Game Time...The Northwestern College men's basketball heads to Midland this weekend in another GPAC match-up. Tip-off in Fremont, Neb. is scheduled for 4pm. Northwestern is 11-5 in the conference, 16-4 overall; Midland is 2-13 in league play, 4-14 overall.

    Follow the game live at these links: Watch / Listen 

All-Time...This rivalry dates back to the 1960-61 season and Saturday's contest will be the 101st in one of the longest standing rivalries the Raiders have. Northwestern has had the upper hand, going 72-28 all-time against Midland. They have won nine of the last 11, including the meeting earlier this season in Orange City, with a score of 97-79.

Last Time vs Midland...Craig Sterk netted a career-high 28 points in leading Northwestern to a convincing 97-79 home win against Midland in a conference match-up played at the Bultman Center played on Nov. 21.

Sterk made 12-of-15 field goals, converting both of his three-point attempts, and Alex Van Kalsbeek dominated in the post, pouring in 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting to go with five rebounds and three assists. Jay Small (14pts) and Issac Heyer (10pts) gave Head Coach Kris Korver's squad four players in double figures. 

Northwestern shot 64% for the game and an even better 73% over the final 20 minutes.

Midland shot 53% for the game, 45% (9/20) from the arc, led by Kyle Castille with 19 points. Josh Lambert contributed 17 points on 7-of-12 from the field. 
 
Scouting Reports...

    Midland Warriors: 2-13 (GPAC), 4-14 overall                Head Coach: Oliver Drake (6th year)

Midland is looking to snap a three game losing streak, after to losing to Mount Marty, Morningside, and Briar Cliff. Their only GPAC wins came against Hastings and Dakota Welseyan.

Drake returns four starters, eight players from 2019-20 squad that finished 10th in the GPAC with a 6-14 record, 10-17 overall. Drake began his tenure at Midland in 2015-16 after serving as the head coach at Ashford for five seasons.

By the Numbers (GPAC / NAIA rank - if top 10)
PPG - 72.06 (11th)
FG - 44.1% (9th)
3pt FG - 34.7% (7th)
FT - 70% (T8th)
Reb Margin - +1.56 (7th)
Opp PPG - 76.44 (7th)

Individual Leaders (GPAC / NAIA rank - if top 10)
Laurence Merritt (all-conf) - 13.5ppg, 45 3pters, 
Bo Sandquist - 10.9ppg, 49 3pters, 5.89rpg
Josh Lambert - 10.5ppg, 5.06rpg 

    Northwestern College Raiders: 11-5 (GPAC), 16-5 overall        Head Coach: Kris Korver (21st year)

Northwestern has won six straight and eight of its last nine to climb into a tie for fourth place, along with Concordia, in the GPAC standings with an 11-5 record. They are unbeaten in non-conference play (5-0) for a 16-5 overall record.  The Raiders have dropped only one game, an 81-74 overtime loss to Concordia, since the new year.

By the Numbers (GPAC / NAIA rank - if top 10)
PPG - 81.3 (5th)
FG - 48% (5th)
3pt FG - 34% (5th)
FT - 69% (4th)
Reb Margin - +4 (5th)
Opp PPG - 71.3 (6th)

Individual Leaders (GPAC / NAIA rank - if top 10)
Alex Van Kalsbeek - 19.5ppg (2nd), 76% FG (1st/2nd), 7rpg (9th)
Trent Hilbrands (2x All-American) - 16.8 (5th), 64 3pters (1st / 3rd), 43% 3pt (4th)
Craig Sterk (2x all-conference) -  13.9 ppg, 7.1rpg (8th)
Jay Small (2x all-conference) - 13.3ppg, 52 3pters (5th), 87 assists (2nd)