Game Time...Northwestern College begins its final week of the regular season with a pivotal road game against Dakota Wesleyan Wednesday night, Feb. 19, in Mitchell, S.D. Tip-off at the Corn Palace is set for 6pm. Winners of five straight, Northwestern is tied with DWU for second place in the current GPAC standings with a 12-6 record, 20-8 overall.  Dakota Wesleyan has alternated wins / losses for the last six games, going 3-3 since Jan.29, and is 12-6 in the conference, 20-7 overall. 

    Follow the games live, via the DWU webcast and live stats, at this link: Watch Now!

    Listen to the game live, via the KSOU broadcast, at this link: Listen Now!

All-Time...Northwestern holds a 47-30 lead in the rivalry against DWU, dating back to the 1965-66 season. The Red Raiders are 4-6 against DWU over the last 10 games and have split the regular season match-ups played the last four years. 

    Last Five vs DWU: 
    2019-20: 73-69 loss
    2018-19: 88-75 loss
                   80-77 win
                   110-99 loss (GPAC Quarterfinal)
    2017-18: 95-86 win

Last Time vs DWU...A late 8-0 Tigers' run proved to be the difference as then No.19 Northwestern lost to then No.7 Dakota Wesleyan 73-69 in a home GPAC match-up played Jan.8 at the Bultman Center. 

A pair of Trent Hilbrands free throws put Northwestern up 65-61 with 7:12 left to play but DWU responded with an 8-0 run, finished off with two Sam McCloud three-pointers to give the Tigers a 69-65 lead. The Red Raiders went scoreless for nearly four minutes, missing on four straight field goal attempts. 

Jay Small scored on a jumper to make it a two-point game (71-69) and, following a pair of misses by DWU from the free throw line, Northwestern had a chance to tie or take the lead with 1:30 left. Small's three-point attempt missed and the Tigers converted 2-of-4 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Northwestern shot 44% for the game, 48% (14/29) from the three-point line, and was led by Small with 21 points and seven rebounds. Hilbrands scored 20 and Sterk added 14 points and three rebounds. Isaac Heyer scored all nine of his points from beyond the arc and pulled down five rebounds. 

    Complete Recap | 

Scouting Report...

    #10 Dakota Wesleyan Tigers: 12-6 (T2nd), 20-7           Head Coach: Matt Wilber (7th year)

The Tigers are tied with Northwestern for second place in the GPAC at 12-6, 20-7 overall, and defeated the Red Raiders in the first match-up played earlier this season. DWU has alternated wins / losses over their last six games, going 2-1 at home in the Corn Palace and 1-2 on the road. Most recently, DWU lost to Mount Marty  (72-61) and defeated Doane (79-64) last week.

Head Coach Matt Wilber is in his seventh year with the Tigers program, ranking fourth all-time in wins (156). He has guided DWU to the national tournament five straight years, including a national runner-up finish in 2014-15. Wilber returns four starters and eight players from a 2018-19 team that finished 23-10 and lost to Indiana Wesleyan in the second round of the national tournament. 

    By the Numbers: (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 77.4ppg (10th)
    Scoring Defense: 68.1ppg (1st / 6th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 47% (7th)
    3pt Percentage: 34% (10th), 236 3pters (9th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 75% (5th)
    Rebound Margin: +4 (5th)

    Top Players:  (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Ty Hoglund (2x All-American) - 22.5ppg (2nd), 56 3pters, 42% 3pt (10th), 78 assists (5th)
    Samuel McCloud - 9.8ppg, 72 3pters (9th), 39% 3pt, 5.7rpg
    Koln Oppold - 6.9ppg, 3.8rpg
    Mason Larson - 6.8ppg, 26 3pters, 3.4rpg

    Northwestern: 12-6 (T2nd), 20-8 overall        Head Coach: Kris Korver (20th year)

The Red Raiders have won five straight games, their second longest win streak of the season, and six of their last seven heading into Wednesday night's match-up against DWU. They are tied with the Tigers for second place in the GPAC at 12-6 with two games left in the regular season. Both teams have a 1/2 game lead on Dordt and are two games up on both Mount Marty and Concordia. Northwestern is 20-8 overall. 

    By the Numbers: (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 86.5ppg (3rd)
    Scoring Defense: 77.3ppg (6th)
    Field Goal Percentage: 49% (3rd)
    3pt Percentage: 38% (6th), 321 3pters (3rd / 4th)
    Free Throw Percentage: 75% (3rd)
    Rebound Margin: +5 (4th)

    Top Players:  (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Trent Hilbrands (All-American) - 17.3ppg (7th), 81 3pters (4th), 46% 3pt (6th), 71 assists 
    Jay Small (All-Conference) - 14.9ppg, 77 3pters (7th), 6.5rpg (9th), 73 assists  
    Craig Sterk (All-Conference) - 14ppg, 33 3pters, 5.4rpg, 31 blocks (3rd)
    Grant Rohrer - 11.2ppg, 68% FG, 5rpg