Game Time...No.1 Northwestern College squares off against No. 15 Morningside for a conference match-up between ranked teams Wednesday night in Sioux City, Iowa. Tip-off at the Rosen Verdoorn Gym is set for 8pm. The Red Raiders, ranked first in today's NAIA coaches' poll, is 2-0 in GPAC play, 9-0 overall. Morningside is also 2-0 in GPAC play, 5-1 overall.

Follow the game live, via the Morningside webcast, at this link: Watch Now!

Listen live to the game via the KSOU broadcast at this link: Listen Now!

All-Time...Northwestern leads the all-time series 22-18; the teams have split the last 10 match-ups, including last year when each team won on the opposing team's home court.

    2016-17: Northwestern def. Morningside 85-84 (A)
                   Northwestern lost to Morningside 82-59 (H)

Scouting Reports...
        
    No.15 Morningside College Mustangs: 2-0 (GPAC), 5-1 overall
        Head Coach: Jim Sykes (15th year)

    Morningside is a perfect 2-0 in conference play so far this season, defeating both Mount Marty (75-72) and Doane (85-77) on the road over the last two weeks. They also have wins over Saint Mary (Kan.), College of the Ozarks (Mo.) and 4th-ranked Bellevue (Neb.) in non-conference play. The Mustangs lone setback is to Buena Vista, 100-91, on Nov. 11.

    Coach Sykes took over the Mustangs program in the middle of the 2004-05 season and has won 65% of his games during his 15 years on the sideline. He is the all-time winningest coach in program history and has guided Morningside to five NAIA D-II Championship appearances and seven 20+ win seasons.

    By the Numbers: (NAIA Rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 82ppg (6th)
    Scoring Defense: 77ppg (6th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 48% (6th)
    3pt Percentage: 39% (4th), 62 3pters (6th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 68% (8th)
    Rebound Margin: +1 (9th)

Top Players:  (NAIA Rank-if top 10) * returning starter
    *Tyler Borchers (All-Conference)  14.2ppg, 8.5rpg (2nd), 13 blocks (1st / 5th)
    *Brody Egger (All-Conference)  13.5ppg, 12 3pters, 4rpg, 12 assists
    Zach Imig  12.7ppg, 24 assists
    Pierce Almond  10.8ppg, 19 3pters, 39% 3pt
    Alex Borchers  (All-Conference)  9.0ppg, 28 assists (4th)

    No.1 Northwestern College: 2-0 (GPAC), 9-0 overall
        Head Coach: Kris Korver (18th year) over 400 wins (9th on the active list)

        Northwestern, with a 9-0 record, is off to its best start since the 2004-05 season when they opened at 10-0. The Red Raiders are 2-0 in the GPAC, holding wins over Doane and Hastings in league play, and moved up to the No.1 spot in the national poll for the first time since the 2005-06 season.

    By the Numbers: (Conf. Rank / NAIA Rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 96ppg (1st/7th)
    Scoring Defense: 71ppg (1st)
    Field Goal Percentage: 53% (1st/5th)
    3pt Percentage: 46% (1st/2nd), 106 3pters (2nd/6th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 83% (1st/2nd)
    Rebound Margin: +10 (1st)

Top Players:  (Conf. Rank / NAIA Rank-if top 10)  *returning starter
    *Colton Kooima-All-American, 3x All-GPAC; 23ppg (1st/7th), 33 3pters (2nd/2nd), 37 assists (5th)
     Derek Buysse- All-Conference; 18.6ppg (8th), 31 3pters (3rd/6th), 4.3rpg
     *Nathan Wedel-2x All-Conference; 18ppg (9th), 62% (3rd) 6.1rpg, 36 assists
    *Riley Francis-All-Conference; 15.1ppg, 6.6rpg, 14 3pters (41% 3pt)
    
Other Notes...
    Northwestern has held the edge on the boards in seven of the nine games played; six straight

    Red Raiders have shot better than their opponent in all but one game (vs Jamestown)

    Northwestern has made 10+ three-pointers in all but one game (Doane); has made more three-pointers than their opponent in all but one game (Peru State)

    Kooima is second all-time with 255 3pters made; Craig Douma is the all-time leader with 468