ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Concordia-St. Paul men's basketball team is set to open the 2024-25 campaign this weekend at the NSIC/MIAA Conference Challenge hosted by Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall, Minn. The Golden Bears will face Nebraska Kearney on Friday and #16 Fort Hays State on Saturday.  

BUY TICKETS TO HOME GAMES ONLINE
Fans are encouraged to buy tickets in advance and bring your QR code to the gates to skip the line! Friends and families who utilize the pass list will also be utilizing the online ticketing service while all students, faculty & staff will access their free CSP tickets through the service. Fans do not need to create a login, remember a username or password or download an app to purchase tickets, and tickets can still be purchased with cash at the gates. Find out more in the partnership announcement between CSP Athletics and HomeTown Ticketing.
 
WATCH ONLINE – NSIC NETWORK
All Golden Bear NSIC men's and women's basketball games will be available to watch online, free of charge, powered by the NSIC Network, supported by BlueFrame Technology. Visit nsicnetwork.com/cspbears on a laptop or desktop computer, download the NSIC Network app on your mobile device or watch on your supported OTT provider such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV. Search "NSIC Network" and download the app for the league's full sport and team lineups. NSIC NETWORK FAQ
 
DOWNLOAD THE APP
Fans can download the CSP Bears fan app, free of charge and available in the App Store or on Google Play. The app contains rosters, schedules, scores, stats, news, social media and more! Customize your options to get notifications to your favorite teams, as well. Search "CSP Bears" in the app store to stay up-to-date on Golden Bear athletics.

NSIC/MIAA CHALLENGE
This year's NSIC/MIAA Challenge will take place on the campus of Southwest Minnesota State University, with the Golden Bears facing the Lopers on Friday at 5 p.m. before taking on the Tigers at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

This will be just the second ever meeting between CSP and Nebraska Kearney, and the first in more than two decades. The teams first met in 2003, with UNK claiming a 99-82 win on a neutral court in Omaha, Neb.

"Kearney has a new head coach and a whole new team, so we're going to have to ad lib a little bit for that game," said head coach Matt Fletcher. "Early in the year, you just have to come out and play good basketball and take good care of the ball, so that will be our focus for that weekend."

This will be the inaugural matchup between Concordia and Fort Hays State, who were picked 16^th in the preseason NABC Coaches Poll. 

On the matchup with Fort Hays, Fletcher said, "They're one of the top teams in the country, so we're going to have our hands full with that. They're traditionally one of the best defensive teams in the country, so we have to make sure that we're expecting that physicality and rebounding."

PRESEASON UPDATE
Since the start of practice, the Golden Bears have taken the opportunity to prepare for the regular season. In addition to a highly competitive environment in practices, the Golden Bears have had opportunities to gauge their progress with scrimmages against Minot State and Gustavus and an exhibition game at the University of Wyoming.

On the progress of the team throughout the preseason, Fletcher said, "I think we've taken a lot of good steps forward. We're staying healthy and guys are playing really hard. We have a lot of returners, so we didn't have to start from scratch; we got to pick up where we left off, so I feel that we're advanced as compared to where we've been in the past at this time of year."

EXHIBITION RECAP
The Golden Bears played their lone exhibition game of the preseason on Monday with a road trip to face the University of Wyoming where Concordia dropped a 108-85 decision to the Division I Cowboys.
Senior Antwan Kimmons led the effort for the Golden Bears, tying for the team high with 20 points on 7-13 shooting, also adding nine rebounds and three assists.

Ben Kopetzki also reached 20 points in the contest, knocking down seven of his 12 attempts from the field while adding a team-high five assists and two rebounds. The sophomore was particularly effective from beyond the arc, hitting four of his six attempts from deep. 

As a unit, CSP shot 38.8% (26-67) from the floor and 32.3% (10-31) from beyond the arc while knocking down 23 of their 29 free throw attempts (79.3%).

The Golden Bears hung tough with the Cowboys throughout the first half, briefly taking a 28-26 lead midway through the half on a layup from Ben Koptezki. Wyoming quickly regained the advantage, leading 51-45 at halftime. The Cowboys continued to pull away in the second half, outscoring CSP 57-40 to claim the 108-85 win.  

NON-CONFERENCE SLATE
Following the opening weekend tournament, CSP will play four additional non-conference games with a road trip to St. Cloud State on Nov. 14, a home matchup with Michigan Tech on Nov. 17, a road game at Upper Iowa on Nov. 23, and a neutral site game in Fayette, Iowa against Northwest Missouri State on Nov. 24.

"We try to make sure we get high quality opponents for strength of schedule reasons and for NCAA Tournament hopes," said Fletcher of his non-conference slate. "Fort Hays is a top team in the country and Upper Iowa was in the NCAA Tournament last year and will be in the mix again this year. Northwest Missouri State is one of the best programs in the country, and I think St. Cloud is going to be very good in our league this year. They've progressively gotten better each year."

NSIC AT A GLANCE
The Golden Bears open up NSIC play with a mid-week showdown against Winona State at the Gangelhoff Center on Nov. 26 before hitting the road for matches at Sioux Falls on Friday, Dec. 6 and Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday, Dec. 7.

The Northern Sun is poised to be extremely competitive once again this season with three schools in the top 13 and another receiving votes in the first NABC Coaches Poll of the season, including top-ranked defending national champion Minnesota State.

In the NSIC Preseason Poll, the Golden Bears were picked to finish eighth with a total of 105 points, putting them 11 points behind Sioux Falls in 7^th and 12 points behind Augustana in 8^th.

