Aberdeen, S.D. – The No. 12 Northern State University men's basketball team hits the road for the final time in the regular season, this weekend at Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State. The Wolves will tip-off with the Golden Eagles and 8 p.m. on Friday and the Beavers at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
 
The Northern State University men's basketball team enters the weekend with a 23-3 record overall, as well as a hold on the NSIC North and overall standings. NSU opened the week moving up four spots to No. 12 in the NABC Top-25 Coaches Poll. DJ Pollard leads four in double figures, averaging 13.1 points per game, closely followed by Ian Smith averaging 13.0 points per game. Logan Doyle and Darin Peterka are notching 11.8 and 11.3 points per game respectively. Doyle leads the team shooting 65.0 percent from the floor and averaging 7.1 rebounds per game. The senior is also leading the NSIC in field goal percentage this season. Smith has dished out a team leading 114 assists and grabbed 33 steals. Cole Dahl is shooting a team leading 47.7 percent from the arc, while Peterka has drained a team high 37 long range buckets. The Wolves sit atop the league in scoring defense (68.4), scoring margin (+12.4), and rebounding margin (+7.3) in games against NSIC opponents. They are shooting 50.3 percent from the floor, 40.8 percent from the arc, and 74.6 percent from the foul line this season, while averaging 79.7 points, 36.2 rebounds, 15.8 assists, 11.5 turnovers, 5.4 steals, and 4.1 blocks per game. NSU ranks nationally in the top-15 in scoring margin (+13.3), field goal percentage (50.3), and 3-point field goal percentage (40.8).
 
About the Golden Eagles
    • Minnesota Crookston enters the weekend with a 9-15 record overall and 6-12 mark in the league.
    • Harrison Cleary leads the team and the NSIC averaging 24.8 points per game, with a team leading 67 made 3-pointers this season. He also has a team leading 93 total assists, averaging 3.9 per game.
    • Gable Smith is averaging a team leading 7.0 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game, while shooting 61.7 percent from the floor. Smith also has a team leading 41 steals in 2017-18.
    • Alan Hodge Jr. is averaging 14.7 points per game, while Chase Knickerbocker and Ben Juhl are notching 11.0 and 10.8 per game respectively.
    • The Golden Eagles are shooting 46.1 percent from the floor, 39.5 percent from the 3-point line, and 79.1 percent from the foul line, while averaging 76.2 points, 33.0 rebounds, 10.8 assists, 10.8 turnovers, 5.3 steals, and 5.6 blocks per game this season.
    • UMC is led by head coach Dan Weisse in his fourth season at the helm.
   
Last Match-Up
    • The Wolves defeated the Golden Eagles 76-64 from Wachs Arena earlier this season.
    • Smith and Evans each notched 18 points, while Pollard and Peterka tallied 13 each.
    • NSU tallied 40 points in the paint and 24 points off turnovers.
    • Northern is 35-2 all-time against Minnesota Crookston, winning the last 11 contests.
 
About the Beavers
    • Bemidji State enters the weekend with a 10-13 record overall and 7-11 mark in the NSIC.
    • Sharif Black leads five averaging double figures with 15.4 points per game. He is also grabbing a team second best 5.0 rebounds per game, behind Logan Bader notching 5.8.
    • Bader has hit a team leading 46 made 3-pointers, and averages 11.4 points per game.
    • Lucas Wendt is second on the team averaging 14.0 points per game, while shooting a team high 57.9 percent from the floor.
    • Jai'Vionne Green and Christian Pekerak are the final players in double figures averaging 13.2 and 10.4 points per game.
    • Pekarek has a team leading 95 assists and is shooting a team high 39.4 percent from the arc.
    • The Beavers are averaging 72.8 points, 35.3 rebounds, 13.2 assists, 11.8 turnovers, 5.1 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game this season, while shooting 45.5 percent from the floor, 35.8 percent from the 3-point line, and 71.3 percent from the foul line.
    • BSU is led by head coach Mike Boschee in his sixth season at the helm.
 
Last Match-Up
    • Northern defeated Bemidji State 75-54 at home earlier this season.
    • Pollard led the team with 17 points, while Carter Evans notched a second best 15 off the bench.
    • The Wolves are 63-26 all-time against Bemidji State.