This Week in Men’s Basketball...

The Peacocks return home to Dorman Gym this weekend to close out the 2010 calendar year when they host a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference matchups.  On Friday, the #22-ranked Mavericks of Minnesota State visit Fayette before the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State travel south for a Saturday matchup.  Both contests are scheduled for 8 p.m.

Scouting the #22 Mavericks

The Mavericks of Minnesota State enter Friday’s game with a 7-1 record overall and a 3-1 mark in NSIC action after falling to St. Cloud State last Saturday night, 85-83.  SCSU’s Taylor Witt drained a three-point bucket as time expired to give MSU their first loss of the season.

Senior Jefferson Mason leads the most potent offense in the NSIC.  Mason averages 16.5 points per game while the Mavericks post nearly 84 as a team (83.8). 

The Mavericks also allow the least amount of three-point buckets in the league as their opponents connect on just 28.7% of three-point attempts and  are second in the NSIC in rebounding defense by allowing just 29.6 rebounds per contest.

MSU was picked to finish third in the conference in the preseason coaches poll.

Scouting the Mustangs

Southwest Minnesota State enters Friday’s matchup with Winona State with a 5-3 record overall which includes a 2-2 mark in league play after dropping both contests last weekend with St. Cloud State and Concordia-St. Paul.

The Mustangs are led by sophomore Jordan Miller (16.3 points per game) and senior Scott Roehl (15.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game) and were picked to finish sixth in the conference when the preseason coaches’ poll was released last month.

SMSU boasts the stingiest defense in the NSIC by only allowing 63.2 points per game and is the second-best free throw shooting team as they convert 81.5% of their attempts at the charity stripe.

Series History

Since transitioning to NCAA Division II, the Peacocks are a combined 1-14 against their two weekend opponents.  MSU holds a 6-0 advantage over Upper Iowa while SMSU is 8-1 when playing against the Peacocks.

The lone victory against Southwest Minnesota State came on January 5, 2008 in Fayette.  UIU defeated the Mustangs, 76-72 in front of the home crowd.

The Last Meeting

The Peacocks met MSU and SMSU just once last season with Minnesota State taking a 79-55 victory over UIU on January 8th and Southwest Minnesota State coming out on the winning end of a 59-47 decision the next evening.  Both matchups were in Fayette.

Live Stats and Web Cast

Live stats and a Web Cast will be available for Saturday’s contest.  Visit upperiowaathletics.com for further details.

Looking Ahead

The Peacocks will take the next couple of weeks off before returning to action at home to open the 2011 calendar year.  On Saturday, January 1, the Peacocks host Northern State before taking on U-Mary the next night, January 2.  Both contests are scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m.