Sioux Falls, S.D. – The No. 11 Northern State University men's basketball team will take on Southwest Minnesota State tonight at 5 p.m. in the NSIC\Sanford Health Basketball Tournament from the Sanford Pentagon. The Wolves enter their first championship game since the 2007-08 season and are on the hunt for the third tournament championship in school history. Fans are encouraged to arrive at the Pentagon early or purchase tickets prior to beat the long lines.
 
The Northern State University men's basketball team enters the championship game of the NSIC/ Sanford Health Basketball Tournament with a 30-3 record overall. The Wolves opened the week with a No. 11 ranking in the NABC Top-25 Poll and No. 2 ranking in the NCAA Central Region Poll. Head Coach Paul Sather was named the NSIC Coach of the Year, while Ian Smith was named to the NSIC All-Conference first team, and Darin Peterka, DJ Pollard, and Logan Doyle were named to the All-Conference second team. Northern State won both the NSIC Overall and North Division Conference Championships, notching the first overall title since 2002-03 and first division title in program history.
 
The Wolves finished the regular season leading the NSIC in scoring defense (66.8), scoring margin (+14.6), field goal percentage defense (43.5), and rebounding margin (+9.3). Northern enters the title match-up after a 79-78 victory over Minnesota State in the semifinals. Junior Ian Smith drained the game winner, sending NSU to their first NSIC Tournament Championship game since 2007-08. Heading into the championship game, the Wolves are shooting 50.5 percent from the floor, 38.9 percent from the 3-point line, and 74.9 percent from the free throw line. NSU is averaging 79.9 points, 37.2 rebounds, 16.1 assists, 11.2 turnovers, 5.3 steals, and 4.1 blocks per game this season.
 
DJ Pollard leads five averaging double figures this season, notching 12.5 points per game. Darin Peterka and Ian Smith are each notching 12.2 and 12.1 points per game, while Logan Doyle and Carter Evans are recording 11.9 and 10.3 respectively. Doyle leads the team averaging 7.2 rebounds per game and shooting 67.1 percent from the floor. Peterka is the leader from the arc with 55 made 3-pointers and a 40.7 shooting percentage. Smith continues to hold a team high 139 assists and 42 steals this season.
 
About the Mustangs
                • Southwest Minnesota State enters the game after post-season victories over U-Mary, Augustana, and St. Cloud State.
                • The Mustangs won the South Division title and finished third in the league overall standings.
                • They head into the contest as the defending tournament champions after a win over UIU in 2017.
                • SMSU is shooting 48.8 percent from the floor, 41.0 percent from the arc, and 76.0 percent from the foul line, while averaging 79.2 points, 34.2 rebounds, 14.5 assists, 9.9 turnovers, 6.9 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game this season.
                • Ryan Bruggeman leads three averaging double figures, notching 16.7 points per game. He also has a team leading 187 assists this season, averaging 6.0 per game.
                • Carter Kirk is second on the team averaging 15.1 points, while notching a team high 10.4 rebounds per game and shooting 60.6 percent from the floor.
                • Michael Lee leads the team from the arc with 72 made 3-pointers, shooting 48.0 percent from the line.
                • Southwest is led by head coach Brad Bigler in his eighth season at the helm and 19th with the program.
 
Last Match-Up
                • The Wolves are 1-1 this season against the Mustangs winning 81-68 and falling 64-57.
                • Logan Doyle led five in double figures in the non-conference victory as the Wolves shot 55.4 percent from the floor.
                • Smith, Fries, and Doyle each tallied 12 points in the conference loss, as the Wolves shot a season low 34.5 percent from the floor.
                • Northern is 65-26 all-time against Southwest Minnesota State, going 7-6 in the Sather-era.