UMC Basketball Opens 2013-14 Slate on Tuesday

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston men’s basketball team will officially open up the 2013-14 basketball season Tues., Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. against Valley City State University at Lysaker Gymnasium.

The University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team has a busy week ahead as they officially open up the 2013-14 season with two games at home. The Golden Eagles will start out the season against Valley City State University at 8 p.m. Tues., Nov. 12 at Lysaker Gymnasium. Friday, Jeff Oseth will welcome back former assistant coach Scott Sorenson, who is in his second season leading Northland College. The Golden Eagles will take on Northland Fri., Nov. 15 at 8 p.m. as part of a triple header at Lysaker Gymnasium, which includes women's basketball and volleyball.

The Golden Eagles played one exhibition game this season and defeated Bethel University Minnesota 70-51 on the road in Arden Hills, Minn. UMC was led by 24 points from senior guard Ashton Harrell (Houston, Texas/Sports and Rec Management). Harrell was 8-of-11 from the field and 4-of-5 from three-point range. In addition to Harrell, fellow senior Brandon Burns (F, Baton Rouge, La./Sports and Rec Management) added 14 points while junior college transfer Sam Howell (Jr., G, Seattle, Wash./Sports and Rec Management) added eight points.

2013-14 will be the 12th season leading the Golden Eagles for Jeff Oseth, who is the third-longest tenured coach in the NSIC next to Winona State's Mike Leaf and St. Cloud State's Kevin Schlagel. His lead assistant, David Jackson, returns for his fourth season with the team while Oseth added former Central Michigan University star Robbie Harman to his staff. Harman also played a season overseas in the Netherlands.

Valley City State enters Tuesday with an 0-3 mark after losses to Dordt College, Northwestern College (Iowa) and Viterbo University. The Vikings have been led this season by A.J. McDonald, who is averaging 21.3 points per game and shooting 40.0 percent from three-point range (8-of-20). Aaron Duske is averaging 17.7 points per contest and shooting 38.5 percent from three while Jeremy Ware averaged 9.0 points per game and is shooting 50.0 percent from three (50.0), for a team that is living or dying by the three so far this season.

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women’s basketball team will officially open up the 2013-14 basketball season Tues., Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. at Lysaker Gymnasium against Valley City State University.

The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team has a busy first week ahead of them as they officially commence the 2013-14 season with a pair of games at home. The Golden Eagles will open up the regular-season Tues., Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. against Valley City State University. Friday, the Golden Eagle women's basketball team will open up a triple header at Lysaker Gymnasium as they host William Penn University at 3 p.m.

The Golden Eagles had a strong overall preseason as they battled with NCAA Division I opponents North Dakota State University and University of North Dakota. The Golden Eagles fell 64-59 to NDSU after leading at the half led by 20 points from sophomore guard Alexa Thielman (Buffalo, Minn./Health Science). Against UND, the Golden Eagles fell 85-66 but were down just eight points at the break. UMC was led on the game from 13 points from 2012-13 All-NSIC Freshman Team member Katrina Moenkedick (So., F, Perham, Minn./Early Childhood Education). The Golden Eagles have also gotten solid preseasons from Ebony Livingston (Jr., G, Minneapolis, Minn./Sports and Rec Management), who is averaging 7.5 points per game and from freshman point guard Selina Barnes (G, Colorado Springs, Colo./Health Science), who is averaging 6.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game through the exhibitions.

The 2013-14 season will be the eighth season leading the ship for Mike Roysland, he returns Nate Mahlen as his lead assistant, who has been with him all eight years while former Crookston High School standout and an All-Big Ten player at the University of Iowa, Kamille Wahlin, joins Roysland's staff for her first season.

Valley City State enters with a 1-3 mark overall after losses to Dordt College, Northwestern College and Concordia University (Neb.). The Vikings defeated Doane College Fri., Nov. 8. Valley City State is in their first season under the leadership of Cathy Hanek, who spent last season as the head women’s coach at Miles Community College in Miles City, Mont. The Vikings have been led so far by Brittany Lehner, who is averaging 12.3 points per game while Kelsey Hunter comes in averaging 9.3 points per contest. Lehner, a 5-10 forward, is also averaging 5.5 rebounds per game.  Valley City State defeated the Golden Eagles last season 68-60 on the road in Valley City, N.D.