Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University men's basketball team will face-off against Augustana in the quarterfinal round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Basketball Tournament this Sunday. The Wolves and Vikings will tip-off at 8 p.m. from the Sanford Pentagon in the second game of the evening session.
 
The Northern State University Wolves enter the quarterfinal round of the NSIC Tournament after a 19-point victory over Winona State on Wednesday. The Wolves also moved to No. 8 in the second installment of the NCAA Central Region Rankings. Heading into the game the Wolves are shooting 49.0% from the floor, 41.0% from the arc, and 74.3% from the foul line, while averaging 84.3 points, 38.8 rebounds, 13.2 assists, 12.7 turnovers, 3.9 steals, and 4.3 blocks per game this season. NSU finished the regular season leading the league in field goal percentage defense (44.3), rebounding (867), and rebounding average (39.4). Senior Mack Arvidson and junior DJ Pollard each reached the 1,000 career point mark in the last seven days, as the pair are both averaging double figures. Arvidson leads the Wolves in points (458), scoring average (15.8), and 3-point field goals made (100), while also ranking ninth in the nation in 3-pointers made. Junior Logan Doyle was named the NSIC Newcomer of the year and to the NSIC first team, while Mack Arvidson and Ian Smith were named to the second team on Thursday.  Doyle leads the team in field goals made (144), rebounds (268), free throws made (128), field goal percentage (63.2), rebounds (268), rebounding average (9.2), and blocked shots (52). The Wolves hold just two wins in 12 outings against the Vikings under the direction of Sather, coming in 2013-14 and 2015-16.
 
About the Vikings
     • Augustana finished 21-7 during the regular season, earning the No. 3 seed in the NSIC South Division.
     • The Vikings defeated Bemidji State in the first round of the tournament, 74-63, to advance to the quarterfinals.
     • Augie is shooting 48.3% from the floor, 40.4% from the arc, and 72.7% from the foul line this season, while averaging 83.6 points, 37.5 rebounds, 17.2 assists, 11.7 turnovers, 6.4 steals, and 2.6 blocks per game.
     • Jordan Spencer leads the team averaging 15.9 points and 7.4 assists per game, while Mike Busack is notching a team leading 6.9 rebounds and team second best 15.8 points per contest.
     • Adam Beyer is leading the starters in field goal percentage, shooting 55.4% from the floor.
     • AU is led by head coach Tom Billeter in his 14th season at the helm. Billeter was named the NABC National Coach of the year in 2015-16 as the Vikings won the National Championship.
 
Last Match-Up
     • The Wolves fell to the Vikings 80-66 earlier this season on the road.
     • Pollard and Arvidson led the team with 18 and ten points respectively, however Northern shot just 34.4% from the floor in the loss.
     • Augustana capitalized on NSU turnovers notching 23 points, as the Wolves gave up 19 possessions.
     • Northern is 35-36 all-time versus Augustana and 2-10 in the Paul Sather era.