Date back to November 8, 2024, at the start of a long 31-game campaign. Many highlights feature a trip to Puerto Rico, two triple overtimes, the longest winning streak in over 50 years, reaching the highest-ever NCAA ranking in program history, many old records falling, and so many hours of grit and grind on the hardwood. Now, it all leads to this.

It is time to turn up the ante. The real season commences. Enter the playoffs – NSIC Tournament play has arrived.

The regular season ends with the winningest squad in the NCAA era. However, there is still plenty of work to be done for the Minot State men’s basketball team.

The Beavers are back in the postseason with a home play-in game and a chance to go to the Sanford Pentagon. Challenging them for a spot in the quarterfinals is the University of Sioux Falls.

Minot State (23-8) will battle the Cougars (16-12) on Wednesday night at the MSU Dome. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

Playoffs are a big draw, but this one certainly draws a headline of its own as Sioux Falls saw success against the Beavers earlier in the season. The last time these two teams met was on January 10 when the Beavers experienced their first loss, which came at the hands of the Cougars.

Minot State is in search of a bounce back after that tough 85-61 loss at the Cougars’ barn. This will be the 20th all-time meeting between these squads and 4th in the playoffs. Sioux Falls has won all three contests prior as the Beavers look to alter the course.

Sioux Falls rounded out the regular season with 16 total wins, including 12 in conference play. They have every reason to feel good as they enter the postseason on a 4-game winning streak.

Minot State will be tasked with facing a Cougars starting lineup where all five average double-digit scoring. Leading the charge and a player to watch for Sioux Falls is Creighton Morisch, who was last week’s NSIC Player of the Week. The big center carries a double-double average of 14.3 PPG and 10.9 RPG. Noah Puetz is another feature player who enters Wednesday with 13.6 PPG and put up 24 points on the Beavers on the January 10 game. Another starter that had a big game against Minot was Taylen Ashley (12.9 PPG), as the guard put up 23 points.

The Beavers were able to start the same five guys in all 31 games of the season as they look to match up evenly with what Sioux Falls brings to the table. The key cog that makes it go is Caleb Van De Griend. He finished regular season play with an astonishing 20.5 PPG and 13.0 RPG to go with 71 percent from the field. Also playing well at the guard spots are the Brooklyn Park, MN duo of Jalen Cook (13.6 PPG) and Ayouba Berthe (13.5 PPG).

The winner of this first round contest will go on to Sioux Falls, SD at the Sanford Pentagon to play first-time regular season champion Concordia St. Paul in the quarterfinal round. Tip-off is set for this Saturday at 4:30 p.m.