Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University men's basketball team will open the NSIC Tournament this Wednesday, February 27 from Wachs Arena. The Wolves earned the top seed in the North Division and will face eighth seeded Concordia-St. Paul. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m., with free admission and tickets for all students. All attendees must purchase tickets at the door, which are $10 for adults, $2 for students, and children 5 and under are free.
 
QUICK HITS ON THE WOLVES
                • The Wolves enter the postseason with a 22-6 record overall and 18-4 record in the league, after winning the NSIC and North Division titles last weekend.
                • Northern was ranked third in the first NCAA Central Region rankings of the season last week, behind Northwest Missouri State and Washburn.
                • The Wolves are shooting 49.3 percent from the floor, 41.5 percent from the 3-point line, and 74.5 percent from the foul line.
                • They are averaging 78.7 points, 36.6 rebounds, 15.0 assists, 10.4 turnover, 3.7 steals, and 3.5 blocks per game; out-scoring their opponents by 9.5 points and out-rebounding their opponents by 5.9 boards per game.
                • The Wolves rank eighth in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage, and sit top-30 in assist/turnover ratio and field goal percentage.
                • Ian Smith leads four in double figures, notching 14.0 points per game. The senior is also second on the team averaging 5.4 rebounds per game, and leads the Wolves with 141 assists and 22 steals.
                • Justin Decker and Gabe King are averaging 11.4 and 11.0 points per game this season, with King leading the team from the 3-point line with 45 made buckets.
                • Parker Fox rounds out the double-digit scorers and leads NSU off the bench averaging 10.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He is also shooting a team high 56.9 percent from the floor.
                • Bo Fries leads NSU at the rim averaging 6.0 rebounds per game. He is also shooting a team best 47.7 percent from the 3-point line and is averaging 9.6 points per game.
 
ABOUT THE GOLDEN BEARS
                • Concordia-St. Paul concluded the NSIC regular season with a 9-19 record overall and 4-18 mark in league play.
                • Their four league victories came over UMary, Southwest Minnesota State, St. Cloud State, and Winona State.
                • The Golden Bears are shooting 47.0 percent from the floor, 36.9 percent from the 3-point line, and 73.4 percent from the foul line this season.
                • They are averaging 77.4 points, 34.2 rebounds, 14.6 assists, 12.0 turnovers, 4.3 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game.
                • Bryndan Matthews and Isaiah McKay sit atop the team averaging 18.9 and 18.4 points per game respectively, starting all 28 contests this season.            
                • Matthews leads the team averaging 8.4 rebounds and 4.25 assists per game, and shooting 58.5 percent from the floor.
                • McKay leads CSP from the 3-point line with 65 made buckets from beyond the arc, while Hayden Baughman is shooting a team high 46.7 percent from the 3-point line with 57 made.
                • Evan Wessenberg and Cody Carlson lead the Golden Bears with 17 and 14 blocks respectively this season.
                • Concordia is led by head coach Joey James in his fifth season with the program.
 
LAST MATCH-UP
                • Northern defeated Concordia-St. Paul 90-79 on the road in the regular season.
                • Justin Decker led the team with a career high 25 points, shooting 71.4 percent.
                • The Wolves shot 49.2 percent from the floor and 53.8 percent from the 3-point, knocking down 14 made 3-pointers.
                • Northern is 30-7 all-time versus Concordia, and current on a 4-game win streak.