St. Cloud State
(5) RV Missouri Western
No. 25 St. Cloud State Men’s Basketball Set for NCAA Tournament in Topeka, KS
3/11/2026 3:14:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Huskies open with RV Missouri Western on Saturday
St. Cloud, MN. – No. 25 St. Cloud State Men's Basketball (25-6, 20-2 NSIC) are back dancing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2018-19 season. SCSU will travel to Topeka, Kansas for the Central Region Tournament starting on Saturday, March 14. The Huskies earned the four-seed in the region and will take on the five-seed RV Missouri Western in the first round. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m.
Follow the Huskies
All games featuring NSIC teams will be streamed live for free on the NSIC Network. Every game of the tournament will also be streamed live for free on the MIAA Network. Live Stats will be provided by the host school, Washburn for all games. All St. Cloud State games will also be broadcasted on the Varsity Network. Steve Linzmeier, the Voice of St. Cloud State Basketball, can be heard on all of the audio broadcasts.
Last Time Out
St. Cloud State took to the courts in Sioux Falls this past week as they competed in the NSIC Tournament.
No. 21 Huskies Advance to Semifinals of NSIC Tournament Behind Strong Second Half- February 28, 2026
St. Cloud State produced a patented strong defensive start to the game as Sioux Falls went scoreless for the first six minutes of the game. SCSU would hold a 6-0 in that span. USF would chip away and work to tie the game at 14 with 9:13 left in the half. The Cougars would carry that momentum into a 9-2 run as SCSU called a timeout as they now trailed by four with 4:16 until halftime. The Huskies stayed poised out of the timeout as they ultimately went into halftime leading 30-29 following an and-one three by Luke Winkel.
SCSU brought that late momentum into the second half as they rattled off an 11-2 run to take a 41-31 lead. The Cougars stayed tight with a 6-0 run, but the Huskies had a quick 7-0 response to push that lead back up to double-digits. St. Cloud State held a steady lead the rest of the way as they led by 9+ points on their way to a 78-66 win. The Huskies held a lead as big as 18 points.
Top Huskies
- Luke Winkel led the Huskies with 29 points three rebounds, four assists, and three steals. This was Winkel's fifth game scoring 29+ points this season.
- Wyatt Hawks recorded his ninth double-double of the season with 20 points (8/16) and 11 rebounds to go with four stocks. This was Hawks' third game with 20+ points and 11th game with 3+ blocks.
- Nate Dahl was the final Husky to score in double figures as he compiled 10 points (4/6), four rebounds, and a steal.
Balanced Scoring Pushes No. 21 Huskies to NSIC Championship with 87-82 Win over Minnesota State- March 2, 2026
Through the first six minutes, the game would be tied 12-12 in a physical battle early. Both teams were getting downhill and looking for finishes at the rim. Off the bench, Nate Dahl was a spark for SCSU who scored 10 straight for St. Cloud State as they led 20-16. Dahl connected on a pair of triples and was aggressive on drives. After a series of stops by both teams, Anish Ramlall cashed a three to push the lead to seven as Minnesota State called a timeout. SCSU caught fire from deep early as they started 4/4 from three. Out of the timeout, the Huskies pushed the lead to 13 with two layups in the paint and then free throws from Luke Winkel as the run extended to 12-0. Mankato would scrap back into the game as they pounded the paint to ultimately tie the game at 35 with 2:47 left in the half. With the game tied, Wyatt Hawks found his footing in the paint as he scored six of the final nine points for St. Cloud State in the half. Kynan Philippe added a three as they ended the half on a 9-2 run to lead 44-37. Strong shooting across the board for SCSU was key as they shot 53.6% from the field, 5/6 from three, and 9/10 from the free throw line.
Out of the break, the Huskies held a steady lead but were unable to break the game open. Each team responded to the other as it was a back-and-forth start to the half. After scoring four points in the first half, Winkel started to find a groove as a pair of three got him in a rhythm. His second triple kicked off a series of 10 straight points for the Ankeny, Iowa native. The Huskies would lead 66-59 with 8:34 left in the game after the spurt by Winkel. St. Cloud State continued to build up a lead as a tough short corner jumper by Philippe brought the lead to 12 with 5:08 left in the game. While the Mavericks increased the pace and fought back to get the game close, the Huskies did their part at the free throw line as they made 14 of their final 17 attempts in the last few minutes. Minnesota State never got closer than five points as St. Cloud State ultimately won 87-82 in the semifinals of the NSIC Tournament. Getting to the charity stripe was a key component in the win. St. Cloud State was the aggressor all night with physical rim attacks to absorb contact. They would make 28 of their 34 attempts at the free throw line.
