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OMAHA, Neb. - The 19th-ranked University of Nebraska at Omaha hockey team welcomes Michigan State University to the Qwest Center Omaha this weekend, Nov. 21-22, for a two-game Central Collegiate Hockey Association series. Face-off is set for 7:05 p.m. CST both nights.

The Records
UNO comes into its clash with MSU sporting a 7-2-1 record overall and a mark of 3-2-1-1 in conference action. Meanwhile, the Spartans find themselves reeling, as a four-game slide has them at 4-6-2 on the season and 2-4-2-2 in CCHA play. The Mavs split a two-game series in East Lansing a year ago, winning 5-4 in OT before dropping the second contest, 4-2. MSU leads the all-time series 18-9-1 and holds a slim 4-3-1 advantage when playing in Omaha.

Last Week Recap
The Mavericks split a weekend series with Ferris State last week at the Qwest Center Omaha, dropping the Friday game 3-2, then coming back and winning Saturday's contest 4-2. Senior #Dan Charleston# picked up his 100th career point on a third-period power-play goal during Saturday's win over the Bulldogs. MSU was swept at home by Miami last week, 3-1 and 5-1, and has been outscored 14-3 in their last four games.

The Rankings
UNO moved into the national polls this week, coming in at No. 19 in the USCHO.com/CBS College Hockey Poll released on Nov. 17, while MSU dropped from the top twenty for the first time this season following its fourth consecutive loss on Saturday. The Mavericks rank first in the conference in goals per game with 3.33 and second in power-play efficiency, converting on 8-of-36 man-advantages this season, or 22.2 percent. MSU, however, has struggled offensively, ranking at the bottom of the conference in goals per game, 1.50, and in power-play efficiency, going just 1-for-41, or 2 percent, in conference play.

The Coaches
Nebraska-Omaha's #Mike Kemp#, the only coach in the program's history, is in his 12th season at the helm of the Maverick hockey program. A native of Duluth, Minn. and 1975 graduate of Gustavus Adolphus, Kemp brings a career mark of 186-207-50 into the 2008-09 season. He has amassed a record of 104-115-38 in CCHA play. Rick Comley is in his sixth season as head coach of the Spartans and has a record of 117-73-19 while in East Lansing. Comley arrived at MSU after spending 26 years (1976-2002) as the head coach at Northern Michigan and three years (1973-76) as head coach of his alma mater, Lake Superior State. Comley's career mark of 714-548-90 makes him one of just eight coaches in NCAA history to collect more then 550 career wins.

Media
Both games this weekend will be broadcast live on 1290 AM KKAR with Greg Harrington calling the action and Terry Leahy providing color. Coverage begins 20 minutes before faceoff each night. All of UNO's home games will be webcast live on a pay-per-view basis via the B2 Network.

Coming Up
The Mavericks will take their act on the road next weekend, Nov. 28-29, as they head to Columbus, Ohio to face the Ohio State University Buckeyes. UNO took three points off the Buckeyes in Omaha last year, winning one game, 5-2, and skating to a 3-3 tie in the other.