Game Time...11th-ranked Northwestern College is set to renew its rivalry against Dordt Wednesday night, Jan. 31, in Sioux Center. Tip-off at the DeWitt Gym is scheduled for 8pm. Northwestern is alone in third place in the GPAC with an 8-4 record, 18-4 overall, while the Defenders is currently tied for seventh place in the conference at 5-8, 11-14 overall. 

Follow the game live via the Dordt webcast at this link: Watch Now!  Live stats are available here: Stats!

All-Time...Northwestern holds 76-31 advantage in the series, dating back to the 1970-71 season, and are 4-1 over the last five match-ups against the Defenders. The Red Raiders have won three straight in the rivalry, including a 116-111 overtime victory at home on Dec. 6. 

Last Match-Up vs Dordt...Nathan Wedel scored a career-high 46 points in leading Northwestern to a 116-11 overtime win over Dordt in another classic match-up in the long-standing rivalry. 

Trailing by nine (95-86) after a three-pointer by Defenders guard Chandler Brunsting with 2:28 left to go, Northwestern closed the game with a 16-7 run, beginning with a pair of Colton Kooima free throws, to force overtime tied at 102. 

Northwestern made all five of its field goal attempts in outscoring the Defenders 14-9 in the extra period, taking the lead for good on a jumper by Wedel with 1:31 left. The Red Raiders forced a miss on the defensive end and Kooima knocked down a long three-pointer to put the hosts up four at the 31-second mark. The Red Raiders sealed the win by making 3-of-4 free throw attempts. 

The Red Raiders shot 61% for the game compared to 52% by the Defenders and the teams were relatively even from beyond the arc (NW-41%, Dordt-42%). Derek Buysse recorded his second career double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds, converting a team-high three shots from beyond the arc. Kooima scored 15 and dished out four assists and Riley Francistallied 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Chris Borchers added 11 points, giving the Red Raiders five players in double figures. 

Northwestern held the edge on the glass, 37-32, led by Buysse (11) and Francis (8). The Red Raiders committed 15 turnovers compared to 12 by Dordt. 

Henrickson led Dordt with 25 points, followed  by Jansma with 21 and Marcus Winterfeld with 16.  

Scouting Reports...

    Dordt College: 5-8 (T7th), 11-14       Head Coach: Ross Douma (9th year)

The Defenders have dropped two of their last three games to fall into a tie for seventh place in the GPAC with Doane at 5-8. Losses to Concordia and Midland sandwich a road win against Mount Marty to push the Defenders' record to 11-14 overall. They are 2-5 since the new year.

Head coach Ross Douma, in his ninth season in charge of the Defenders program, returns three starters and seven players from a 2016-17 team that finished eighth in the GPAC with a 5-13 record, 14-17 overall. Douma has guided the Defenders to three NAIA tournament bids during his tenure. 

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 87.6ppg (3rd)
    Scoring Defense: 81.2ppg (10th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 47.7% (7th)
    3pt Percentage: 37% (8th), 252 3pters (5th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 70% (9th)
    Rebound Margin: +1 (6th)

Top Players:  (GPAC rank / NAIA-if top 10)
    Alec Henrickson: 2x All-Conference; 13.8ppg, 35 3pters, 20 assists
    Marcus Winterfeld: 12.7ppg, 4.1rpg, 29 3pters, 38 assists
    Kyle Lang: 9.3ppg, 42 3pters, 45% 3pt (T5th), 52 assists
    Jesse Jansma: 8.8ppg, 46 3pters, 39% 3pt
    Chandler Brunsting: 8.1ppg, 36 3pters, 40% 3pt, 35 steals (3rd)

No.11 Northwestern College: 8-4 (3rd), 18-4    Head Coach: Kris Korver (18th year)

The Red Raiders are currently in third place in the GPAC standings with an 8-4 record, 1.5 games in back of both Briar Cliff and Morningside with six games remaining. They are 4-2 in the month of January and are coming off a 66-57 home win over No.9 Morningside one week ago. Northwestern owns and 18-4 record, tied for the 11th most wins in the NAIA. 

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 93.5ppg (1st / 3rd)
    Scoring Defense: 80.7ppg (9th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 52% (1st / 4th)
    3pt Percentage: 41% (1st / 6th); 231 3pters (2nd) 
    Free Throw Percentage: 83% (1st / 1st) 
    Rebound Margin: +6 (2nd)

Top Players:
    Colton Kooima-All-American, 3x All-GPAC; 21.3ppg (1st), 61 3pters (5th), 78 assists (7th)
    Nathan Wedel-3x All-Conference; 21.1ppg (2nd), 6.5rpg (8th), 61% FG (3rd), 86 assists (6th)     
    Derek Buysse-All-Conference; 16ppg, 70 3pters (1st / 3rd), 4.8rpg
    Riley Francis-All-Conference; 12.5ppg, 6.3rpg (9th)