Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University men's basketball team will match-up with Winona State this evening in the semifinal round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Basketball Tournament. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. from the Sanford Pentagon.
 
QUICK HITS ON THE WOLVES
                • The Wolves enter the semifinal round with a 24-6 record overall, following a 17-point
victory over Concordia-St. Paul at home, and a 3-point win over Sioux Falls in the quarterfinals.
                • 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 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 49.6 percent from the floor, 41.5 percent from the 3-point line, and 74.4 percent from the foul line this season.
                • They are averaging 79.0 points, 36.6 rebounds, 15.2 assists, 10.4 turnovers, 3.9 steals, and 3.4 blocks per game; out-scoring their opponents by 9.7 points and out-rebounding their opponents by 5.8 boards per game.
                • Smith leads four Wolves averaging double figures, notching 13.6 points per game, as well as a team high 5.8 rebounds per game and 154 assists.
                • Justin Decker and Gabe King are each notching 11.3 points per game this season, and are both averaging four rebounds per contest.
                • King leads the team from the 3-point line with 50 made buckets, while Mason Stark is shooting a team high 48.4 percent from beyond the arc.
                • Parker Fox leads NSU off the bench, recording 11.0 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. The redshirt freshman is shooting a team high 58.0 percent from the field and leads the Wolves with 44 blocks.
 
ABOUT WINONA STATE
                • The Warriors enter the semifinals with a 14-16 record this season and NSIC Tournament victories over Minnesota Duluth and Minnesota Crookston.
                • Winona State is shooting 44.1 percent from the floor, 39.4 percent from the 3-point line, and 79.2 percent from the foul line.
                • They are averaging 74.8 points, 32.8 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 13.1 turnovers, 5.2 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game; out-scoring their opponents by 4.3 points per game.
                • Kevion Taylor and Caleb Wagner lead the Warriors averaging 16.6 and 13.6 points per game respectively. Taylor also leads the team averaging 6.4 rebounds per game, with a team high 74 made 3-pointers.
                • Charlie Koontz and Tommy Gathje lead the team shooting 49.6 and 49.2 percent from the field, while Mason Domask leads the team shooting 45.0 percent from the 3-point line.
                • Devin Whitelow is the only player to start all 30 games this season for the Warriors, leading Winona State with 133 assists and 35 steals. He is averaging 7.6 points and 3.0 rebounds per game as well.
                • Winona State is led by head coach Todd Eisner in his fourth season with the program, and 21st overall as a head coach.
 
LAST MATCH-UP
                • The Wolves defeated the Warriors 79-68 in the NSIC regular season.
                • Bo Fries led five Wolves in double figures, notching 18 points and a team leading eight rebounds.
                • NSU shot 58.0 percent from the floor, 47.6 from the 3-point line, and 91.7 percent from the foul line.
                • Northern is 45-38 all-time versus Winona State.