ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Concordia-St. Paul men's basketball team is set to open the 2025-26 campaign this weekend at the NSIC/MIAA Challenge hosted by Fort Hays State at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays, Kansas. The Golden Bears will take on Nebraska-Kearney in a neutral game on Saturday before facing host Fort Hays State on Sunday.

BUY TICKETS TO HOME GAMES ONLINE
Fans are highly encouraged to purchase tickets online at cspbears.com/tickets prior to game day. All ticketed events for the 25-26 academic year will utilize the Vivenu online ticket platform found at that link, and fans must scan a mobile ticket to enter. Tickets will still be sold on site on game day, but purchases are card-only and include additional fees. The best way for fans to make their game day entry as smooth as possible is to purchase tickets online in advance. CSP students, faculty, and staff will be able to download and transfer their free passes through Vivenu.
 
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 OVERVIEW
This year's NSIC/MIAA Challenge will take place on the campus of Fort Hays State, with the Golden Bears taking on Nebraska-Kearney at 4 p.m. on Saturday and Fort Hays State at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

All games will be streamed live via the MIAA Network, with two options for fans to view the games. Fans can purchase a single-game pass for $20 or a one month subscription covering both games for $35. 

Saturday will be just the third ever meeting between CSP and Nebraska-Kearney, but the second in two seasons, as Concordia claimed a 95-93 win in overtime against the Lopers in their season opener last year.  The only other meeting came in 2003 with the Lopers winning 99-82 on a neutral court in Omaha, Neb.

In last year's win over the Lopers, Concordia connected on 35 of its 65 attempts (53.8%) from the floor while Nebraska-Kearney was 35-84 (41.7%). The Golden Bears outscored the Lopers 17-8 on second chance opportunities and held a 48-32 advantage in the painted area.

"They play hard, and their coach does a great job of getting their guys in areas to give them space to work," said Head Coach Matt Fletcher when asked about facing Nebraska-Kearney. "They have guys that can create their own shots, and they share the ball well. We are going to have our hands full on night one."

Sunday will mark just the second-ever meeting between CSP and Fort Hays State. When the two teams met last season at the same tournament, Concordia came away with an 82-68 victory.

In last year's win over the Tigers, Concordia was 27-55 (49.1%) from the field and 10-26 (38.5%) from beyond the arc in the game while Fort Hays State finished 27-62 (43.5%) overall and 5-18 (27.8%) from deep. CSP got to the free throw line over twice as much as FHSU, going 18-24 while the Tigers were 9-11. Each team turned the ball over seven times, but Fort Hays State held a 14-12 edge in points off turnovers.

On the matchup with Fort Hays, Fletcher said, "They are a top 25 type team year in and year out. Winning at their place is always going to be incredibly tough. That game presents a real challenge for us early on."

PRESEASON UPDATE
With no exhibition games on the schedule this season, the Golden Bears have relied on preseason practices and a handful of scrimmages to prepare for Saturday's tip-off.

"We have a lot of new guys, so we've been focused on guys finding their roles and finding our rotation while figuring out exactly how we want to play as a group," said Fletcher. "We scrimmaged three Division II teams this year, so that's been a good way to gauge where we are as a group."

"Our new guys are starting to meld together with our returners, so I'm really happy with the progress we have made so far, and I'm excited to get the ball rolling now and see what we can do in these early-season games."

NON-CONFERENCE SLATE
Following the opening weekend tournament, CSP will play four additional non-conference contests, starting with games against Drury and McKendree at the DoubleTree by Hilton Thanksgiving Classic on Drury's campus in Springfield, Missouri on November 25 and 26.

Concordia will then return the following weekend to host its own Thanksgiving tournament with non-conference games against a pair of NSIC opponents in Jamestown and MSU Moorhead on November 29 and 30.

"We try to be intentional with our non-conference scheduling to give ourselves the best possible NCAA Tournament chances," said Fletcher. "I want to schedule difficult, that way when you feel like you have an NCAA Tournament team, you give yourself the best shot to end up where you want to be. I don't know if it gets us ready to win our conference if we don't give our guys some good tests early on."

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. 19.

The Northern Sun is poised to be extremely competitive once again this season, with six teams receiving votes in the NABC Coaches Preseason Poll, including No. 9 Southwest Minnesota State.

In the NSIC Preseason Poll, the defending conference champion Golden Bears were picked to finish fourth with a total of 176 points, putting them two points ahead of fifth-place Augustana and 13 points behind third-place Minnesota State.
In the separate NSIC South Division poll, the Golden Bears were picked to finish fifth with 30 points, coming in just a single point behind both Augustana and Minnesota State in a tie for third place.

Southwest Minnesota State, who claimed a share of the 2024-25 conference title along with the Golden Bears, was picked to repeat as champion with 219 points and 11 first-place votes. St. Cloud State was picked second with 194 points and two first-place votes while Minnesota State rounded out the top three with 189 points and a first-place vote.

Speaking to the strength of the NSIC this season, Fletcher said, "It's gonna be loaded as always. Our division in the south is filled with teams that were borderline NCAA Tournament teams last year, and it looks to be just as competitive this year."

