Game Time...11th-ranked Northwestern concludes its long stint on the road with a GPAC match-up this weekend against Midland. Tip-off in Fremont, Neb. is scheduled for 4pm. Northwestern has won six straight games and is tied with Concordia for second in the current GPAC standings with a 5-2 record, 15-2 overall. Midland is 3-5 and tied with Doane for seventh in conference play, 10-7 overall. 

Follow the game live via the Midland webcast at the following link: Watch Now!

All-Time...Northwestern holds a 66-27 all-time advantage in the rivalry against Midland and is 5-5 over the last 10 match-ups. The teams split last season with each winning on its home court:

    98-84 loss in Fremont
    83-81 win in O.C.

Scouting Reports...

    Midland Warriors: 3-5 (T7th), 10-7    Head Coach: Oliver Drake (3rd)

After a 7-2 start to the season, Midland has dropped five of its next games to fall back into a tie with Doane for seventh in the GPAC standings. They have lost their last two GPAC games (Dordt, Hastings), including an 82-76 setback to the Broncos on Wednesday night. Midland is 10-7 on the year and has conference wins over Dakota Wesleyan, Briar Cliff and Mount Marty with losses to Concordia, Dordt, Doane, Morningside and Hastings.

Drake returns four players from a 2016-17 team that finished in a three-way tie with Dakota Wesleyan and Northwestern for second place in the GPAC at 13-5. They were one of four GPAC teams to qualify for the NAIA D-II tournament, losing in the first round to end with a 21-10 overall record. 

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 81ppg (7th)
    Scoring Defense: 79ppg (6th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 47% (7th)
    3pt Percentage: 38%, (5th) 173 3pters (5th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 73% (5th)
    Rebound Margin: +3 (6th)

Top Players:  (GPAC rank / NAIA-if top 10)
    Ryan Williams: 18.4ppg (7th), 46 3pters (7th), 46% 3pt, 6.7rpg
    Chase Parsons (All-Conference): 14.6ppg, 34 3pters, 38% 3pt, 28 assists
    TK Dixson: 11.1ppg, 28 3pters, 37% 3pt
    Reggie Gradwell: 9.3ppg, 353pters, 15 blks (6th)
    
    No.11 Northwestern College: 5-2 (T2nd), 15-2    Head Coach: Kris Korver (18th year)

The Red Raiders have won six 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, Bethesda and Mount Marty during its streak to improve to 15-2 overall, tied for the second most wins in NAIA Division II. They are tied with Concordia for second in the current GPAC standings. 

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 95.2ppg (1st / 3rd)
    Scoring Defense: 78.5ppg (7th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 53% (1st / 2nd)
    3pt Percentage: 42% (1st / 6th); 186 3pters (2nd / 7th) 
    Free Throw Percentage: 85% (1st / 1st) 
    Rebound Margin: +6 (3rd)

Top Players:
    Colton Kooima-All-American, 3x All-GPAC; 24ppg (1st / 7th), 54 3pters (5th / 9th), 58 assists 
    Nathan Wedel-3x All-Conference; 19.4ppg (4th), 5.8rpg (10th), 62% FG (2nd), 64 assists     
    Derek Buysse-All-Conference; 16.8ppg, 56 3pters (2nd / 3rd), 4.9rpg
    Riley Francis-All-Conference; 13.2ppg, 6.3rpg (8th)

Other Notes:

The Red Raiders have shot bettern than their opponent in all but three games

Northwestern has outrebounded its opponent in 12 of its 17 games

Kooima has scored in double figures in 15 of the 17 games played; 11 20+ point games this season

Wedel has scored in double figures in 16 of 17 games; seven 20+ points games

Francis has scored in double figures in 13 of 17 games

Buysse has scored in double figures in 12 of his 15 games played

Wedel ranks 19th in career scoring, trailing Gregg Bosch (1968-72) by five points; Wedel has 1,549 career points

Buysse is tied for 17th in career three-pointers with John Tigges (1990-93); both players have 133