Top Huskies
- Luke Winkel led the Huskies with 25 points, three threes, two rebounds, and two assists. Winkel drew six fouls in the game and cashed those in by going 10/11 at the free throw line. 21 of his 25 points came in the second half. This was his ninth game scoring 25+ points this season.
- Nate Dahl scored an efficient 18 points off the bench as he shot 6/10 from the field. He also grabbed five rebounds and dished two assists. This was his fourth game scoring 18+ points this season.
- Kynan Philippe also had an efficient game as he produced 14 points (6/8) three rebounds, two assists, and a block and steal. Philippe also cashed two of his four three-pointers for his 13th multi-three game.
No. 19 Huskies Fall 76-65 to Minnesota Duluth in NSIC Championship- March 3, 2026
Through the first eight minutes of the game, St. Cloud State had a slow offensive start trailing 13-6. A quick layup by Luke Winkel and then steal and dunk by Azayah Washington on the fast break cut the deficit down to a single possession. The teams stayed interlocked over the next few minutes, but UMD rattled off a 7-0 which forced an SCSU timeout with 4:42 to play. Out of the timeout, Caleb Siwek of Duluth would find his three-point stroke as he made all four of his three-point attempts in the final 3:25 of the half. The Huskies ultimately went into halftime trailing 43-32. The Bulldogs shot 6/10 from three with Siwek tallying five of those makes. Winkel produced 12 first half points to lead the Huskies.
Out of the break, St. Cloud State quickly tallied a 6-0 run with Lee Marks III finishing a right-handed hook shot to force a UMD timeout as the deficit was cut down to five points two-minutes into the half. The Bulldogs would slowly rebuild their lead back up to double digits as they held the Huskies to a five-minute field goal drought. SCSU stayed within striking distance over the next few minutes before producing an 8-0 with Winkel and Anish Ramlall knocking down back-to-back threes. Ramlall's three forced a UMD timeout as the deficit was now down to four with 8:48 remaining. That would be as close as the Huskies would get the rest of the way. St. Cloud State continued to battle, but the Bulldogs came away with timely makes and went 11/14 at the free throw line in the final two minutes. The Huskies would ultimately fall 76-65.
Top Huskies
- Luke Winkel led the Huskies in scoring with 20 points to go with four threes, three assists, two rebounds, and a steal. This was his 14th game scoring 20+ points this season. Winkel would be named to the NSIC All-Tournament Team.
- Wyatt Hawks produced 12 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, and a steal. This was Hawks' 12th game with 3+ blocks. He was also named to the NSIC All-Tournament Team.
- Anish Ramlall tallied 14 points on an efficient 5/7 shooting. Ramlall added four rebounds, two assists, and a steal. This was his ninth game scoring 14+ points.
Home Sweet Home
The Huskies played their final home game of the season and finished with an undefeated record of 13-0 at Halenbeck Hall. It is the first time since 1987-88 where they went undefeated at home in the regular season where they also went 13-0.
Block Party
With eight blocks this past weekend, junior Wyatt is up to 126 career blocks to place third all-time at St. Cloud State. He is swatting 2.4 shots per game.
The block rankings at St. Cloud State are as follows:
1. Sean Smith (2017-19) 201
2. Andrew Bernstetter (2007-11) 174
3. Wyatt Hawks (2023-Present) 126
For his efforts throughout the year, Hawks would be named NSIC Defensive Player of the Year and earn First Team All-NSIC. He led the NSIC in blocks and blocks per game while anchoring the top defense in the conference. He is the first Husky to be named Defensive Player of the Year since Sean Smith in 2019.
On a national level, the White Bear Lake, MN native is tied for 7th in all of Division II with 73 blocks and 11th in blocks per game
Cool Hand Luke
For the second time in his young career, sophomore Luke Winkel would earn First Team All-NSIC Honors. Winkel finished eighth in the NSIC in scoring with 18.1 points and averaged the most points since Anthony Roberts in 2022. The Ankeny, Iowa native totaled seven games with 25+ points and sits 12th all-time in scoring average at SCSU with 16.0 points per game. He is the first Husky to accumulate consecutive seasons of First Team All-NSIC since Roberts in 2021 & 2022.
