Aberdeen, S.D.  – The Northern State University men's basketball team heads on the road this Friday and Saturday for a pair of NSIC matches with the University of Mary and Minot State. The Wolves will tip-off with the Marauders at 8 p.m. on Friday, and with the Beavers at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
 
The Wolves return to north division play with a 9-5 record overall and 5-3 mark in the NSIC. As a team NSU is shooting 50.3% from the floor, 43.6% from the arc, and 75.4% from the foul line, while averaging 88.1 points, 37.6 rebounds, 13.9 assists, 12.7 turnovers 3.6 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game. Northern leads the league in scoring offense (91.8) and 3-point field goal percentage (45.9). The keys for the Wolves this season have been rebounding, turnovers, and free throw shooting. While they have gotten on top of their opponents in 13 of their 14 games on the boards, their losses have come down to opponent points off turnovers and free throw shooting below 70.0% as a team. Mack Arvidson is making his name known in his senior campaign leading the team in points (268), scoring average (19.1), field goals made (82), 3-point field goals made (58), and steals (13). He also sits atop the league and the nation in 3-pointers made. Logan Doyle has proved to be an asset after transferring from SDSU, leading the team in rebounds (124), rebounding average (8.9) offensive boards (36), defensive boards (88), and free throws made (68). The junior has three double-doubles this season and sits second on the team shooting 59.6% from the floor.
 
About the Marauders
                • U-Mary enters the weekend 5-9 overall and 3-5 in league action while on a 4-game loss streak.
                • The Marauders are shooting 45.8% from the floor, 35.5% from the arc, and 67.5% from the foul line while averaging 74.4 points, 30.3 rebounds, 10.4 turnovers, 6.6 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game this season.
                • Bryan Jefferson leads the team averaging 15.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, while also shooting 49.7% from the floor.
                • Damonta Henry is also in double figured averaging 14.5 points per game and shooting a team leading 82.9% from the foul line.
                • Mary is led by head coach Joe Kittell in his second season with the program.
 
Last Match-Up
                • The Wolves fell to the Marauders 77-75 at home in early December.
                • Mack Arvidson led the team with 18 points, however the Wolves gave up 14 points off turnovers and let things slip away midway through the second half.
                • Northern is 23-13 all-time versus the University of Mary, and 6-7 under the direction of head coach Paul Sather.
 
About the Beavers
                • Minot State is currently 7-7 overall and 3-5 in league action after a spilt with St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth a weekend ago.
                • The Beavers are shooting 50.9% from the floor, 41.3% from the arc, and 71.6% from the foul line, while averaging 80.2 points, 34.7 rebounds, 12.9 assists, 11.4 turnovers, 3.8 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game.
                • Tyler Rudolph leads the team averaging nearly a double-double with 19.9 points and 9.0 rebounds this season. He is also shooting a team second best 53.3% from the floor.
                • Five Beavers are averaging double figures this season in Rudolph, Ricci Maia (12.9), Mertens (11.3), Jovanovic (10.8), and Moore (10.4).
                • MSU is led by head coach Matt Murken in his fifth season with the program.
 
Last Match-Up
                • The Wolves defeated the Beavers 91-87 from Wachs Arena in December.
                • Logan Doyle led the team with a career high 23 points, knocking down 17-of-20 from the foul line.
                • Northern led the entire game with their largest lead of 23 points coming at the 4:43 mark in the first.
                • NSU is 44-18 all-time versus Minot State, and on a 15-game win streak dating back to 1991-92.