Game Time...11th-ranked Northwestern College opens the 2018 calender year with a conference match-up on the road against Mount Marty Wednesday night. Tip-off at the Cimpl Arena is scheduled for 8pm. Northwestern is tied with Concordia for third place in the current GPAC standings with a 4-2 record, 14-2 overall. Mount Marty is 0-7 in conference play, 3-13 overall. 

Follow the game live via the Mount Marty webcast at this link: Watch Now!

All-Time...Northwestern leads the all-time series 53-16 and is 9-1 over the last 10 match-ups against Mount Marty. The Red Raiders earned a pair of wins last year, defeating the Lancers at home 97-62 and at Yankton 87-67.

Scouting Reports...

    Mount Marty Lancers: 0-7 (10th), 3-13   Head Coach: Cody Schilling (1st)

The Lancers defeated Nebraska Christian 80-69 last time out (Dec.30) to snap their five game losing skid just before the new year. They also have wins over Grace and Oak Hills Christian this season. Prior to the win on Saturday, Mount Marty dropped games to Dakota Wesleyan, Doane, Midland, Mayville State and Waldorf. They are 0-7 in conference play, 3-13 overall. 

Cody Schilling is in his first season as the Lancers' head coach after a standout playing career at Augustana (S.D.) and a stint as a coach at the basketball clinic, Warwick Workouts. Schilling inherits a Lancers team that finished with an 0-18 league record, 4-24 overall. 

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 64.8ppg (10th)
    Scoring Defense: 75ppg (3rd)
    Field Goal Percentage: 39% (10th)
    3pt Percentage: 30%, (10th) 95 3pters (10th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 75% (3rd)
    Rebound Margin: -7 (10th)

Top Players:  (GPAC rank / NAIA-if top 10)
    Marcus Mathieu: 18.6ppg (6th), 26 3pters, 39 assists
    Drew Cheskie: 10.4ppg, 4.7rpg, 54% FG (returning starter)
    Conlan Callahan: 9.1ppg, 19 3pters
    Sheldon Siemonsma: 7.6ppg, 21 3pters
    
    No.11 Northwestern College: 4-2 (T3rd) 14-2    Head Coach: Kris Korver (18th year)

The Red Raiders have won five straight games since losing its only two contests of the year to Morningside and Briar Cliff in late November and early December. Northwestern has wins over Dordt, Dakota State, Concordia, Vanguard and Bethesda during its streak to improve to 14-2 heading into Wednesday night. They are tied with Concordia for third in the current GPAC standings. 

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 95.7ppg (1st / 2nd)
    Scoring Defense: 78.9ppg (7th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 53% (1st / 2nd)
    3pt Percentage: 43% (1st / 5th); 178 3pters (2nd / 6th) 
    Free Throw Percentage: 85% (1st / 1st) 
    Rebound Margin: +6 (3rd)

Top Players:
    Colton Kooima-All-American, 3x All-GPAC; 25ppg (1st / 5th), 52 3pters (5th / 9th), 57 assists 
    Nathan Wedel-3x All-Conference; 19ppg (5th), 5.8rpg (9th), 61% FG (3rs), 61 assists     
    Derek Buysse-All-Conference; 16.7ppg, 54 3pters (3rd / 9th), 5rpg
    Riley Francis-All-Conference; 12.9ppg, 6.3rpg (7th)

Northwestern has outrebounded its opponent in 11 of 16 games but has lost the battle of the boards in its last two games

The Red Raiders have shot better than their opponent in 12 of 16 games; made more 3pters than opponent in 11 of 16 games

Kooima and Wedel have scored in double figures in 15 games; Kooima has 11 20+ games, Wedel has six 20+ games

Francis has scored in double figures in 12 games

Buysse has six 20+-point games and has scored in double figures in 11 of his 14 games played