Game Time...The Northwestern College men's basketball team returns to action this weekend against a pair of North Dakota teams, Mayville State and Valley City State. The Red Raiders will play Mayville State on Friday night at 7:30pm and will then return to the court for an afternoon match-up against the Vikings at 3pm. 

    Follow the games live via the following links: 

        Live Stats @ Mayville State |  Live Stats @ Valley City State

All-Time...The Red Raiders are 11-3 all-time against Valley City State and have won three straight in the rivalry that dates back to the 1967-68 season. The teams have played once per season over the last 13 years. 

        Last Five vs VCS:
        2018-19: 103-56 win
        2017-18: 100-72 win
        2016-17: 86-79 win
        2015-16: 96-84 (OT) loss
        2014-15: 101-76 win

Northwestern is a 3-0 all-time against Mayville State, all played since the 2010-11 season. 

    Last Three vs Mayville State:
        2018-19: 89-83 win
        2016-17: 94-77 win
        2010-11: 85-79 win

Scouting Reports...

    Mayville State Comets: 2-1            Head Coach: Darren Tighe (3rd year)

After losing the first game of the season to a ranked Jamestown team (90-78), Mayville State has won two straight, defeating Providence in back-to-back games, 99-66 and 112-65. Tighe, in his third season as the Comets head coach, brings back one starter from a 2018-19 team that finished with a 20-9 overall record, losing to Morningside in the first round of the NAIA D-II Men's Basketball Championship. Mayville State finished tied with Dickinson State for third in the North Star Athletic Association at 9-5 and then proceeded to win their second straight postseason conference title. The Comets were picked fourth out of eight teams in the NSAA preseason poll. 

    By the Numbers: (NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 96.3ppg 
    Scoring Defense: 73.7
    Field Goal Percentage: 54% 
    3pt Percentage: 35%, 27 3pters (9th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 70%
    Rebound Margin: +8

    Top Players:  (NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Rene Melendez - 13.3ppg, 9 3pters, 53% 3pt, 3.7rpg
    Max Cooper (returning starter) - 12.7ppg, 78% FG, 6rpg
    Latrelle Franklin - 12.3ppg, 15 assists (7th)
    Simon Ramirez - 12.3ppg, 47% 3pt, 8 3pters

    Valley City State Vikings: 0-3        Head Coach: Ryan Montgomery (4th year)

The Vikings have lost all three games played this season and have been outscored 84-75 in losses to Brandon, University of Winnipeg and Jamestown. Last time out, VCSU lost to a ranked Jimmies squad, 104-86, earlier this week on Oct. 28. Montgomery is in his fourth season as the Vikings head coach, coming to VCSU in 2016 after a long stint as an assistant at Bemidji State. He returns two starters, seven players from last year's team that finished tied with Viterbo for fifth place in the North Star Conference at 5-9, 9-19 overall. They were picked to finish third in the NSAA preseason poll. 

    By the Numbers: (NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 75.3ppg 
    Scoring Defense: 84.3
    Field Goal Percentage: 46% 
    3pt Percentage: 33%, 15 3pters (9th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 77%
    Rebound Margin: -5

    Top Players:  (NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Logan Nelson (1st team all-conference) - 22ppg, 52% FG, 6rpg
    Jalen Addison - 16ppg, 5 3pters, 39% 3pt, 3rpg, 7 assists
    Connor Entzi - 9ppg, 6rpg
    Hunter Sand - 8.3ppg, 1.3rpg

Northwestern College Red Raiders: 1-0                Head Coach: Kris Korver (20th year)

The Red Raiders established two records in their 144-44, season-opening win over Oak Hills Christian last week in the Bultman Center. They set the record for field goals and points in a game and Head Coach Kris Korver had eight of his 14 players score in double figures. Trenton De Haan came off the bench to score 20 points, making 9-of-11 field goals, and Grant DeMeulenaere, one of 10 players returning from last year's squad, scored 15 and dished out four assists. 

Northwestern shot 67% from the field and outrebounded Oak Hills Christian 49-20. Carter Culelier netted 14 points in his Red Raider debut and Trent Hilbrands, Dalton Moser, Grant Rohrer and Austin Alexander all scored 12.