Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University men's basketball team remains on the road this Friday and Saturday at Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State. Tip-off times are set for 7:30 p.m. on Friday against the Cougars and 5:30 p.m. on Saturday versus the Mustangs.
 
GAME & FAN INFORMATION

• Live video, audio, and stat links are available above or on the full schedule on nsuwolves.com

 
NORTHERN STATE STORYLINES

• Northern enters the weekend with a 13-3 record overall and 9-1 mark in the NSIC, sitting atop the overall and north division standings
• The Wolves are shooting 47.3% from the floor, 37.9% from the 3-point line, and 78.9% from the foul line this season
• They are averaging 81.1 points, 36.1 rebounds, 16.8 assists, 9.9 turnovers, 5.3 steals, and 3.6 blocks per game; out-scoring and out-rebounding their opponents by 10.5 points and 2.9 boards per game
• Sam Masten leads four Wolves averaging double figures, notching 17.6 points, as well as a team best 7.3 rebounds and 6.6 assists
• Masten is also shooting a team best 55.3% from the floor, while Augustin Reede is shooting a team leading 45.9% from the 3-point line
• Jacksen Moni and Jordan Belka are averaging 16.2 and 12.8 points per game, as well as 4.5 and 6.8 rebounds per game respectively
• Josh Dilling is the team's spark off the bench adding 9.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, with a team second best 42 assists
• Against league opponents, the Wolves lead the NSIC in 3-point field goals (11.4/gm), assist/turnover ratio (2.0), blocked shots (3.8), and assists (16.5)
• Masten leads the NSIC in assists (7.0/gm) and assist/turnover ratio (4.1)

 
SIOUX FALLS STORYLINES

• The Cougars hold a 12-4 record overall and 7-3 mark in the NSIC
• Sioux Falls is averaging 73.3 points, 35.8 rebounds, 15.1 assists, 11.4 turnovers, 5.2 steals, and 2.7 blocks per game this season; out-scoring and out-rebounding their opponents by 5.4 points and 4.3 boards per game
• USF is shooting 44.5% from the floor, 36.1% from the 3-point line, and 74.4% from the foul line
• Matt Cartwright leads USF and the NSIC averaging 21.9 points per game this season, shooting 51.7% from the floor and 49.2% from the 3-point line
• Jack Thompson is second on the team averaging 11.0 points per game with a team leading 69 assists
• Thompson is second on the team with 80 total rebounds, averaging 5.0 per game, followed by Cart-wright and Noah Puetz notching 4.8 and 4.6
• The Cougars are led by head coach Chris Johnson in his 15^th season at the helm

 
LAST MEETING

• The Wolves defeated the Cougars 79-72 a season ago
• Northern is 41-17 all-time against Sioux Falls

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE STORYLINES

• The Mustangs enter the weekend with a 10-5 record overall and 6-4 record in the league
• SMSU is shooting 46.3% from the floor, 35.0% from the 3-point line, and 77.8% from the foul line this season
• Southwest is averaging 66.7 points, 32.9 rebounds, 13.1 assists, 12.2 turnovers, 6.0 steals, and 3.7 blocks per game; out-scoring their opponents by 5.1 points per game
• Dunwa Omot leads three averaging double figures, notching 15.1 points per game
• Jake Phipps and Anthony Costello follow, notching 11.0 and 10.9 points per contest, with Phipps grabbing a team best 6.8 rebounds per game
• Jakob Braaten leads the team shooting 57.1% from the floor, while Cliff McCray has dished out a team best 52 assists
• Southwest is led by head coach Brad Bigler in his 14^th season at the helm

 
LAST MEETING

• Northern tallied a 69-68 victory over Southwest in 2021-22
• The Wolves are 40-19 all-time against the Mustangs