Game Time... The Northwestern College men's basketball team returns to competition this week with a couple of home games, beginning with a non-conference match-up against Presentation on Wednesday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7pm.

Idle since its 82-79 win against Bellevue on Dec. 19, Northwestern is 9-4 heading into its final non-conference game of the regular season. Presentation currently holds a 3-9 record heading into Wednesday night. 

Follow the game live at these links: Watch / Listen | Live Stats

All-Time... Northwestern is 6-0 all-time against the Saints dating back to the first match-up played during the 1995-96 season. The Raiders have scored 100+ points in four of the six games, including a 103-52 victory played earlier this season in Aberdeen, S.D.

Last Time vs Presentation... Northwestern raced out to a 52-21 halftime lead and rolled to a 103-52 win against Presentation on Nov. 28. The Raiders shot nearly 60% for the game, led by Alex Van Kalsbeek (24pts, 8 rebounds) and Trent Hilbrands (21pts, 8 rebounds). Head Coach Kris Korver's squad held a huge edge on the boards, 51-27. 

Presentation was led by Qaiyoom Olanlege with 14 points and eight rebounds.

Scouting Reports...

    Presentation Saints: 3-9                Head Coach: Alex Tyrrell (2nd year)

Since earning back-to-back wins over Yellowstone Christian and Trinity Bible in late November, Presentation has dropped four straight games. Among those losses, three are to teams from the GPAC (Northwestern, Mount Marty and Jamestown). They also lost to Mayville State (N.D.) in their last game, 80-49.  Presentation is 3-9 on the year.

Tyrrell is in his second year as the head of the Saints program, taking over prior to the 2019-20 season after a four-year stint as head coach at Vermont Tech. Last year, Tyrrel led Presentation to a 3-27 overall record, 0-14 (8th place) in the NSAA. Two starters, five players return from last year; Presentation was picked to finish eighth among eight teams in the NSAA Preseason poll.

    By the Numbers (NAIA rank -  if top 10)
    PPG - 54.4
    FG - 37%
    3pt FG - 31%
    FT - 66%
    Reb.Margin - even
    Blocks - 41
    Opp PPG - 78.2

    Individual Leaders (NAIA rank - if top 10)
    Isaac Essien - 13.4ppg, 12 3pters, 5.8 rpg, 44% FG
    Ian Kelly - 10.2ppg, 14 3pters, 38% 3pt
    Qaiyoom Olanlege - 10.2ppg, 8 3pters, 7.1rpg
    Jackson Becker - 8.8ppg

(RV) Northwestern College: 9-4            Head Coach: Kris Korver (21st year)

The Raiders have a 9-4 record heading into their final non-conference match-up of the regular season. Last time out, they defeated Bellevue 82-79, their second win over the Bruins, on Dec. 19. Northwestern owns a 4-2 record in December.

    By the Numbers (NAIA rank -  if top 10)
    PPG - 88.9
    FG - 54% (5th)
    3pt FG - 40%
    FT - 77%
    Reb.Margin - +5
    Blocks - 26
    Opp PPG - 77.2

    Individual Leaders (NAIA rank - if top 10)
    Alex Van Kalsbeek - 21.2ppg, 76% (6th), 7.5rpg
    Jay Small - 15.8ppg, 38 3pters (4th), 5.7rpg, 55 assists
    Trent Hilbrands - 15.1ppg, 33 3pters, 42% 3pt, 38 assists
    Craig Sterk - 12.5ppg, 62% FG, 6.2rpg