Dragons Drop First Game of the Season, 70-68 VS. Sioux Falls

KVRR PHOTO/Max Mueller

#4 Jacob Beeninga. Scored a team-high 31 points.

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR)– The Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons entered Saturday’s game with the University of Sioux Falls with a chance at history.

The start to the 2023-24 season has been record breaking performances on repeat for MSUM. The Dragons reached number 1 in the NABC rankings for the first time in program history on January 9. The weekend of January 12-13 presented the Dragons an opportunity to attain another record .

The 1970-71 team began the season 15-0, a record for most wins to begin a season that has stood to this day. The Dragons defeated The Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs on Friday night in overtime to tie the record, but fell short to the Souix Falls Cougars on Saturday, 70-68.

The loss results in a 15-1 record to open the season for the Dragons, tying the mark set over 50 years ago. That 1970-71 team finished the season 24-2, falling in the NAIA Regional playoffs.

Jacob Beeninga scored 31 points on an efficient 9-of-14 from the floor in the losing effort, but Dane Zimmer was the only other Dragon to register double figures (11). Jack Thompson scored a game-high 34 points for the Cougars to help knock off the No. 1 Dragons on their home floor.

The Dragons have been tested time and time again this season. 9 of their 15 wins are by 10 points or less; 5 of them coming by one possession. Saturday’s defeat ended a run of MSUM being on the right side of a close game.

“Like I said in many other interviews, we have been very fortunate,” said Head Coach Tim Bergstraser. “There have been a lot of close games that we have been on the right side of, and tonight we were on the wrong [side]. Our guys have found many different ways to win. It is a game of possessions and we let way too many get away from us tonight.”

MSUM will look to get back into the win column on January 19, at home, vs. Minnesota Duluth.