Game Day...No.10 Northwestern College is set to host Midland in a GPAC men's basketball match-up this weekend for Senior Day. Tip-off on Saturday, Feb. 10 is scheduled for 4pm. Northwestern has won four straight games and is alone in third place in the current GPAC standings with an 11-4 record, 21-4 overall. Midland has won five straight games to climb up to eighth place in the GPAC with a 6-10 record, 16-12 overall. 

This marks the final home game for the eight seniors associated with the men's program: Ben Von Heeder, Taylor Driesen, Derek Buysse, Riley Francis, Tanner Hilbrands, Matt Hillman, Colton Kooima and Nathan Wedel.

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

All-Time...Northwestern leads the all-time series against Midland, 67-27, since the 1960-61 season. The Red Raiders are 4-1 over the last five match-ups but 5-5 over the last 10 against Midland. 

Last Time vs Midland...11th-ranked Northwestern used a late surge to get past Midland 100-94 in a GPAC match-up played Jan.6 in Fremont, Neb. 

Trailing by one (87-86) with 2:40 left to play, a pair of free throws by Parker Mulder started a 10-2 Northwestern run to that put the Red Raiders in front for good 96-89. Following Mulder's free throws, Nathan Wedel scored on a lay-up off a steal and both Riley Francis and Derek Buysse knocked down three-pointers to complete the run. In total, Northwestern outscored Midland 14-7 over the final 2:40 and made its final four field goal attempts while converting all six free throw tries.

Wedel led Northwestern with 28 points and dished out a career-high nine assists to go with six rebounds. It was Wedel's eighth 20+-point game of the season. Mulder followed with a career-best 23 points and nine rebounds, going 8-for-11 from the field including four three-pointers. Francis (15), Chris Borchers (14) and Buysse (13) were also in double figures for NWC. 

Northwestern shot 51% for the game, 44% (15/34) from beyond the arc and 94% from the free throw line. They held the edge in rebounding, 38-32, and committed just seven turnovers. 

Ryan Williams poured in a game-high 37 points as both he and Reggie Gradwell knocked down five three-pointers. Williams also pulled down 12 rebounds to lead Midland. 

Scouting Reports...

    Midland Warriors: 6-10 (8th), 16-12    Head Coach: Oliver Drake (3rd)

Midland has played some of its basketball of late, winning five straight games heading into Saturday, to move up to eighth in the current GPAC standings with two games left in the regular season. They have defeated Dordt, Concordia and Mount Marty in GPAC play to go with a pair of non-conference wins over Nebraska Christian and Faith Baptist during their streak. Midland holds a 6-10 league record, 16-12 overall.

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: 82.1ppg (6th)
    Scoring Defense: 78ppg (6th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 48% (T5th)
    3pt Percentage: 38%, (3rd) 273 3pters (3rd / 9th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 70% (9th)
    Rebound Margin: +4 (5th)

Top Players:  (GPAC rank / NAIA-if top 10)
    Ryan Williams: 16.9ppg (9th), 73 3pters (7th), 49% 3pt (2nd / 9th), 6.6rpg (6th)
    Chase Parsons (All-Conference): 13.5ppg, 58 3pters, 37% 3pt, 60 assists
    Shak Triplett: 12ppg, 5rpg, 8 assists
    Reggie Gradwell: 9.6ppg, 62 3pters (10th), 21 blks (6th)

T10th Northwestern College: 11-4 (3rd), 21-4    Head Coach: Kris Korver (18th year)

The Red Raiders are currently in third place in the GPAC standings, one half game back of both Morningside and Briar Cliff, with four games to go in the GPAC standings. They are 10-4 in GPAC play, 20-4 overall, tied for the 11th most wins in NAIA D-II ranks. They are 6-2 in the month of January and have won two straight (Morningside/Dordt) since dropping two in a row against Hastings and Briar Cliff. 

This marks the final home game for the eight seniors that have been part of the Red Raider men's basketball program over the last four years:

    Colton Kooima: 114 games, 4-year starter, 2,279pts (ranks 4^th), 370 rebounds, 335 assists (ranks 13^th), 290 3pters (ranks 2^nd)
            3x all-conference, 2016-17 NAIA All-American  scored in double figures in 97 games, 20+ points in 54 games and has 18 30+-point games; set single game scoring record earlier this year vs
                Concordia (51pts) 
    Nathan Wedel: 116 games, 4-year starter; 1743pts (11^th), 741 rebounds (12^th), 391 assists (11^th)
                3x all-conference; scored in double figures in 87 games, 29 games with 20+ points, 13 double-doubles 
    Riley Francis-116 games, 2-year starter, 831pts, 104 3pters (26^th), 431 rebounds, 187 assists
                                All-Conference in 2016-17 
    Derek Buysse-53 games in two seasons at NW; 768 points, 151 3pters (15^th), 280 rebounds, 69 assists
                                NAIA Scholar Athlete in 2018; All-Conference in 2016-17 
    Tanner Hilbrands-four-year member of the program; played in 18 games with 42 pts, 24 rebounds; recipient of the George Dunlop Sportsmanship Award in 2017
 
    Matt Hillman-2x NAIA Scholar Athlete; 4-year member of the program; played in 16 games, 28pts, 11 rebounds

    Ben Von Heeder-manager    
    Taylor Driesen-manager

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank / NAIA-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 93.1ppg (1st / 3rd)
    Scoring Defense: 80ppg (9th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 51% (2nd / 4th)
    3pt Percentage: 40% (1st / 9th); 259 3pters (2nd) 
    Free Throw Percentage: 83% (1st / 1st) 
    Rebound Margin: +6 (2nd)

Top Players:
    Colton Kooima-All-American, 3x All-GPAC; 22ppg (1st), 68 3pters (4th), 86 assists (7th)
    Nathan Wedel-3x All-Conference; 21ppg (2nd), 6.4rpg (7th), 60% FG (3rd), 97 assists (5th)     
    Derek Buysse-All-Conference; 15ppg, 74 3pters (1st / 7th), 5.1rpg
    Riley Francis-All-Conference; 12.2ppg, 6.2rpg (9th)