The duo of Winkel and Hawks was the first First Team All-NSIC pairing since Jon Averkamp and Gage Davis in 2018.
Winkel is also 27 points away from accumulating 1,000 in his career. He would be the 47th Husky to score a millennium.
Coach of the Year
Guiding the Huskies to their first Conference Championship since 2003, Head Coach Quincy Henderson was named NSIC Coach of the Year. Henderson and the Huskies produced their highest win total since the 2017-18 season and strung together consecutive seasons of 20+ wins. He is the fourth Coach of the Year in program history joining Kevin Schlagel (2002-03), Butch Raymond (1985-86 & 1986-87), and Noel Olson (1969-70 & 1975-76).
St. Cloud State Statistical Leaders (total-average)
- Points- Luke Winkel (562-18.7)
- Rebounds- Wyatt Hawks (269-8.7)
- Offensive rebounds- Wyatt Hawks (87-2.8)
- Assists- Luke Winkel (120-4.0)
- Steals- Luke Winkel (42-1.4)
- Blocks- Wyatt Hawks (73-2.4)
- Stocks- Wyatt Hawks (93-3.0)
- Field goals made- Luke Winkel (180-6.0)
- Three-point field goals made- Luke Winkel (57-1.9)
- Free throw makes- Luke Winkel (145-4.8)
St. Cloud State Team Stats (NSIC Ranking)
- 76.3 points per game (10th) | 67.1 points per game allowed (1st) | 9.2 scoring margin (1st)
- 42.3 field goal percentage (14th) | 30.4 three-point percentage (16th) | 71.1 free throw percentage (14th)
- 40.4 opponent field goal percentage (1st) | 29.4 opponent three-point percentage (1st)
- 40.3 rebounds per game (1st) | 12.4 offensive rebounds per game (3rd)
- 35.5 opponent rebounds per game (11th) | 4.9 rebounding margin (2nd)
- 10.5 turnovers per game (6th) | 12.1 turnovers forced per game (5th) | 1.61 turnover margin (3rd)
- 3.61 blocks per game (3rd)
- 6.94 steals per game (5th)
- 11.84 assists per game (12th)
- 7.3 three-point field goals made per game (13th)
Ranked Huskies
For the third straight National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Poll, St. Cloud State found themselves in the ranking, this time coming in at No. 25. The previous two polls saw the Huskies ranked as No. 21 and then No. 19. This is the first time since the 2012-13 season where St. Cloud State was nationally ranked for three consecutive NABC Polls.
Central Region Field
SCSU landed as the No. 4 seed on Selection Sunday to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament. The rest of the Central Region Tournament teams include:
- No. 3 Washburn
- No. 8 Oklahoma Baptist
- RV Central Missouri
- No. 25 St. Cloud State
- RV Missouri Western
- Rogers State
- Harding
- Minnesota Duluth
The Huskies will take on RV Missouri Western in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, March 14 at 8:00 p.m. The region tournament is hosted by Washburn and will take place in Topeka, Kansas.
The winner of that game will go on to play the winner between No. 3 Washburn and Minnesota Duluth on Sunday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m. The region championship is set for Tuesday, March 17 at 7:00 p.m.
NCAA Tournament History
For the first time since the 2018-19 season, the Huskies are dancing in the NCAA Tournament. In their last tournament outing, SCSU lost 81-61 to Southern Nazarene. Their last win in the NCAA Tournament was in the 2017-18 season where they beat Southern Nazarene 81-68.
St. Cloud State holds a record of 12-15 in the NCAA Regional Tournament and a 1-2 record in the Elite Eight and beyond. The Huskies last reached the Elite Eight in the 2009-10 season where they won the Central Region following an 84-75 win over Augustana. SCSU would beat Midwestern State 92-88 in the Elite Eight before falling to Indiana University PA. in the Final Four.
Series History
Saturday's game against Missouri Western will be the second all-time meeting between the teams with the Griffons taking the lone matchup last season.
