Nathan Wedel poured in a season-high 27 points in leading No.5 Northwestern College to a 97-57 win over Doane in the Red Raiders GPAC opener played today at the Bultman Center. 

The Red Raiders improve to 1-0 in conference play, 6-0 overall. Doane slips to 0-2 in the GPAC, 3-4 overall. 

Wedel was nearly perfect against the Tigers, going 10-for-11 from the field and 6-for-6 from the free throw line, in netting a game-high 27 points. Riley Francis missed a double-double by just one rebound, adding 15 points and nine boards, and Derek Buysse came off the bench to score 14 points, going 3-for-7 from the three-point line.

Key Plays...
Northwestern opened with a 10-0 run and led 14-2 after a basket by Spencer Pauley. 

Doane made it a six-point game (16-10) and was within eight (22-14); a Wedel three-pointer sparked an 11-0 Northwestern run, pushing the lead to 33-14 at the 3-minute mark. 

Another Red Raider surge extended their lead to 47-20 after a jumper by Colton Kooima and two free throws by Parker Mulder; Doane scored the final basket of the half on a three-pointer by Chase Stone, making the score 47-23 at the break.

A 23-9 Northwestern run at the start of the second half put the game out of reach as the hosts eventually led by as much as 45 (86-41) with five minutes left.

By the Numbers...
Northwestern shot better than its opponent for the fifth straight game; Red Raiders shot 57% from the field compared to 31% by Doane

Red Raiders had the advantage in three-point shooting (37% - 19%); Northwestern made seven from beyond the arc; fifth game with more three-pointers made than opponent

Northwestern had a 44-34 edge on the boards; Francis with a season high nine, Colton Kooima with season-high eight, Wedel with seven, Spencer Pauley with six

Red Raiders totaled 23 assists, four by Kooima, three for Parker Mulder

Wedel has scored 20+ points in three games this season; Francis has scored in double figures five times; Buysse with three 10+ games this season

Doane was led by Anthony Laravie with 13 points; 12 for Nick Kornieck