By: NWC Athletic Communications
ORANGE CITY, Iowa – The (RV) and No. 3-seed Northwestern College (21-9, 13-7 GPAC) men's basketball team is set to begin the defense of their 2021 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) conference tournament title as the No. 6-seed Doane Tigers (18-12, 11-9 GPAC) are set to return to the Bultman Center Wednesday night.
REGULAR SEASON MEETINGS
Northwestern swept the regular season meetings with the Tigers, and will look to tie the longest win streak in the series' history of seven games (Feb. 2016 to Jan. 2019). The Raiders have currently won six-straight over Doane entering the contest and hold a 17-3 record inside the Bultman Center dating back to 2002.
Nov. 20, 2021 – NWC 67, Doane 53
The two teams first met in Orange City back in November and it was Northwestern taking a 14-point victory. Three Raiders scored double figures –
Alex Van Kalsbeek (22 points),
Noah Slagter (13 points), and
Trent Hilbrands (11 points). Van Kalsbeek was one rebound away from a double-double (9 rebounds), while blocking two Tiger shots.
For the Tigers, it was top scorers Anthony Laravie and Josiah Gardiner who dropped 11 and 10 points, respectively. Gardiner brought down a team-high nine rebounds in the effort, while Brady Timm dished out a team-high three assists.
Feb. 5, 2022 – NWC 84, Doane 83 (OT)
In a barnburner in Crete, Neb. earlier this month, it was Hilbrands that proved to be the hero of the day for the Raiders. He erupted for 33 points, hitting both the 3-pointer that would send the game to overtime and the game-winning 3-pointer in the overtime period. In the contest, he shot 6-for-12 from deep and 5-of-6 from the free throw line.
Van Kalsbeek also had a solid performance, dropping 24 points and collected nine rebounds, while being one of three Raiders to dish out four assists in the victory.
Grant DeMeulenaere had nine points, four rebounds, and four assists. Northwestern was also a perfect 13-for-13 from the free throw line.
For Doane, it was third-leading scorer Alec Oberhauser who had a whopping 38 points and 16 rebounds in Doane's effort, as the Tigers would lead by as many as seven points in the second half. Leading scorer Josiah Gardiner notched 12 points and was one rebound away from his own double-double, while Brady Timm had 13 points.
SCOUTING DOANE
Four Tigers enter the contest averaging double digit in scoring each game, led by sophomore Josiah Gardiner averaging 15.4 points per game. His 65.8% field goal percentage sits second in the conference. Anthony Laravie (14.3), Alex Oberhauser (12.7), and Josh Carr (11.0) are the other Tigers averaging double figures per game.
Oberhauser cleans up the boards well, notching 8.8 rebounds per contest which is third best in the GPAC this season. Gardiner also averages just under six boards per game (5.9).
RAIDERS IN GPAC TOURNAMENT
Since the GPAC became the GPAC in the 2000-01 academic year, and the
Kris Korver era (2000-01 on), the Raiders own a 28-14 record in the conference tournament and winning six conference tournament titles (2001, 02, 08, 12, 17, 21). Northwestern is 15-5 all-time in the Quarterfinal round under Coach Korver.
TICKET INFORMATION
The conference office has set the prices for this year's conference tournament as follows: $10 for adults, $3 students (K-College). GPAC students will receive free admission with their GPAC institutional ID.
Only NAIA-issued passes will be accepted at all venues throughout the conference tournament. No Northwestern-issued pass will be accepted.
GPAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Quarterfinals – Wednesday, Feb. 23
No. 1-seed Briar Cliff vs. No. 8-seed Dakota Wesleyan (7:00 p.m., Sioux City, Iowa)
No. 4-seed Dordt vs. No. 5-Jamestowon (7:45 p.m., Sioux Center, Iowa)
No. 3-seed Northwestern vs. No. 6-seed Doane (7:45 p.m., Orange City, Iowa)
No. 2-seed Concordia (Neb.) vs. No. 7-seed Morningside (7:00 p.m., Seward, Neb.)
Semifinals – Saturday, Feb. 26
Winner of 1/8 vs. Winner of 4/5 (Location & Time TBD)
Winner of 2/7 vs. Winner of 3/6 (Location & Time TBD)
Championship – Tuesday, March 1
Winner of Semifinal #1 vs. Winner of Semifinal #2 (Location & Time TBD)
Tip-off from the Bultman Center is set for approximately 7:45 PM – or 25 minutes after the conclusion of the women's Quarterfinals game – from the Bultman Center on the campus of Northwestern College.
