Huskies Hoops is Back
The Huskies are coming off one of their best seasons in the Quincy Henderson era where they posted a 26-7 overall record and a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) best 20-2 record. Henderson enters his fifth season with the Huskies after capturing his first NCAA Tournament appearance and win as head coach of the Huskies last season.
The Huskies will return four of their top five scorers from last season including reigning NSIC Defensive Player of the Year, Wyatt Hawks. Hawks accumulated several accolades including the D2CCA Second Team All-Central Region, First Team All-NSIC, and NSIC All-Tournament Team. Hawks started in all 33 games in one of the great big man seasons in Huskies history, where he averaged 30.3 minutes, 12.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 steals, and 2.3 blocks. He shot 47.7% from the field, 34% from three, and 80.4% from the free throw line. Hawks enters the 2026-27 season with record breaking potential, as he ranks third all-time in blocks (128) and 10th in rebounds (684).
Hybrid post player, Bob Griechen, who missed the majority of last season due to injury after a freshman season at West Texas A&M where he was named to the Lone Star Conference All-Freshman Team returns this season and will be a key player to have back in the rotation. Other notable returning scorers, Anish Ramlall, who's coming off career highs of 9.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.2 steals while shooting career-bests of 43.3% from the field, 38.1% from three, and 84.7% from the free throw line and Nate Dahl who is one year removed from his All-Conference season in 2025, averaged 8.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 steals while shooting 41.2% from the field last season.
More key returners for the Huskies include Lee Marks III, who started all 32 games he played in last season averaging 7.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 0.7 assists, and 0.8 stocks as a versatile defensive player, Kynan Philippe who started in 24 of his 33 games played last season averaging 7.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists, and sharpshooter Azayah Washington who played in all 33 games last season and averaged 7.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 0.6 steals as a Freshman. Izaac Neal appeared in 23 games last season, averaging 5.3 minutes per game, and Will Brands played in 25 games last season, scoring a career high of 13 points against Sioux Falls.
Huskies also return Landon Riebel and include a roster with four incoming Freshman, Hamze Yusuf, Alex Schroepfer, Kevin Kemp, and Rhys Nebben as well as Junior transfer Luke Christensen from North Dakota State College of Science.
Scouting UMN-Crookston
The Golden Eagles finished 15th in the NSIC (7th in the North Division) just a season ago, compiling a 6-22 overall record and a 4-18 conference record. Crookston did not qualify for the NSIC Playoffs last season.
The Golden Eagles will return four players who averaged over 10 points per game (ppg) last season and were led in scoring by a young sophomore duo, Spencer Swenson and Donez Lindsey. Swenson averaged 14.5 ppg and 6.6 rebounds (rpg), shooting 51% from the field and 33% from beyond the arc while Lindsey was close behind Swenson averaging 14.3 ppg. Alijah Washington returns after averaging a career high of 12.1 ppg and 4 rpg, while Kazadi Mukoma Jr. enters his senior season after averaging 10.7 ppg as one of the Golden Eagles top rebounders. The Golden Eagles are coached by Bryan Beamish, who enters his fifth season with Crookston.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Men's Basketball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the teams on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