Huskies Comeback Attempt Falls Short as Griffons win 80-73- November 3, 2024
The teams battled back and forth through the first half as the Griffons held a 21-20 lead with 7:50 left in the first half. MWSU ended the half on a 17-6 run as they took a 38-26 lead at halftime. The Griffons carried over their momentum from the first half into the second half as they expanded their lead early in the second half to 20 points. The Huskies clawed their way back into the game throughout the second half as they only trailed by four points after a three-pointer by Jamiir Allen with 2:38 left in the game. St. Cloud State was unable to get any closer as Missouri Western closed out the game by making eight of their final 10 free throws attempts as they handed St. Cloud State their first loss of the season.
Top Huskies
- Nate Dahl led the Huskies in scoring with 15 points. Dahl shot 3/6 from the field and made all eight of his free throw attempts while tallying two rebounds, assists, and steals.
- Jamiir Allen scored 14 points for the second consecutive game as he shot 5/10 from the field and made three of his six three-point attempts. Allen also nabbed a career-high four steals while dishing two assists.
- Lucas Morgan scored 14 points while making four of his six field goal attempts. Morgan shot 6/8 from the free throw line, grabbed six rebounds, and recorded two steals.
Scouting Missouri Western
The Missouri Western State University Griffons enter the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021 with a record of 21-11. In the MIAA Tournament, MWSU beat Arkansas-Fort Smith in the quarterfinals before falling to Washburn in the semifinals. They are receiving votes in the latest NABC Poll.
The Griffons and Huskies have played six games against common opponents in Augustana, Wayne State, Northwest Missouri State, and Emporia State. They are 6-0 against those teams.
MWSU are led by their duo of All-Conference Honorees in Noah King (Second Team) and Ty Henry (Third Team). King leads the Griffons with 15.9 points per game while shooting 38.4% from the field, 26% from three, and 73.9% from the free throw line. He also adds 4.9 rebounds, a team-high 3.3 assists, and 0.9 stocks. Henry is the second leading scorer with 14.1 points on 50.9% from the field, 42.3% from three, and 83.9% from the line. He is also averaging 4.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.6 stocks.
King along with Gavin Hershberger and William Kiburis are all transfers from Upper Iowa, who the Huskies played early in the season last year. In the Huskies win, King tallied 21 points (8/14), seven rebounds, and four assists. Hershberger started and record two points, two rebounds, and a steal in 17 minutes. Kiburis played two minutes and grabbed one rebound.
Two other Griffons score in double-figures in Marko Pavlovic (12.0) and William Kiburis (11.1).
Head Coach Brooks McKowen enters his first season at Missouri Western after having spent 12 seasons at Upper Iowa. He tallied a 209-148 record with the Peacocks and reached the NCAA Tournament three times.
Missouri Western Statistical Leaders (total-average)
- Points- Noah King (508-15.9)
- Rebounds- Marko Pavlovic (234-7.3)
- Offensive rebounds- Marko Pavlovic (76-2.4)
- Assists- Noah King (104-3.3)
- Steals- William Kiburis (43-1.5)
- Blocks- Marko Pavlovic (43-1.3)
- Stocks- Marko Pavlovic (61-1.9)
- Field goals made- Noah King (181-5.7)
- Three-point field goals made- Ty Henry (55-1.7)
- Free throw makes- Noah King (102-3.2)
Missouri Western Team Stats (MIAA Ranking)
- 82.0 points per game (4th) | 77.6 points per game allowed (9th) | 4.4 scoring margin (7th)
- 46.8 field goal percentage (7th) | 34.9 three-point percentage (6th) | 75.4 free throw percentage (2nd)
- 48.0 opponent field goal percentage (13th) | 35.6 opponent three-point percentage (12th)
- 34.4 rebounds per game (12th) | 9.7 offensive rebounds per game (10th)
- 35.2 opponent rebounds per game (11th) | -0.8 rebounding margin (11th)
- 10.2 turnovers per game (1st) | 12.7 turnovers forced per game (7th) | 2.56 turnover margin (2nd)
- 2.47 blocks per game (13th)
- 7.28 steals per game (6th)
- 14.03 assists per game (7th)
- 7.8 three-point field goals made per game (8th)
The winner of this game will go on to play the winner of No. 3 Washburn and Minnesota Duluth on Sunday, March 15 at 7:00 p.m.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Men's Basketball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
