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The Northern State men's basketball team opens the 2014-15 season this weekend as the Wolves travel to Sioux Falls for Sanford Pentagon Tip-Off Classic. NSU makes the trip down south for the second consecutive year to face a pair of MIAA opponents. The Wolves will play Missouri Southern at noon on Saturday and will face Pittsburg State at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Wolves Notes
NSU enters the season under Head Coach Paul Sather who is in his fifth season with the Wolves. Sather has compiled a record of 63-49 with the Wolves overall. Northern went 18-11 last season. Northern has a lot of experience returning in 2014-15 as it replaces just two seniors in Jared Hannigan and Trent Zomer. The Wolves return starters Seth Bachand, Tydan Storrusten and Skye Warwick.

Bachand led the Wolves last season averaging 11.9 points per game and six rebounds. His 59 percent field goal percentage ranked third in the NSIC. Storrusten was second on the squad a season ago averaging just over 11 points per game and led the team averaging 3.2 assists per. Warwick was NSU's third-leading scorer at 10.6 points per game. Warwick is a sharpshooter from the outside as he was fourth in the nation in three-point shooting at 47 percent on the year. His 2.79 three-pointers made per game led the NSIC.

About Missouri Southern
Missouri Southern finished 2013-14 with a 25-6 record overall. The Lions won the MIAA Tournament Championship and made it to the semifinals of the NCAA Regional Tournament before losing to eventual National Champion Central Missouri.

The Lions are led by first-year Head Coach Jeff Boschee. MSSU loses its top three scorers from last season in Marquis Addison (17.7), Slim Magee (12) and Jordan Talbert (11.7). Cameron Cornelius is the leading returning scorer for the Lions, averaging 11.2 points per last season. Missouri Southern was picked to finish fifth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll.

About Pittsburg State
The Gorillas went 8-18 overall last season and were 4-15 in conference play. PSU returns a ton of experience this season as it returns its five top scorers from last season. Devon Branch returns after averaging 20.7 points per game in 2013-14. Branch also led the Gorillas in rebounding, blocked shots and steals. Pitt. State is led by Head Coach Kevin Muff who is entering his fifth season with the team. PSU struggled down the stretch last year, going 2-8 over its final 10 games of the season.

Saturday's game will be broadcast live on 930 KSDN radio while Sunday's contest will be broadcast on the Wolves' usual station, ESPN Radio Aberdeen 1420 AM and 107.1 FM.

Tickets for Northern's two games can be purchased at the Pentagon box office or on Ticketmaster. Ticket prices this year for each session are as follows:

Courtside seats: $25
Adults: $15
Students: $5 (college and younger)