Aberdeen, S.D. – The No. 19 Northern State University men's basketball team opens the NCAA Central Region Tournament tomorrow versus Southeastern Oklahoma. The Wolves earned the second seed in the tournament after winning the NSIC Tournament crown last week. Tip-off is set for 2:30 p.m. from Bearcat Arena in Maryville, Missouri.
 
ALUMNI GATHERING INFORMATION

• The Northern State Foundation and Alumni Association will host a pre-game gathering from Carson's Sports Bar and Grill
• Saturday, March 16 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• 310 N. Main Street, Maryville, Mo
• Appetizers served

 
QUICK HITS ON THE WOLVES
                • The No. 19 Wolves make their second straight NCAA Regional appearance after a 72-68 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in the NSIC Tournament Championship.
                • Ian Smith earned tournament MVP honors, while Mason Stark and Gabe King were named on the all-tournament team.
                • Paul Sather was named the NSIC Coach of the Year for the second straight season, after
leading the Wolves to back-to-back NSIC Championships.
                • In addition, Ian Smith, Justin Decker, and Gabe King were named to the NSIC All-
Conference first, second, and honorable mention teams.
                • Northern is shooting 49.7 percent from the floor, 40.8 percent from the 3-point line, and 74.8 percent from the foul line this season.
                • They are averaging 78.8 points, 36.4 rebounds, 15.1 assists, 10.5 turnovers, 3.8 steals, and 3.4 blocks per game; out-scoring their opponents by 9.3 points and out-rebounding their opponents by 5.9 boards as well.
                • Smith leads four Wolves averaging double figures with a team high 13.6 points per game. The senior is also leading the team averaging 5.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per contest.
                • Gabe King and Justin Decker are the final starters in double figures, notching 11.6 and 11.1 points per game respectively. King also leads NSU with 53 made 3-pointers this season.
                • Parker Fox leads the team off the bench averaging 10.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. The redshirt freshman is also shooting a team high 58.0 percent from the floor with 45 blocks.
                • Bo Fries will return to the line-up for NSU, after an injury in the quarterfinal round of the NSIC Tournament. The senior is shooting a team best 48.4 percent from the 3-point line, and is averaging 9.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
                • In addition to Fox, Mason Stark and Cole Dahl have been key contributors off the bench, specifically from beyond the arc. The pair combined for 58 made 3-pointers and both are shooting over 40.0 percent from the field.
 
ABOUT THE SAVAGE STORM
                • Southeastern earned the No. 7 seed in the NCAA Central Region Tournament with a 22-7 season record.
                • SE fell to Southern Nazarene 80-77 in the Great American Conference championship game, and finished the regular season second in the league standings with 16-6 GAC record.
                • The Savage Storm are shooting 47.8 percent from the floor, 37.5 percent from the 3-point line, and 76.5 percent from the foul line.
                • They are averaging 80.8 points, 36.6 rebounds, 18.7 assists, 10.0 turnovers, 5.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game; out-scoring their opponents by 10.7 points and out-rebounding their opponents by 1.7 boards per game this season.
                • Kevin Buckingham leads three players in double figures, notching 20.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game this season. He is also shooting a team leading 59.3 percent from the field with 23 blocks.
                • Kellen Manek and Jett Jobe follow averaging 13.6 and 12.8 points per game respectively. Manek is second on the team averaging 5.8 rebounds per game, while Jobe has dished out a team high 164 total assists, averaging 5.7 per contest.
                • Jobe has also knocked down a team leading 71 made 3-pointers, while Adam Dworsky leads SE with a 50.0 3-point field goal percentage. Dworsky has dished out his fair share of assists as well with 136 total on the year.
                • Three of the team's five starters play 30-plus minutes per game, while DJ Henderson leads the team off the bench averaging 18.1 minutes and 5.5 points per game this season.
                • Southeastern Oklahoma is led by head coach Kelly Green in his eighth season at the helm.
 
LAST MATCH-UP
                • The Wolves and the Savage Storm have not faced each other in the history of either program.