Game Time...Fresh off its 80-77 overtime win over #15 Dakota Wesleyan Wednesday night, Northwestern returns to action as they host No.4 Morningside for another key GPAC match-up against a ranked team. Tip-off on Saturday, Jan. 19 is scheduled for 4pm. Northwestern has won a season-high five straight games and is in fifth place in the current GPAC standings with a 7-5 record, 13-8 overall. Morningside, 10-1 in the GPAC and 17-1 overall, holds a 1.5 game lead over Briar Cliff in the conference standings. 

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

All-Time...Northwestern has dropped two straight and is 4-6 in the last 10 games against the Mustangs. The Red Raiders hold a slight edge, 23-20, in the all-time series. 

Earlier This Season...The Red Raiders lost to then-No.2 Morningside 92-72 in a GPAC match-up played in Sioux City, Iowa, on Nov. 17, falling to 1-2 in the GPAC, 4-3 overall. Grant DeMeulenaere came off the bench to lead Northwestern with 13 points, making 6-of-8 field goal attempts, followed closely by Steven Kragt with 12 and Jay Small with 10. 

The Red Raiders scored the first six points of the game on back-to-back three's by Kragt and opened up a 16-9 advantage just over five minutes in. After Morningside came back with a 7-0 run of their own to tie it, a Small three-pointer and basket by Grant Rohrer put Coach Korver's squad back in front briefly, 21-16. The Mustangs, however, scored the next nine points to take the lead for good and opened up a 38-27 advantage at the break on a three-point by Pierce Almond.

Morningside scored eight of the first 10 points to extend its lead to 17 in the opening moments of the second half. The teams traded baskets over the next 8-10 minutes as the lead stayed from 16-19 points. With Northwestern down 17, Morningside went on an 8-2 run as both Almond and Alex Borchers hit consecutive three-pointers to go up by 20+ points during the final five minutes.

The Mustangs shot 53% for the game, 44% (14/32) from the three-point line. Zach Imig and Alex Borchers led a balanced Morningside offense with 13 points each. Brody Egger and Ben Hoskins both scored 11 and Matt Hahn chipped in nine. 

Northwestern shot 51% for the game, 46% (12/26) from the arc, and held a 34-27 edge on the glass. The Red Raiders, however, committed 21 turnovers compared to just five by the Mustangs.

Scouting Reports...

No. 4 Morningside Mustangs: 10-1 (1st GPAC), 17-1          Head Coach: Jim Sykes (15^th season) 

Morningside, the defending regular and postseason champion, holds a 1.5 game lead over its city-rival, Briar Cliff, with a 10-1 record, 17-1 overall. They have won three straight since losing its only game of the season, an 86-82 setback on the road to Dakota Wesleyan. The Mustangs have wins over Mount Marty, Dordt and Nebraska Christian since.

Sykes returns all five starters and 13 players from last year's team that finished 28-7 overall, losing to eventual national champion Indiana Wesleyan in the quarterfinals. Sykes, now in his 15th season, was named the GPAC Coach of the year last year. 

By the Numbers: (NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 87.2ppg (5th)
    Scoring Defense: 67.7ppg (1st / 8^th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 53% (1st / 2nd)
    3pt Percentage: 39% T3rd), 171 3pters (5th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 65% (10th)
    Rebound Margin: +6 (3rd)

Top Players:  (NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Tyler Borchers (2x all-conference) 14.2ppg, 71% FG (2nd / 3rd), 6.1rpg
    Zach Imig (all-conference) 12.4ppg, 14 3pters, 48% 3pt, 6.3rpg (7th), 57 assists
    Brody Egger (2x all-conference) 11.4ppg, 33 3pters, 36% 3pt
    Matt Hahn (all-conference) 10.8ppg, 39 3pters
    Alex Borchers (all-conference) 9.3ppg, 23 3pters, 52% 3pt, 53 assists

Northwestern Red Raiders: 7-5 (5th GPAC), 13-8        Head Coach: Kris Korver (19th year)

With its overtime win over DWU last time out, the Red Raiders pushed their win streak to a season-high five games. They stand alone in fifth place in the current GPAC standings with a 7-5 record, 1/2 game in front of both Dordt and Hastings. They are 13-8 overall. 

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank, NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 89.6ppg (4th)
    Scoring Defense: 79.2ppg (5th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 51% (2nd / 7th)
    3pt Percentage: 41% (2nd / 10th), 239 3pters (3rd / 8th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 77% (2nd)
    Rebound Margin: +9 (1st)

Top Players:  (GPAC rank; NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Trent Hilbrands - 18.6ppg (6th), 44 3pters, 40% 3pt, 62 assists 
    Jay Small - 15.3ppg, 69 3pters (2nd / 9th), 43% 3pt (3rd), 4.4rpg
    Craig Sterk - 10.8ppg, 56% FG, 4.7rpg  
    Parker Mulder - 10.5ppg, 6.5rpg (6th), 82 assists (2nd)
    Steven Kragt - 10ppg, 25 3pters, 46% 3pt