CROOKSTON, Minn. (Interstat) — Saint Cloud State will visit Minnesota-Crookston in a men’s NCAA Division II basketball game Monday at Lysaker Gymnasium. The Huskies are the visiting team, and the Golden Eagles are the home team. Both teams enter the matchup with 0-0 records.

Saint Cloud State will begin the new season after its most recent result, a 61-55 home loss to Minnesota-Duluth on March 15. The Huskies will play their first road game of the young season and will look to establish early momentum. Saint Cloud State’s schedule includes upcoming road games at Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri State, followed by contests against Northern Michigan and Lake Superior State in Wisconsin Dells, Wis. The Huskies will also face Minnesota State at home and travel to Concordia-Saint Paul later in the early portion of the schedule.

Minnesota-Crookston will open at home after its most recent result, a 99-90 road loss at Bemidji State on Feb. 21. The Golden Eagles will seek a stronger start at Lysaker Gymnasium and will have the advantage of playing in front of their home crowd. Minnesota-Crookston’s early schedule includes games against Central Oklahoma and Northwestern Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla., before a home matchup with Valley City St. The Golden Eagles are also set to host Minnesota-Moorhead, Bemidji State, Mary and Minot State during the opening stretch.

The game offers both programs an early chance to set a tone. Saint Cloud State will try to use its experience and road focus to secure a first win, while Minnesota-Crookston will attempt to protect its home court and begin the season with a strong performance. The Huskies and Golden Eagles both have 0-0 records, so the matchup will give one team its first victory of the campaign and the other its first loss. Lysaker Gymnasium will host the contest in Crookston, Minn.

Saint Cloud State’s later nonconference and league schedule includes a home game with Winona State, a road trip to Augustana (S.D.) and Wayne State (Neb.), and a home matchup with Sioux Falls. Minnesota-Crookston is also scheduled to face Saint Leo and Florida Southern in Lakeland, Fla., and will later host Bemidji State and travel to Minnesota-Duluth. Both teams will use the opening game as a measuring point before a busy stretch of regional competition.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Saint Cloud State 78, Minnesota-Crookston 71. Interstat’s ELO system gives Saint Cloud State an 87.2 percent probability to win.