Aberdeen, S.D. – The No. 15 Northern State University men's basketball team opens the 2021-22 home campaign this weekend in the East/West Challenge. The Wolves face off against South Dakota Mines Friday, November 19^th at 7 p.m. and Black Hills State University on Saturday, November 20^th at 4 p.m.
 
GAME & FAN INFORMATION
» Live video, radio, and stat links are available above or on the full schedule on nsuwolves.com
» Tickets for the event can be purchased at the door or on the full site on nsuwolves.com
 
#15 NORTHERN STATE STORYLINES
     » Last season Northern State finished the season with a record of 19-2 (13-1 NSIC North) and reached NCAA Central Region Championship
     » Northern State enters the East-West Challenge with a record of 2-2 on the season, splitting a pair of games at both the Hall of Fame Classic and the Central Region Challenge
     » Last weekend the Wolves dropped their first game to #11 Washburn 86-65, and won their final game of the weekend 78-69 over Southern Arkansas
     » Through four games Northern is averaging 68.8 points, 35.0 rebounds, 14.5 assists, 6.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game
     » The team is shooting the ball 43.8 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from the 3-point range, and 80.7 percent from the free throw line
     » Jordan Belka is leading Northern State in scoring and rebounding with 19.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, while also shooting 26-42 (61.9 percent) from the field, 10-19 (52.6 percent) from the 3-point range, and 15-17 (88.2 percent) from the free throw line
     » Saul Phillips is in his third season as the head coach at Northern State, he holds a career record of 262-170 and is 47-9 during his time with the Wolves
 
BLACK HILLS STATE UNIVERSITY STORYLINES
     » Last season Black Hills State finished the season with a record of 11-7 (10-6 RMAC), the Yellow Jackets ended the season third in the conference standings and reached the RMAC Tournament Semifinals
     » Black Hills State enters the East-West Challenge with a record of 2-0 on the season after playing in the MSU Denver Conference Challenge, defeating Arkansas-Fort Smith 77-62 and winning an overtime game over Oklahoma Christian 76-73
     » The Yellow Jackets are averaging 76.5 points, 41.5 rebounds, 18.5 assists, 4.5 steals, and 3.0 blocks per game
      » The team is shooting 50.0 percent from the field, 20.0 percent from 3-point range, and 62.9 percent from the free throw line
     » After earning First-Team All-RMAC last year, Joel Scott is once again the top player for BHSU averaging 22.0 points, 14.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game this season
     » Sindou Cisse also returns after earning Second-Team All-RMAC last season, and has averaged 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in the first two games this year
     » Ryan Thompson is in his fourth season as the head coach at Black Hills State and holds a career record of 51-27
 
SOUTH DAKOTA MINES STORYLINES
     » Last season South Dakota Mines finished the season with a record of 9-9 (9-9 RMAC), the Hardrockers ended last season sixth place in the conference standings and qualified for the RMAC Tournament
     » Mines was tabbed ninth in the 2021 RMAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
     » South Dakota Mines enters the East-West Challenge with a record of 1-1 after defeating Texas A&M-Kingsville 84-72 and lost to Texas A&M International 52-48
     » The Hardrockers are averaging 66.0 points, 35.0 rebounds, 10.0 assists, 3.0 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game
     » The team is shooting 43.8 percent from the field, 37.1 percent from 3-point range, and 70.0 percent from the free throw line
     » One of the top returners for the Hardrockers is Kolten Mortensen who earned Honorable Mention All-RMAC last season, through two games he is averaging a double-double with 19.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game
     » The leading scorer for Mines is Brevin Walter who is averaging 19.5 points per game
     » Eric Glenn is in his fourth year as the head coach at South Dakota Mines and holds a record of 39-41