"Duluth is very good in the north, and then you have a bunch of hungry teams with new faces who have a lot to prove, and they are going to be eager to do that," stated Fletcher. "I don't think there is ever going to be an off night in the NSIC, maybe for my entire coaching tenure."

MEET THE GOLDEN BEARS
The 2025-26 roster features a healthy mix of returners and fresh faces, with eight returning players and nine newcomers on the team. The roster leans younger than previous years with two seniors, three juniors, six sophomores, two redshirt freshmen, and four freshmen.

THE RETURNERS
Named Concordia's player to watch this season, junior Ben Kopetzki is CSP's top returning scorer from last season. Kopetzki started all 31 games as a sophomore, scoring 13.5 points per game and pulling down 3.5 boards per game while ranking second on the team with 106 assists.

"Ben is going to have a chance to be special," said Fletcher. "His role is much different this year, and teams are going to really key in on him, but I am excited to watch him rise to that challenge and continue to grow."

The only returning senior on this year's roster, guard Reid Patterson brings four years of experience at CSP to the table. Patterson was a key role palyer for the Golden Bears last year, playing in 31 games and making two starts. He averaged 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per game and was one of CSP's top threats from beyond the arc, shooting 35.5% from deep with 39 makes on 110 attempts.

"Reid is our fifth-year guy, and he has been through it all for us here," said Fletcher. "He's the ultimate competitor and can really shoot the ball, so we are very excited to see him take on a bigger role this year."

Junior forward Chet Kloss also brings back valuable experience for the Golden Bears, having appeared in all 31 games for CSP last season. In his sophomore campaign, he averaged 3.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game while adding 15 blocks, 11 steals, and 10 assists.

"Chet is the ultimate team guy and a heck of a competitor," said Fletcher. "He does whatever he can to help us win games, and that's why I will always rock with Chet."

CSP's trio of returning sophomores, guards Owen Carlson and Hudson Vaith and forward Isaiah Deitz, are poised to take on larger roles for the Golden Bears this season.

"Owen Carlson and Hudson Vaith are two guys that really paid their dues and waited their turn, and I'm really excited to watch both of them get their chance this season," said Fletcher. "I have never seen a guy play harder than Isaiah Deitz, so I know when I put him out there, he is going to be ready to do whatever we ask of him."

Rounding out the returners are Concordia's two redshirt freshmen, guard Ryan Johnson and forward Owen Waldoch.

When asked about Johnson, Fletcher stated, "You can't really coach some of the things he is able to do. He makes winning plays and is a dynamic athlete and an elite defender. He is definitely going to help us win a lot of games."

On Walchoch, Fletcher added, "Owen is fighting the injury bug a little bit, but I'm excited to watch him take another year to develop and get himself ready to come back by storm next season, hopefully with a clean bill of health."

THE NEWCOMERS
One of only two seniors on the roster, forward Sam West brings plenty of NSIC experience to the table after transferring to CSP from Minot State over the summer. West started all 36 games for the Beavers last season, averaging 10 points and six rebounds per game and leading the team with 153 assists, the fourth most in the NSIC.

"Sam is about as good a playmaker as you will see in the NSIC, and I feel like he is thriving in our system and the way we want to play," said Fletcher. "His leadership has been key for us, and he brings that steady and competitive expectation to our locker room."

Also transferring to Concordia from Minot State this summer was junior forward Jaden Wysocki. Wysocki appeared in 33 games off the bench for the Beavers last season, averaging 3.4 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.

"Jaden has been awesome for us," stated Fletcher. "He is easy to coach, plays as hard as he can, and always brings a team-first attitude. I'm very excited to watch him flourish in our system.

Concordia landed another NSIC transfer in sophomore guard Marcus Burks, who started 27 games for Northern State in his freshman campaign last season. Burks averaged 11.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game for the Wolves, while ranking fifth in the conference with 4.1 assists per game.

"Marcus is great at getting to the rim and passes it very well," said Fletcher. "He really is an elite athlete, and he is hungry to learn and easy to coach."

Transferring to CSP from Division I North Dakota State this offseason was sophomore Patrick Bath, a 6-9 forward who played high school basketball at Totino-Grace. Bath appeared in seven games for the Bison as a redshirt freshman last season, scoring 21 points and pulling down four rebounds.

"Pat is a crazy athlete," said Fletcher. "I think his ceiling is somewhere he can't even see yet. I'm excited to watch him continue to learn and grow as he takes on a new role at the Division II level."

The final transfer on this year's roster, guard Jade West comes to Concordia by way of Iowa Lakes Community College.

"Jade is going to redshirt for us this year, but I think he is going to be a great player at our level," stated Fletcher. "I am eager to watch him get healthy this year as he continues to practice and get himself ready to take on a bigger role next year when his brother graduates."

Rounding out Concordia's roster are four freshman guards with Alex Kopetzki, Jaxon Young, Allan Lanfard Jr., and Jackson Driessen making up the incoming class.

When asked about the his freshmen class, Fletcher stated, "They are ultra-talented, and they understand exactly what their role is right now. I have loved the way they have shown up every day in practice to try to get better and better, and it will be fun to watch them as they continue to grow. When their time is called, they are going to be ready to go," added Fletcher.