Setting the Stage: Still stinging from back-to-back losses to MSU Moorhead and Minnesota Crookston last weekend, the Wolves look to get back on track this weekend, but must go on the road to face Augustana and Wayne State, both of whom own early-season wins over the Wolves, to do so.  With just five games left in the regular season, the Wolves are looking to solidify their hopes for a post-season conference tournament berth with a solid outing this weekend.  NSU is sitting eighth in the NSIC standings, two full games ahead of next weekend's opponent Concordia-St. Paul (ninth place) and two full games behind Friday night foe Augustana, who is sixth.

Last Time Out: NSU took to the road to kick-start the month of February, but came home with a pair of stinging losses to MSU Moorhead and Minnesota, Crookston.  The Wolves held the lead for the majority of Friday night's game before letting the advantage slip away in the game's final minutes against a team that was once ranked as high as #19 in the nation.  NSU was hampered by a slow start on Saturday and was never able to fully recover, falling to the Golden Eagles for just the second time ever.

About Augustana: The Vikings, once the favorites to win the NSIC and ranked in the nation's top ten, have faced their struggles this season despite having Preseason Player of the Year Cody Schilling.  Augustana enters the weekend at 13-8 overall and 10-7 in conference play, just two full games ahead of the Wolves in the standings.

Last Meeting with the Vikings: Augustana rolled into Aberdeen ranked 16th in the nation back on Dec. 10 and rolled out having outlasted a persistent NSU squad 76-68.  The Vikings took the lead six seconds into the contest and never relinquished it, keeping just out of reach of a determined NSU team.  Augie's Cam McCaffrey and NSU's Collin Pryor each scored 20 points to lead their respective teams.

About the Wildcats: The Wildcats have won two of their last three heading into this weekend's action, a stretch that broke a seven-game skid to start the new year.  WSC sits at 5-12 in league play and 6-15 overall.  Led by senior point guard Amry Shelby, the Wildcats own wins over Minnesota Crookston, Minnesota State, U-Mary and two over Concordia-St. Paul.

Last meeting with the Wildcats: After watching an early 10-0 lead dissolve into a 16-10 deficit, Northern State clamped down in the second half, holding the visiting Wildcats to just 13 second-period points and feeding off the veteran leadership of senior Alex Thomas to take home a 57-41 victory.  Thomas and Dustin Tetzlaff combined to score 31 of NSU's 57 points.