Game Time... Northwestern will host No.6 Briar Cliff for a conference match-up Wednesday night, Dec. 12. Tip-off at the Bultman Center is scheduled for 8pm. Northwestern has dropped two straight, both within GPAC play, and is 2-4 in the conference, 7-6 overall. Briar Cliff has won five straight and is in second place in the GPAC with a 6-1 mark, 10-1 overall. 

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

All-Time...Northwestern leads the all-time series 60-51, dating back to the 1967-68 season. The Red Raiders are 2-3 in the last five against BCU and just 2-8 over the last 10 match-ups against the Chargers.

Scouting Reports...

    No.6 Briar Cliff Chargers:  6-1 (2nd), 10-1 overall            Head Coach: Head Coach: Mark Svagera (2nd year)

The Chargers have won five straight games since losing its only game of the season to cross-town rival Morningside, 76-67, at home on Nov. 14. They earned wins over Doane, Mount Marty, Dakota Wesleyan and Dordt, all in GPAC play, along with coming out on top against Dakota State last weekend in a non-conference match-up to move a game behind the Mustangs in the league standings. BCU won five straight games to start the season, four of them on the road. 

Svagera is in his second season as the head of the Briar Cliff program after serving as an assistant under previous head coach Nic Nelson for six years. Svagera returns three starters and nine players from a 2017-18 team that tied Northwestern for second with a 13-5 conference record, 26-8 overall. They lost to Indiana University-East in the quarterfinals of the NAIA D-II National Championship. 

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA rank if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 93ppg (2nd / 8th)
    Scoring Defense: 81ppg (11th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 50% (4th)
    3pt Percentage: 41% (2nd / 8th), 152 3pters (1st /2nd)
    Free Throw Percentage: 78% (1st / 9th)
    Rebound Margin: +1 (6th)

Top Players:  
    Erich Erdman (3x All-Conference; 2x All-American): 21.3ppg (2nd), 29 3pters (8th), 3.3rpg, 38 assists (2nd)
    Jay Wolfe (All-American; 2x All-Conference) 19.6ppg (4th), 35 3pters (4th), 7.5rpg (3rd)
    Jackson Lamb (All-Conference)-14.9ppg, 37 3pters (2nd), 7.1rpg (4th)
    Evan Freidel (All-Conference)  11.4ppg, 20 3pters, 93% FT (1st / 3rd)

Northwestern College:  2-4 (8th), 7-6 overall                Head Coach: Kris Korver (19th year)

Since its three-game win streak to conclude November, the Red Raiders have lost two straight to fall back into eighth place in the GPAC standings at 2-4, 7-6 overall. Northwestern has lost to the University of Jamestown and Midland, both last week. Leading by seven with under five minutes to go, the Red Raiders were outscored 10-0 down the stretch to fall to Midland 74-73 last Saturday night at the Bultman Center.

This season...

    Northwestern has outrebounded its opponent in 10 of its 13 games played; they have been outrebounded in three straight games, however

    The Red Raiders have shot better than 50% in nine of their 13 games; and shot better than its opponent in eight games

    Trent Hilbrands has scored in double figures in 12 of 13 games; has seven 20+ points games

    Jay Small has tallied double figures in 11 games

By the Numbers: (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 90ppg (3rd)
    Scoring Defense: 80ppg (10th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 51% (2nd / 7th)
    3pt Percentage: 41% (1st / 7th), 151 3pters (3rd / 9th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 75% (4th)
    Rebound Margin: +9 (1st)

Top Players:  (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Trent Hilbrands - 18.7ppg (7th), 25 3pters, 39% 3pt, 4.2rpg, 42 assists (8th)
    Jay Small - 13.5ppg, 40 3pters (6th), 44% 3pt (7th), 4.0rpg, 15 assists
    Craig Sterk - 12.2ppg, 59% FG, 5.7rpg, 6 blocks
    Steven Kragt - 10.2ppg, 17 3pters, 57% 3pt, 20 assists
    Parker Mulder - 9.3ppg, 53% FG, 6.5rpg (T6th), 39 assists