Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University men's basketball team will return to the NSIC/Sanford Health Basketball Tournament championship game tonight versus Southwest Minnesota State. The two teams will face off for the second consecutive year beginning at 7:30 p.m. from the Sanford Pentagon. The Northern State Alumni Association is set to host a pre-game social at the Crooked Pint beginning at 4:30 p.m. prior to the contest.
 
QUICK HITS ON THE WOLVES
                • The Wolves enter the semifinal round with a 25-6 record overall, following a 17-point
victory over Concordia-St. Paul at home, a 3-point win over Sioux Falls in the quarterfinals, and a buzzer beater victory over Winona State in the semifinals.
                • 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, 41.1 percent from the 3-point line, and 75.0 percent from the foul line.
                • They are averaging 79.0 points, 36.4 rebounds, 15.1 assists, 10.4 turnovers, 3.8 steals, and 3.4 blocks per game, out-scoring their opponents by 9.4 points and out-rebounding their opponents by 5.7 boards per game.
                • Ian Smith leads four Wolves in double figures averaging 13.6 points, as well as a team leading 5.9 rebounds per game. The senior has also dished out a team high 158 assists and grabbed a team high 27 steals.
                • Gabe King and Justin Decker following, notching 11.5 and 11.3 points per game respectively. King has knocked down a team leading 52 made 3-pointers this season.
                • Parker Fox leads the Wolves off the bench averaging 10.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, shooting a team best 57.9 percent from the field.
                • Mason Stark is shooting a team high 47.4 percent from the 3-point line, and hit the game winning basketball versus Winona State.
 
ABOUT THE MUSTANGS
                • Southwest Minnesota State enters the championship with an 18-13 record overall, notching tournament victories over MSU Moorhead (86-81), Bemidji State (75-62), and Wayne State (84-78, OT).
                • The Mustangs are shooting 48.5 percent from the floor, 41.6 percent from the 3-point line, and 81.4 percent from the foul line.
                • They are averaging 80.3 points, 30.6 rebounds, 12.0 assists, 9.3 turnovers, 7.2 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game this season.
                • Ryan Bruggeman leads the team averaging 26.4 points per game. He is shooting 51.0 percent from the floor, with a team high 174 assists and 71 steals.
                • Taylor Schafer and Kenny Byers follow notching 13.0 and 10.3 points per game respectively. Schafer has hit a team leading 72 made 3-pointers this season.
                • Michael Lee leads the Mustangs from the 3-point line, shooting 46.4 percent and has hit 70 from beyond the arc. 
                • Southwest is led by head coach Brad Bigler in his tenth season at the helm.
 
LAST MATCH-UP
                • The Wolves defeated the Mustangs 91-81 over the I Hate Winter weekend from Wachs Arena.
                • Gabe King led the team with a career high 23 points, knocking down 7-of-8 from the field, 3-of-3 from the 3-point line, and 6-of-6 from the foul line.
                • Northern shot a conference season high of 65.2 percent from the floor and 57.1 percent from beyond the arc.
                • NSU is 67-26 all-time versus Southwest Minnesota State and 9-6 under the direction of head coach Paul Sather.