Game Time...The stakes are a little higher the third time around as No.11 Northwestern plays host to Doane in a GPAC semifinal on Saturday, Feb. 24. Tip-off at the Bultman Center is scheduled for 4pm. These two teams are playing for the third time this season and second in span of eight days. Northwestern, the No.2 seed, owns a 24-5 record and Doane, the No.7 seed, is 14-17 on the year. 

The winner will advance to play in the GPAC Championship on Tuesday night, Feb. 27, against either top-seed Morningside or No.4 seed Dakota Wesleyan at the highest remaining seed.

Follow Saturday's semifinal game live via the NWC webcast at the following link: Watch Now!

All-Time...Northwestern leads the all-time series against Doane 41-13, dating back to the 1965-66 season. The Red Raiders have won five straight in the rivalry and are 7-3 over the last 10 games against Doane. 

Earlier This Year..The Red Raiders won both match-ups during the regular season, earning a 97-57 home win on Nov. 18 and then defeating the Tigers on their home floor just one week ago on Feb. 17, 86-79. 

Nathan Wedel scored a game-high 27 points, making 10-of-11 shots from the field, in leading the Red Raiders to a big home win over Doane on Nov.18. Northwestern shot 57% for the game and held a 44-34 edge on the boards. Riley Francis (15pts, 9 boards) and Derek Buysse (14pts) were also in double figures for Coack Korver's squad as they raced out to a 47-23 halftime lead. Anthony Laravie scored 13 points and Nick Kornieck added 12 for the Tigers, who shot 31% for the game and 19% from the three-point line.

        Nov. 18 Recap | 

Four Red Raiders scored in double figures in their 86-79 road win over Doane in a match-up played one week ago (Feb.17) in Crete, Neb. Wedel poured in a game-high 30 points, followed by Colton Kooima with 20 and both Buysse (12) and Francis (10) were also in double figures. Northwestern shot 43% for the game, 38% (12/32) from the three-point line compared to Doane at 51% from the field and 40% (8/20) from the arc. Rebounding was much more even in the rematch as Northwestern held just a 37-36 advantage on the glass. Kornieck led Doane with 23 points and both Trace Tupper and Rylee Zimmerman scored 13.

        Feb. 17 Recap | 

Scouting Reports...

    Doane University: 7-11 (7th place GPAC), 14-17 overall     Head Coach: Ian McKeithan (3rd)

The Tigers upset No.2 seed and ninth-ranked Briar Cliff 85-84 in the GPAC Quarterfinals Wednesday night in Sioux City. Doane shot nearly 60% for the game, 50% (7/14) from beyond the arc, led by Ryan Zimmerman with 25 points. Freshmen Nick Kornieck and Trace Tupper added 19 and 15 points respectively and defensively, the Tigers held BCU to well below their shooting average from the 3pt-line as they went 9-38 (24%). 

Doane finished the regular season in seventh place, one game in back of Concordia. They are 14-17 overall and 4-6 over their last 10 games, including the win over BCU Wednesday night. 

McKeithan returns for his third season as the head of the men's basketball program and brings back two starters and three players from a 2016-17 team that finished ninth in the GPAC with a 4-14 record, 13-17 overall. Doane has five freshmen among their top eight scorers and is the top shot-blocking team in the GPAC, fourth best in the NAIA, with 134.

By the Numbers: (Conf. Rank / NAIA Rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 75.9ppg (9th)
    Scoring Defense: 79.2ppg (7th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 46% (9th)
    3pt Percentage: 39% (2nd), 266 3pters 
    Free Throw Percentage: 70% (7th)
    Rebound Margin: +1 (6th)

Top Players:  (Conf. Rank / NAIA Rank-if top 10) * returning starter
    Nick Kornieck-17.3ppg (8th), 5rpg, 75 3pters (8th), 49 blocks (1st)
     *Rylee Zimmerman (All-Conference)-12.8ppg, 5.5rpg
     Anthony Laravie-12.3ppg, 3.5rpg, 66 3pters (10th), 40% 3pt, 36 steals (8th)   
    Trace Tupper-8.5ppg, 5rpg, 39 blocks (3rd)
    Chase Stone-6,6ppg, 54 3pters, 48% 3pt (2nd / 10th)
  
No.11 Northwestern College: 13-5 (T2nd), 24-5    Head Coach: Kris Korver (18th year)

The Red Raiders opened tournament play with a 107-87 win over Concordia on Wednesday night behind a 25-point effort by both Riley Francis and Nathan Wedel. Chris Borchers matched his career-high with 16 points, going 7-for-9 from the field. Parker Mulder scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half and Derek Buysse contributed 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Colton Kooima added eight points and matched his career-best with eight assists. Northwestern shot 60% or better in both halves, 64% for the game, and made a season-high 16 three-pointers while shooting 57% from beyond the arc, also a season-best. 

Northwestern is 7-1 over its last eight games, losing only to Dakota Wesleyan on Feb. 14 in Mitchell, S.D.

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 92.2ppg (1st / 3rd)
    Scoring Defense: 80.2ppg (9th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 51% (2nd / 4th)
    3pt Percentage: 40% (2nd / 10th); 299 3pters (2nd) 
    Free Throw Percentage: 83% (1st / 1st) 
    Rebound Margin: +6 (2nd)

Top Players:
     Nathan Wedel-3x All-Conference; 21.4ppg (1st), 6.3rpg (7th), 59% FG (4th), 114 assists (4th)     
     Colton Kooima-All-American, 3x All-GPAC; 20.7ppg (1st), 73 3pters (6th), 105 assists (6th)
    Derek Buysse-All-Conference; 15ppg, 83 3pters (2nd), 5.3rpg
    Riley Francis-All-Conference; 12.6ppg, 6.1rpg (8th), 44 3pters