Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University men's basketball team will ring in the New Year at home this Friday and Saturday with a pair of NSIC contests versus Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State. The Wolves will tip-off with the Golden Bears at 8 p.m. on Friday, and with the Mavericks at 6 p.m. on Saturday. The first 300 fans to Saturday's game will receive FREE New Year's hats and party blowouts.
 
The Wolves enter the weekend after a thrilling double overtime victory over MSU Moorhead on the road. Northern is shooting 51.1% from the floor, 44.4% from the arc, and 77.0% from the foul line, while averaging 89.3 points, 36.9 rebounds, 14.3 assists, 12.8 turnovers, 3.8 steals, and 2.7 blocks per game this season. In league games NSU is leading the NSIC averaging 95.5 points and holding their opponents to a 35.9 3-point percent. The Wolves are second in the league in scoring margin (+11.7), free throw percentage (83.2), 3-point field goal percentage (48.1), and 3-point field goals made (10.8). Mack Arvidson is third in the league averaging 21.0 points versus NSIC opponents. The senior is also leading the NSIC in 3-point field goals made with 29 this season, averaging 4.8 per game. DJ Pollard and Logan Doyle have been rebound hounds for the Wolves sitting fifth and sixth in the league in rebounding average at 7.2 and 7.0 per game.
 
About the Golden Bears
• Concordia-St. Paul returns from the holiday break with a 4-8 record overall and 1-4 in the NSIC.
• The Golden Bears are shooting 47.1% from the floor, 40.9% from the arc, and 67.2% from the foul line, while averaging 72.3 points, 35.9 rebounds, 15.9 assists, 16.5 turnovers, 5.0 steals, and 3.3 blocks per game this season.
• Bryndan Matthews is leading three scorers in double figures, averaging 14.8 pts and 7.6 rebs per game.
• Sam Siganos is leading the league thus far with ten steals, averaging 2.0 per game.
• CSP is led by head coach Joey James in his third season with the program, where he has tallied a career record of 32-37.
 
Last Match-Up
• The Wolves fell to the Golden Bears 84-76 on the road a season ago.
• CSP rallied in the second half as the Wolves were cold from the floor shooting at a 35.7 clip.
• Five Wolves scored in double figures, however Northern was unable to stop Cole Olstad who scored 29 in the win.
• NSU is 26-7 all-time versus Concordia-St. Paul.
 
About the Mavericks
• Minnesota State enters the final games of 2016 with a 7-4 record and 2-3 mark in league action.
• The Mavericks are shooting 47.6% from the floor, 38.4% from the arc, and 76.9% from the foul line, while averaging 85.1 points, 37.5 rebounds, 13.5 assists, 11.5 turnovers, 4.5 steals, and 3.1 blocks per game.
• Jon Fuqua is leading the team averaging 15.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, while shooting a team leading 61.1% from the floor.
• Minnesota State leads the league in free throw percentage knocking down 87-of-104 in NSIC contests.
• MSU is led by head coach Matt Margenthaler in his 16th season with the program where he has compiled a record of 330-133.
 
Last Match-Up
• The Wolves fell to the Mavericks 119-115 in double overtime a season ago.
• Mack Arvidson led the team with a career high 37 points with five 3-pointers.
• Minnesota State out-rebounded the Wolves 41-35 and tallied 19 second chance buckets making the difference in the game.
• Northern is 8-14 all-time versus the Mavericks going 2-3 in the last five seasons.