Game Time... The Northwestern College men's basketball team plays host to 18th-ranked Dakota Wesleyan Wednesday night, Jan. 13, in a pivotal conference match-up. Tip-off at the Bultman Center is set for 8pm.
Northwestern sits in seventh place in the current GPAC standings with a 6-5 record, 11-5 overall; they are 7-1 at the Bultman Center. Dakota Wesleyan is in first place in the GPAC with a 9-1 record, 13-2 overall.
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The Rivalry...Northwestern holds a 47-32 lead in the all-time series, dating back to the 1965-66 season. The Raiders, however, are just 3-7 in the last 10 games and have lost four straight against DWU. Northwestern's last win was a an 80-77 overtime win on Jan.16, 2019.
Earlier This Year...Dakota Wesleyan outscored the Raiders 17-10 over the final six minutes to earn an 82-76 win in a conference game played Dec. 9 at the Corn Palace. Northwestern led 66-65 after a jumper by
Alex Van Kalsbeek but the host Tigers began an 8-2 run and closed with a 17-10 surge to get the come-from-behind win.
Jay Small led all players with 28 points and eight boards while Van Kalsbeek chipped in 20 for Northwestern, who shot 51% for the game. Dakota Wesleyan was led by Mason Larson and Koln Oppold with 20 points each; DWU shot 52% for the game, 50% (9/18) from the three-point line.
Scouting Reports...
#18 Dakota Wesleyan Tigers: 9-1 (1st), 13-2 overall Head Coach: Matt Wilber (8th)
The Tigers lost for the first time in conference play last time out, falling 84-75 to Midland in a game played in Fremont, Neb. The loss snapped Dakota Wesleyan's 13-game win streak and dropped them to 9-1 in the GPAC, just one game up on second place Morningside. They are 13-2 overall, having also lost to Valley City State in the first game of the season.
Wilber is in his eighth season as the head coach at DWU, owning a 165-70 record during his tenure, third most wins in program history. Wilber guided the Tigers to a national runner-up finish in 2014-15. Last year, DWU finished tied for second in the GPAC with a 13-7 record, 23-9 overall; they were the GPAC postseason runner-up and qualified for the national tournament.
By the Numbers (GPAC / NAIA rank - if top 10)
PPG - 76.2 (8th)
FG - 46% (6th)
3pt FG - 34% (4th), 8.3 3pters / game (7th)
FT - 74% (3rd)
Reb. Margin - +1 (7th)
Opp PPG - 68 (1st)
Individual Leaders (GPAC / NAIA rank - if top 10)
Nick Harden - 16.5ppg (7th), 59 assists (7th)
Koln Oppold - 14.8ppg, 24 3pters, 8.8 rpg (4th), 60 assists (5th)
Mason Larson - 11.9ppg, 6.7rpg (10th), 25 blocks (1st / 8th)
Jeffrey Schuch - 11ppg, 4.3rpg
Sawyer Schultz - 9.5ppg, 32 3pters, 42% 3pt (6th)
Northwestern College Raiders: 6-5 (7th), 11-5 Head Coach: Kris Korver (21st year)
The Raiders have won three of their last four games and bring an 11-5 record into Wednesday night's game against DWU. Non-conference wins over Bellevue and Presentation, along with a GPAC victory against Mount Marty in their last game, have put the Raiders into seventh place in the current league standings.
By the Numbers (GPAC / NAIA rank - if top 10)
PPG - 87.3 (1st)
FG - 53% (1st / 9th)
3pt FG - 39% (1st), 9.5 / game (5th)
FT - 73% (4th)
Reb. Margin - +7 (3rd)
Opp PPG - 75 (7th)
Individual Leaders (GPAC / NAIA rank - if top 10)
Alex Van Kalsbeek - 19.4ppg (2nd), 71% FG (1st), 7.8rpg (5th)
Trent Hilbrands - 16.6ppg (8th), 47 3pters (3rd), 42% 3pt (7th)
Jay Small - 14.7ppg, 44 3pters (T4th), 71 assists (1st)
Craig Sterk - 12.5ppg, 60% FG (4th), 6.4rpg
