Setting the Stage: The Wolves take to the road for the first and only time in the month of January this weekend to face Minnesota State and Southwest Minnesota State in a return to the normal NSIC Friday/Saturday schedule routine.  This will be the only meeting with the two teams this season, as the Wolves complete their first swing through NSIC play next weekend.  NSU is coming off a solid start to the new year, going 3-1 in its first four games of 2012, including last-second wins over then tenth-ranked Winona State and a scrappy Minnesota, Crookston squad.

Last Time Out:  A mere four days after knocking off Winona State, the Wolves pulled a similar feat against Minnesota, Crookston on Saturday evening.  NSU senior Alex Thomas stripped the ball away from the Golden Eagles and hit a pull-up three at the buzzer to give the Wolves the 80-77 victory in regulation.  It was his second buzzer-beater (first official) of the season, as Thomas also hit the game-winner over Butler in exhibition play.  NSU matched 19th-ranked MSU Moorhead blow-for-blow the following day before faltering down the stretch in a 74-81 loss to the league-leading Dragons.

About MSU: One of the youngest teams in the league, the Mavericks sport a roster full of freshmen and sophomores, as they have just one junior and one senior on the squad.  MSU starts four sophomores and senior Stephen Kirschbaum, but, like the Wolves, has created headaches for some of the top teams in the league.  MSU's margin of defeat to the three ranked teams in the NSIC stands at a mere 3.0 points per game, having lost to St. Cloud State by two, Winona State by six and MSU Moorhead by one on the road.

Last Season: Minnesota State rode into town ranked tenth in the nation in last season's meeting and rode out with a 91-73 victory.  MSU bolted out to a 25-8 lead and never looked back, shooting 54.4 percent from the floor and 63.2 percent from long range.

About SMSU: Winners of three of their last four - the lone setback coming at the hands of a ranked MSU Moorhead squad - SMSU is looking to ride some momentum into this weekend's games.  The Mustangs also feature a young starting line-up with four sophomores alongside junior Jordan Miller, who has been a solid mainstay for the Mustangs throughout his career.

Last Season: NSU claimed a 78-70 win over the Mustangs in last season's only meeting between the two teams.  A late rally and solid free throw shooting in the game's final four minutes helped seal the win for the Wolves.  The win sparked a stretch in which the Wolves won six of eight games and vaulted the team back into late contention for a conference tournament spot.