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Setting the Stage
Northern continues its homestand this weekend as the Wolves host a pair of games. Dakota State is the opponent for an 8 p.m. game Friday while Dickinson State comes to Aberdeen for a 4 p.m. contest Sunday. Northern defeated Jamestown 78-73 in its home opener Tuesday.

Scouting the Trojans
Dakota State is ranked 18^th in the nation in the latest NAIA Division II top-25 poll. The Trojans are led by fifth-year Head Coach Gary Garner. DSU started its season 3-0 but have since lost its last two games to No. 19 Bellevue (Neb.) and Dakota Wesleyan.

The Trojans have four players that score in double figures on the season. Yusuf Vinson leads the team averaging 14.4 points per game. Marcus Smith and Dylan Hale average 12.2 per game each and Adam Hofer is scoring 10.4 per game.

Scouting the Blue Hawks
The Blue Hawks are led by Ty Orton who is in his seventh season with DSU. Dickinson State is 0-3 on the season and has already played three exhibition contests as well. The game against NSU will also be an exhibition for the Blue Hawks. Tevin Russell and Ty Ackelson lead the team averaging 15 and 14.3 points per game, respectively.

Northern Notes
The Wolves are 14-3 against non-conference opponents under Head Coach Paul Sather, including this season. NSU improved to 4-0 in home openers under Sather with its win over Jamestown. The Wolves shot a blistering 78 percent in the second half (18-for-23) to make a second half surge. Seth Bachand and Trent Zomer each recorded a career-high 17 points in the win.

Sather is 2-0 at Northern against Dakota State and is 1-0 against Dickinson State. Northern and Dakota State last met last season as Northern won 85-62. Mack Arvidson scored 10 points in the win while Jared Hannigan added four assists.

The Wolves also met the Blue Hawks last season with Northern winning 74-64. Bachand had 13 points and six boards in the win.
Northern has been a force so far this season, averaging 39 points per game in the paint while opponents are scoring 28 a game inside. The Wolves have also outscored opponents 32-22 off the bench in 2013.