Game Time...The Northwestern College men's basketball team gets back to competition with a pair of road games this week, beginning with Concordia on Wednesday night, Jan. 29. Tip-off for the conference match-up in Seward, Neb. is scheduled for 8pm. The teams are currently tied for fourth place in the GPAC standings with a 7-5 record, one game in front of Dordt and one-half game back of Mount Marty. Northwestern is 16-6 overall; Concordia brings a 15-7 overall record into Wednesday night's game.

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    Watch the game live, via the Concordia webcast (fee required): Watch Now!

All-Time...Northwestern owns a 52-22 all-time advantage in the rivalry against Concordia but had its seven game win streak come to an end against the Bulldogs earlier this year, 88-65, in Orange City on Jan. 2.

    Last Five vs Concordia:
    2019-20: 88-65 loss
    2018-19: 76-59 win
                   79-64 win
    2017-18: 111-103 win
                   83-73 win

Earlier This Season...Carter Kent poured in a game-high 25 points in leading Concordia to an 88-65 upset win over 19th-ranked Northwestern on the Red Raiders home court Jan.2 at the Bultman Center. 

Northwestern shot 44% for the game, 35% (8/23) from the three-point line; Jay Small led Head Coach Kris Korver's squad with 17 points followed by 11 points from both Craig Sterk and Keegan Van Egdom. Small and Van Egdom led the team with seven rebounds each and Sterk matched his career-high with four assists. 

Kent, the reigning GPAC Freshman of the Year, drained five three-pointers en route to a 25-point effort. Smith came off the bench to score 14, going 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, and Justin Wiersema added 12. Concordia outrebounded the hosts 41-39 and committed just five turnovers compared to 16 by Northwestern.

    Full Recap | 
                   
Scouting Reports...

    (RV) Concordia Bulldogs: 7-5 (T4th), 16-6 overall        Head Coach: Ben Limback (7th year)

Concordia has been on a role of late, winning two straight and nine of its last 10 games since late December. They are 7-1 since the new year and were recognized in the latest NAIA Coaches poll for the first time this season. The Bulldogs are tied with Northwestern for fourth place in the GPAC at 7-5, 1/2 game in back of Mount Marty and one game in front of Dordt. They are 16-6 overall and defeated both Concordia (Mich.) and Concordia (Wis.) last weekend.

Limback returns four starters and eight players from a 2018-19 team that finished eighth in the GPAC with a 7-13 record, 15-16 overall. A loss to Morningside ended the Bulldogs season last year and they were picked to finish eighth in the GPAC preseason poll. Limback spent nine years as the head coach at Concordia (Mich.) before returning to his alma mater in 2013.

By the Numbers: (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 79.1ppg (8th)
    Scoring Defense: 68.6ppg (3rd/10th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 45% (9th)
    3pt Percentage: 36% (8th), 240 3pters (4th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 69% (9th)
    Rebound Margin: +3 (7th)

    Top Players:  (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Brevin Sloup (All-Conference) - 14.7ppg, 54 3pters (9th), 58 assists 
    Carter Kent (All-Conf / Freshman of the Year) - 13.9ppg, 46 3pters, 46 assists
    Tanner Shuck (2x All-Conference) - 12.4ppg, 39 3pters 15 blocks (7th)
    Justin Wiersema - 8.3ppg, 16 3pters, 3.7 rpg

    Northwestern Red Raiders: 7-5 (T4th), 15-7        Head Coach: Kris Korver (20th year)

The Red Raiders ended their three-game losing skid last time out with their 89-76 win over Briar Cliff last week in Orange City, sweeping the season series against BCU. Northwestern moved into a fourth place tie, along with Concordia, at 7-5 in the GPAC. Losses to ranked teams, Dakota Wesleyan, Morningside and Mount Marty, preceded the win over BCU.

    By the Numbers: (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 87ppg (3rd)
    Scoring Defense: 76.8ppg (5th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 48% (5th)
    3pt Percentage: 37% (6th), 251 3pters (3rd/7th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 74% (5th)
    Rebound Margin: +6 (3rd)

    Top Players:  (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Trent Hilbrands (All-American) - 18ppg (5th), 65 3pters (5th), 45% 3pt (7th), 52 assists 
    Jay Small (All-Conference) - 15.3ppg, 64 3pters (6th), 5.9rpg (10th), 59 assists  
    Craig Sterk (All-Conference) - 13.6ppg, 21 3pters, 5.7rpg (7th), 26 blocks (3rd)
    Grant Rohrer - 11.2ppg, 69% FG, 5.5rpg