MOORHEAD, Minn. (MSUM Athletics) — The Minnesota State University Moorhead men’s basketball team is headed to the NCAA tournament for the fifth time in 10 years. The Dragons received the No. 5 seed in the Central Region and will open the NCAA tourney vs. fourth-seeded Wayne State on Saturday at Wachs Arena in Aberdeen, S.D.
“I’m very proud and excited for the players and staff. To have our team acknowledged for their season under the most difficult circumstances speaks to their level of commitment and perseverance,” MSUM head coach Chad Walthall said. “It also is gratifying for our basketball program to return to NCAA postseason as we always strive to be a consistent and successful program.”
Walthall has led the Dragons to five NCAA appearances.
It is the Dragons’ first NCAA trip since 2016-17. MSUM finished Covid-shortened 2020-21 season at 10-4. That included a win over then-No. 1 Northern State on Feb. 20 and also included a trip to the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament Championship game.
“It’s super exciting as a team to know we have put ourselves in a position to continue playing deeper into March,” MSUM junior guard Gavin Baumgartner said. “From here we are hoping to win a few more games and see how far we can make it in this national tournament.”
Wayne State and MSUM were scheduled to meet in the NSIC tournament semifinals but the Wildcats could not compete in that game because of COVID-19 testing protocols. The Wildcats (11-6) won the NSIC South title and are led by south division player of the year Jordan Janssen, a 6-foot-7 junior forward, who averages 16.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.
The Dragons are led by junior guard Lorenzo McGhee, who averages 14.0 points per game. McGhee was the NSIC North Newcomer of the Year. Five Dragons average in double figures overall.
“We are excited to earn a spot in the NCAA tournament,” MSUM senior forward Joe Sevlie said. “And to see what the future holds.”
The winner of the WSC-MSUM game will face Northern State, the top seed, on Sunday.
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