Game Time...A pair of ranked teams on impressive win streaks match-up Wednesday night, Jan. 10, as No.11 Northwestern plays host to No.20 Dakota Wesleyan. Tip-off at the Bultman Center is scheduled for 8pm. Northwestern has won seven straight and is 6-2 in the GPAC, 16-2 overall. DWU has won five straight, 10 of its last 11, and is 5-3 in the conference, 15-5 overall. 

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

All-Time...Northwestern leads the all-time series 45-26 against DWU and is 3-2 over the last five match-ups. The teams split during the regular season last year and the Red Raiders defeated DWU in the GPAC semifinals 84-65. Northwestern is 5-5 against the Tigers over the last 10 meetings.

    Last Year:
    2016-17: 103-88 (H) win
                    83-77 (A) loss
                    84-65 (H) win GPAC semifinals

Scouting Reports...

    No.20 Dakota Wesleyan Tigers: 5-3 (T4th w/ CNC), 15-5 overall   Head Coach: Matt Wilber (5th season)

After a 5-4 start to the season, the Tigers have won five straight, 10 of their last 11, to climb into a fourth-place tie with Concordia in the current GPAC standings with a 5-3 record,15-5 overall. Since losing to Briar Cliff at home 86-83 on Dec. 16, DWU defeated Keiser, Johnson & Wales, Peru State, Dakota State and Morningside during their current streak. They have wins over Concordia, Doane, Mount Marty and Hastings in conference play and losses to Dordt, Midland and BCU.

Now in his fifth season as the Tigers head coach, Wilber earned his 100th win at DWU earlier this year and already ranks fifth all-time in career wins. He has guided the Tigers to three consecutive NAIA D-II National Tournaments, including a runner-up finish in 2014-15. Wilber returns four starters and 11 players from a 2016-17 team that finished tied for second in the GPAC at 13-5, 23-10 overall, losing to College of Idaho in the first round at Branson.

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 86ppg (4th)
    Scoring Defense: 72.4ppg (1st)
    Field Goal Percentage: 51% (3rd/6th)
    3pt Percentage: 37%, (7th) 196 3pters (6th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 75% (3rd)
    Rebound Margin: +6 (3rd)

Top Players:  (GPAC rank / NAIA-if top 10)
    Ty Hoglund (All-American, GPAC Freshman of Year)  19.2ppg (5th), 55 3pters (7th), 60 assists
    Jason Spicer (All-American)  17.9ppg, 59% FG, 5.7rpg, 105 assists (1st/9th)
    Trae Vandeberg (All-Conference)  15.5ppg, 44 3pters, 72 assists
    Nygel Drury  11.2ppg, 31 3pters, 4.4rpg
    
    No.11 Northwestern College: 6-2 (2nd), 16-2    Head Coach: Kris Korver (18th year)

Since dropping two straight games to Morningside and Briar Cliff, the Red Raiders have ran off seven consecutive wins and moved into second place in the current GPAC standings with a 6-2 record, 16-2 overall. Northwestern has wins over GPAC rivals; Dordt, Concordia, Mount Marty and Midland, along with victories over Bethesda and Vanguard in non-conference play.

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 95.4ppg (1st / 2nd)
    Scoring Defense: 79.5ppg (8th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 53% (1st / 2nd)
    3pt Percentage: 42% (1st / 4th); 201 3pters (2nd / 4th) 
    Free Throw Percentage: 85% (1st / 1st) 
    Rebound Margin: +6 (2nd)

Top Players:
    Colton Kooima-All-American, 3x All-GPAC; 22.7ppg (1st / 8th), 54 3pters (5th), 63 assists (8th)
    Nathan Wedel-3x All-Conference; 19.8ppg (3rd), 5.8rpg (9th), 61% FG (2nd), 73 assists (4th)     
    Derek Buysse-All-Conference; 16.6ppg, 59 3pters (1std / 3rd), 4.9rpg
    Riley Francis-All-Conference; 13.3ppg, 6.3rpg (8th)

Other Notes:

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

Northwestern has outrebounded its opponent in 13 of its 18 games

Kooima has scored in double figures in 15 of the 18 games played; 11 20+ point games this season

Wedel has scored in double figures in 17 of 18 games; eight 20+ points games

Francis has scored in double figures in 14 of 18 games

Buysse has scored in double figures in 13 of his 16 games played

Wedel ranks 16th in career scoring with 1,577pts

Buysse ranks 17th in career three-pointers with 136