Game Time... (RV) Northwestern College resumes its 2019-20 season at the two-day Dordt Thanksgiving Classic this weekend in Sioux Center, Iowa. The Red Raiders will play Peru State (Neb.), a ranked team in NAIA Division I, at 5pm on Friday night, Nov. 29, followed by a Saturday matinee against Dickinson State at 2pm. All the games will be played at the DeWitt Gymnasium. 

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All-Time...Northwestern has won 11 straight games against Peru State in a rivalry that dates back to the 1961-62 season. The Red Raiders are 1-0 all-time against Dickinson State, winning the lone match-up 76-60 played in 2011.

    Last Five vs Peru State:
    2017-18: 100-87
    2016-17: 77-66
    2015-16: 88-77
    2004-05: 79-69
    2003-04: 85-68

Scouting Reports...

    (RV) Peru State Bobcats: 2-1 (HAAC), 3-2 overall                Head Coach: Bob Ludwig (3rd year)

The Bobcats earned an 88-81 road win over Evangel (Mo.) last time out in a conference match-up played last weekend in Springfield, Mo. The win pushed their HAAC record to 1-1, 3-2 overall. Peru State opened the year ranked 25th in the NAIA D-I poll and has since dropped into the receiving votes category in the latest edition released this week. They also have wins against Columbia and Culver-Stockton and losses to William Woods and Missouri Valley.

Ludwig, now in his third season as the Bobcats head coach, returns one starter and four players from a 2018-19 team that won the HAAC Conference Tournament and qualified for the NAIA D-I championship, losing in the first round to William Carey. They finished with a 23-11 record overall, 15-9 in the HAAC, good for third place. Ludwig has been assistant coach for Central Wyoming, Bellevue and Midland priot to coming to PSU.

    By the Numbers: (NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 78.6ppg 
    Scoring Defense: 73.4ppg 
    Field Goal Percentage: 47% 
    3pt Percentage: 31%, 38 3pters 
    Free Throw Percentage: 60% 
    Rebound Margin: +5 

    Top Players:  (NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Devon Colley - 16.2ppg, 6rpg, 21 assists
    Kendrick Robinson - 14.6ppg, 7 3pters, 41% 3pt, 7.4rpg
    Henry Tanksley - 13.8ppg, 3.9rpg
    Nate Townsen Jr. - 13ppg, 7 assists

    Dickinson State Blue Hawks: 1-6 overall                Head Coach: Josh Vaughn (3rd year)

The Blue Hawks have lost two straight since earning its lone win of the season, an 84-69 road win over Yellowstone Christian, on Nov. 19. They lost to both Providence (Mont.) and Montana State-Northern since to fall to 1-6 on the year. DiSU has also lost to three GPAC teams, Concordia, Hastings and Jamestown, this season.

Vaughn returns three starters and six players from a 2018-19 team that finished third in the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) with a 9-5 record, 14-13 overall. Prior to his time at Dickinson State, Vaughn was an assistant at the University of Mary.

By the Numbers: (NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 74.4ppg 
    Scoring Defense: 87.4ppg 
    Field Goal Percentage: 41% 
    3pt Percentage: 35%, 67 3pters 
    Free Throw Percentage: 67% 
    Rebound Margin: -9 

    Top Players:  (NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Kenny Jackson (1st team all-conf.) 13ppg, 7 3pters, 4.7rpg, 23 assists
    Donte Walker - 11.9ppg, 16 3pters, 43% 3pt, 10 assists
    Montel Carlow - 10.7ppg, 17 3pters
    Ajdin Toskic - 7.1ppg, 11 3pters

 (RV) Northwestern College:  2-1 (GPAC), 6-2               Head Coach: Kris Korver (20th year)

The Red Raiders earned votes in the latest edition of the NAIA D-II coaches' poll and come into the weekend with a 6-2 record. They defeated 16th-ranked Jamestown last time out, 103-94, in a home match-up played last weekend at the Bultman Center. 

    By the Numbers: (NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 93.3ppg (9th)
    Scoring Defense: 72.9ppg 
    Field Goal Percentage: 50% 
    3pt Percentage: 38%, 94 3pters (8th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 76% 
    Rebound Margin: +5

    Top Players:  (NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Trent Hilbrands (All-American) - 18.6ppg, 24 3pters, 50% 3pt, 2.9rpg, 21 assists
    Craig Sterk (All-Conference) - 13.7ppg, 10 3pters, 6.6rpg, 13 blks
    Jay Small (All-Conference) - 12.5ppg, 18 3pters, 4.3rpg, 19 assists
    Isaac Heyer - 9.5ppg, 53% FG, 4.3rpg, 17 assists