Aberdeen, S.D. – The (RV) Northern State University men's basketball team will open the NSIC slate this Saturday from the confines of Wachs Arena. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. as the Wolves host NSIC rival MSU Moorhead.
 
Quick Hits on the Wolves
                • Northern enters league play with a 4-2 record overall and 1-1 weekend at home from the Dacotah Bank Thanksgiving Classic.
                • NSU fell out of the NABC Top-25 Poll heading into the week, but is still currently receiving votes.
                • The Wolves fell to Truman State 61-59 and defeated Chadron State 66-62.
                • NSU is shooting 46.9 percent from the floor, 43.5 percent from the 3-point line, and 64.8 percent from the foul line this season.
                • They are averaging 73.2 points, 38.0 rebounds, 14.3 assists, 11.0 turnovers, 4.0 steals, and 4.5 blocks per game.
                • Northern is out-scoring their opponents by 8.8 points and out-rebounding their opponents by 5.2 boards per game.
                • Ian Smith and Justin Decker lead the Wolves this season averaging 12.5 and 10.7 points per game respectively.
                • Smith leads the team with 34 total assists, averaging 5.6 per game, while Decker is shooting a team best 53.5 percent from the floor and 62.5 percent from the 3-point line.
                • Parker Fox leads the team off the bench averaging 9.7 points per game, while also recording a team high 6.2 rebounds per game.
                • Gabe King, Bo Fries, and Andrew Kallman led the team with ten made 3-pointers this season. King and Kallman are both shooting over 40.0 percent from beyond the arc.
 
About the Dragons
                • MSU Moorhead enters league play with a 5-2 record on the year, with wins over Minnesota Morris, Dickinson State, Concordia College, Langara College, and Douglas College.
                • The Dragons were picked eight overall and third in the NSIC North Division in the preseason coaches' poll to open the season.
                • MSUM is shooting 53.2 percent from the floor, 42.7 percent from the arc, and 70.8 percent from the foul line this season.
                • They are averaging 94.4 points, 36.7 rebounds, 18.7 assists, 9.9 turnovers, 9.1 steals, and 3.6 blocks per game.
                • The Dragons are out-scoring their opponents by 23.7 points and out-rebounding their opponents by 3.1 boards per game. They are also forcing 6.1 more turnovers per game than given up.
                • Travaun Coad leads four in double figures, averaging 15.7 points per game, followed by Addison Park notching 15.0 and Gavin Baumgartner and Bryce Iresfeld recording 14.7 and 13.3.
                • Jesse Bergh is leading the team notching 5.7 rebounds per game, while Coad, Park, and Baumgartner are adding four or more each.
                • Coad and Irsfeld led the team shooting 64.2 percent from the floor and 53.8 percent from the 3-point line respectively.
                • Irsfeld leads the team with 32 total assists, averaging 4.6 per game.
                • Moorhead is led by head coach Chad Walthall in his ninth season at the helm.
 
Last Match-Up
                • Northern swept MSU Moorhead 95-74 and 89-70 in 2017-18.
                • Gabe King led the returners with six points, while Ian Smith dished out a team high ten assists in the home victory.
                • King and Smith again led the returners on the road with 13 and 12 points apiece, as the Wolves shot 57.4 percent from the floor.
                • The Wolves are 65-37 all-time against the Dragons and 3-1 in the last three seasons.