Aberdeen, S.D. – The No. 15 Northern State University men's basketball team opens the 2021-22 campaign this Saturday and Sunday from St. Joseph and the SCB Hall of Fame Classic. The Wolves face off against No. 1 Northwest Missouri State at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and Rockhurst University at 1 p.m. on Sunday.  
 
GAME & FAN INFORMATION
                » Live video and stat links are available above or on the full schedule on nsuwolves.com
 
#15 NORTHERN STATE STORYLINES
                » Northern State will have an entirely new look on the court with one starter returning from a season ago
                » The Wolves won their fourth straight NSIC Regular Season and Tournament Championships last spring and advanced to the championship round of the NCAA Central Region Tournament
                » NSU return seven from that squad and welcomes ten incoming freshman and transfers in 2021
                » Jordan Belka is the lone returning starter for the Wolves after averaging 7.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in the spring of 2021
                » Cole Bergan also returns to the NSU hardwood after a season ending injury in 2021 where he averaged 17.2 minutes, 4.0 points, and 2.8 rebounds per game
                » Northern was picked ninth in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning 119 total points
                » In addition, the Wolves were picked to finish fifth in the NSIC North Division
                » NSU kicks off the season ranked at No. 15 in the NABC Top-25 Preseason
 
#1 NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE STORYLINES
                » The Bearcats won the 2021 National Championship, defeating West Texas A&M 80-54
                » They open the season ranked No. 1 in the NABC Top-25 Poll and are picked to win the MIAA after going 28-2 a season ago
                » NWMSU returns Diego Bernard and the 2021 National Player of the Year Trevor Hudgins
                » Hudgins averaged 19.8 points per game a season ago, shooting 54.2% from the floor and 50.8% from the 3-point, while leading the team with 139 assists
                » Bernard was third on the team averaging 11.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest, shooting 54.3% from the floor with 106 assists
                » In addition, the Bearcats return starters Wes Dreamer and Luke Waters
                » Northwest is led by head coach Ben McCollum in his 13th season at the helm
 
LAST MATCH-UP
                » Northern State fell to Northwest Missouri State in the 2021 Central Region Championship, 91-86 in overtime
                » The Wolves are 1-3 all-time against the Bearcats
 
ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY STORYLINES
                » The Hawks opened the season with an 84-42 exhibition loss at Saint Louis University
                » Rockhurst is coming off a 9-13 record in 2020-21 and returns ten from that roster
                » RU returns one starter from the 2021 squad in Nick Volz
                » Volz was third on the team a season ago averaging 10.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game
                » In addition, Volz shot a team best 59.7% from the floor and added a team second best 40 assists on the year
                » The Hawks are led by head coach Drew Diener in his seventh season at the helm
 
LAST MATCH-UP
                » The Wolves and Hawks last faced off in 1999, with NSU notching a 65-62 victory in the lone contest between the two teams