Minnesota State was selected by the league coaches as the preseason favorite in the NSIC for the 2024-25 season. The Mavericks received 186 points, garnering 8 first places votes to sit 3 points ahead of second-place MSU Moorhead. The Dragons had 183 points and six first-place votes while Minnesota Duluth received the final first-place vote and 172 points to finish third.

Speaking to the strength of the NSIC this season, Fletcher said, "You have elite programs all the way from top to bottom and each team kind of takes their cycle through. Our guys are excited to play with a chip on their shoulder with something to prove for CSP."

MEET THE GOLDEN BEARS
The 2024-25 roster is heavy on returning players, with 15 returners and three newcomers. The roster is comprised of six seniors, four juniors, three sophomores three redshirt freshmen, and two true freshmen.

THE RETURNERS
Named CSP's player to watch in the preseason poll, Antwan Kimmons returns to the lineup this season after injuries forced him to miss all but eight games last season. The 2022-23 NSIC Newcomer of the Year averaged 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game on 50% shooting from the floor and 41.4% shooting from deep in his limited action a season ago.

"Antwan is as dynamic of a guard as the league will see," said Fletcher. "He's emerged as a shooter, passer, and leader, and you can tell that he wants our team to have a lot of success. We're just really excited to see him healthy again."

The longest tenured player on the roster, Marcus Skeete returns to the Golden Bears for his fifth season. Last season, Skeete averaged 15.0 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while leading the team in assists (77) and steals (23).

A starter in 26 games for Concordia last season, guard Ian Sluice also returns to the backcourt for his fourth season at CSP. The senior averaged 7.0 points and 2.4 rebounds for the Bears a season ago, adding 24 assists, and eight steals.

Gearing up for his second season in navy and gold after transferring from Division I Albany ahead of last year, Japannah Kellogg figures to be a key part in the lineup this season. The senior appeared in 19 games a year ago, starting 19 and averaging 9.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

A mid-year transfer last year, Malik Spearman rounds out the returning seniors, though he has yet to appear in a game for CSP. In his final season at Division III Dean College in 2022-23, Spearman averaged 12.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game.

Asked about the seniors on the roster, Fletcher stated, "The thing we've noticed most about the senior class is that their priorities have shifted. They are in the mode of needing to do whatever we need to do to win, regardless of who the go-to guy is on a given night.

Concordia's leader in minutes played after appearing in all 28 games last season, guard Sean Mathieu returns to the Bears. The junior averaged 8.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game last year, also ranking second on the team with 72 assists.

Also appearing in all 28 contests last season, junior Reid Patterson returns after scoring 7.3 points and pulling down 2.6 rebounds per game last year.

Sitting out all season with an injury in 2023-24, forward Cal Greene makes his return to the lineup this season. In his first season at CSP in 2022-23, Greene contributed 3.4 points and 2.0 rebounds per game while adding nine blocks across 16 games and four starts.

Brayden Dailey rounds out the juniors on the roster for Concordia. Across five appearances last season, Dailey scored eight points and added four rebounds.

Asked about the junior class, Fletcher added, "They'll be really good guys to bring off the bench to provide some sparks for us. Maybe we're struggling to score the ball or defend somebody, we have guys we can bring in to light a fire under us if we need it."

After immediately stepping in and making an impact as a freshman last season, sophomore guard Ben Kopetzki looks to be a key factor for the Bears this season. Kopetzki averaged 10.6 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. In the exhibition game at Wyoming, he finished with 20 points on 7-12 shooting, including hitting four of his six attempts from deep.

Joining him in the backcourt is fellow sophomore guard Will Boser. Appearing in 26 games and making two starts as a freshman, Boser averaged 3.5 points and 1.4 rebounds for the Golden Bears last year.

Rounding out the sophomore class is forward Chet Kloss. Kloss played in all 28 games for Concordia last year, including three starts, scoring 3.1 points per game and adding 3.5 rebounds per game.

Talking about the sophomores on the roster, Fletcher said, "They add high-quality depth to our roster with guys who can help us win games when they have to play major minutes. They showed it in spurts last year when we had to shift our roster to those guys, they got a lot of valuable experience."

Speaking about veteran leadership on his team this season, Fletcher said, "We have a ton of guys who have played a ton of minutes, and when you have a combination of guys like Antwan (Kimmon), (Marcus) Skeete, Cade (Meyer) as an addition, Ben Kopetzki, and Japannah (Kellogg) all coming back, you have a chance to be pretty good."

Added to the mix for Concordia this year will be three redshirt freshman, with guards Owen Carlson and Hudson Vaith and forward Isaiah Deitz all set to make their collegiate debuts this year.

THE NEWCOMERS
The lone transfer added this season from Division I Northern Kentucky, senior forward Cade Meyer will add size to the lineup this year. In his one season with the Norse last year, Meyer averaged 4.2 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. In the exhibition game at Wyoming, he finished with eight points and seven rebounds.

Rounding out the roster are freshman guard Ryan Johnson out of Lakeville South High School and freshman forward Owen Waldoch out of Forest Lake High School.

When asked about the redshirt freshmen and true freshmen on the roster, Fletcher said, "The future of our program is in great hands, whether they get to play a ton of minutes or not this year. They all make the decision really difficult, which is exactly what you want. When all these seniors graduate, we know we have a whole group of guys ready to slide in and keep this program moving in the right direction."

Check back throughout the season to cspbears.com for game previews and recaps as well as statistics and schedule information.