Aberdeen, S.D. – The No. 13 Northern State University men's basketball team is set to suit up against U-Mary and Minot State this Friday and Saturday from Wachs Arena. 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 enter the weekend on a 13-game win streak and a No. 13 ranking in the most recent NABC Top-25 Coaches Poll. Northern sits atop both the overall and NSIC North Division standings this season, as the only unbeaten team in league action, after downing Minnesota State 87-84 last weekend. The Wolves are shooting 49.1 percent from the floor, 39.1 percent from the arc, and 73.8 percent from the foul line. They are averaging 78.1 points, 36.5 rebounds, 15.2 assists, 11.9 turnovers, 6.2 steals, and 4.1 blocks per game this season.
Five Wolves are averaging double figures, led by
Ian Smith notching 12.9 points per game. Smith is also top-5 in assists, averaging 4.5 per game. Logan Doyle is leading the rebounding effort, averaging 7.1 per game, while Smith has accumulated a team leading 63 assists.
Carter Evans is leading the team off the bench averaging 12.3 points per game, and shooting a team leading 65.5 percent from the floor. Evans is currently second in the league in field goal percentage, shooting 62.3 percent from the floor in NSIC contests.
Darin Peterka has knocked down 30 made 3-pointers this season, while
DJ Pollard leads the team shooting at a 46.8 percent clip from the arc. Peterka rounds out the league leaders sitting third in 3-point field goal percentage (55.3) and fifth in 3-pointers made per game (2.6).
About the Marauders
• U-Mary enters the weekend 2-10 overall and 0-8 in the NSIC, sitting last in both the overall and North Division standings.
• The Marauders are shooting 45.4 percent from the floor, 35.5 percent from the arc, and 71.3 percent from the foul line, while averaging 72.9 points, 29.1 rebounds, 11.6 assists, 11.7 turnovers, 6.7 steals, and 2.4 blocks per game.
• Keith Hunter is leading the team averaging 14.9 points per game, followed by Trevor Zacher and Matthew Kreklow averaging 10.8 and 10.3 respectively.
• Kewklow is pulling down a team leading 5.3 rebounds per game, and shooting a team leading 56.7 percent from the floor.
• Jaylan White leads the team with 44 assists this season, averaging 3.7 per game.
• U-Mary is led by head coach Joe Kittell in his third season at the helm, holding a Marauder record of 31-29.
Last Match-Up
• The Wolves defeated the Marauders 75-66 earlier this season.
• Gabe King led the team with a career high 18 points, followed by
DJ Pollard with 16.
• NSU shot 50.0 percent from the floor and tallied 30 points in the paint in the win.
• Northern is 25-13 all-time against the Marauders, splitting their season contests in both 2016-17 and 2015-16.
About the Beavers
• Minot State enters the weekend trailing the Wolves in the overall and NSIC North division standings.
• The Beavers are currently receiving votes in the latest Top-25 Poll as they hold a 13-1 record overall.
• Minot is shooting 49.5 percent from the floor, 40.4 percent from the arc, and 74.9 percent from the foul line this season, while averaging 80.6 points, 36.7 rebounds, 15.3 assists, 15.1 turnovers, 5.6 steals, and 2.4 blocks per game.
• Tyler Rudolph is averaging a team leading 23.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 61.8 percent from the floor.
• Luis Ricci Maia is averaging 10.6 points and dishing out a league leading 7.1 assists per game with 99 total this season.
• The Beavers are led by head coach Matt Murken in his sixth season at the helm.
Last Match-Up
• Despite a 2-point game at the half, the Wolves defeated the Beavers 86-60 on the road earlier this season.
•
Ian Smith led the team with a career high 26 points, shooting 66.7 percent from the floor.
• NSU hit 12 3-pointers as a team and shot over 50 percent from the floor and the arc.
• Northern is 46-18 all-time against the Beavers and currently on a 17-game win streak.
