Doane at Northwestern

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Game Time... The Red Raiders will host Doane College as part of a GPAC doubleheader on Saturday, Jan. 12. The men's game is scheduled to tipoff at 4:00 pm.

Scouting Report... The Doane Tigers come into the contest on a three-game losing streak and are 2-6 since late November. They are 6-9 overall, 2-4 and tied for eighth with USF in the GPAC. In league play, Head Coach Ian Brown's club has split two league match-ups with Nebraska Wesleyan, suffered losses to Concordia, Dakota Wesleyan and Dordt and defeated Midland Lutheran. Senior guard Dane Cruz, a second team all-league selection last season, leads this year's squad averaging just under 20 points per game, second best in the league. Cruz is fourth in the GPAC in free throw percentage (87%) and ranks eighth in assists with 51. Tyler Cyboron, a sophomore guard, is the only other Doane player scoring in double figures with 10.5 ppg. Cyboron is the team's best perimeter threat with 24/59 three pointers (41%). Cruz ranks second on the team with 22 three point field goals. Brett McFarland, a 6-1 sophomore guard, averages nine points per game and a team-best 6.3 rebounds per game, fourth best in the GPAC. Senior center Kolby Hamilton nets 8.6 points and pulls down 4.9 boards per game. Scott Neuhalfen, a transfer from Southwest Baptist, and Jack Lind, a 6-11 junior, average 6.6 and 6.3 ppg, respectively.

Offensively, Doane is averaging 72 points per game and is 11th in the league in field goal percentage (43%). On the defensive end, the Tigers are giving up 79 ppg and opponents are shooting 48% from the field. Doane is ninth in the league in rebounding margin.

Last Time Out... A combination of cold shooting for the Tigers and hot shooting for the Prairie Wolves led to Doane falling to Nebraska Wesleyan 66-50 in GPAC action last Wednesday evening.  Doane was limited to 35 percent from the floor, 8.3 percent from behind the three-point arc in contrast to Nebraska Wesleyan, who shot 50 percent from both the floor and the three-point arc.

Doane jumped out to an early 8-4 lead only to see the Prairie Wolves go on a 16-0 run en route to a 14 point halftime lead. The Tigers played even after the break, being outscored by just two in the second half. Doane received 19 points from Dane Cruz.  He added five rebounds and two assists. Jack Lind led all players with 11 rebounds.

The Red Raiders won their eighth consecutive game as they defeated USF, 86-76, in GPAC conference action this past Wednesday in Sioux Falls, S.D. Northwestern trailed by four at the half, 46-42, and then fell behind by 11 (55-44) with 15 minutes left to play in the second half. The Red Raiders, however, battled back with a 20-7 run which put them up 64-62. Leading 79-76, Northwestern scored the final seven points of the game over the last two minutes to earn the road win.

The Red Raiders shot 49% for the game and committed just 11 turnovers. Kale Wiertzema led three NWC players in double figures with 23 points while Curt Schilling added 15. Chad Schuiteman netted 14 points and grabbed team-high eight rebounds.  

Red Raider Notes... Northwestern is the highest scoring team in the GPAC, averaging 90 points per game. They also lead the league in shooting percentage (52%), are third in three pointers (127) and fourth in three point percentage (43%). Defensively, NWC is giving up 79 points per game and teams are shooting 45% from the floor.

Curt Schilling continues to lead the GPAC in scoring (20.8) and three pointers (49). Schilling has scored in double figures in every game this season and has also hit at least one three pointer in every game. In the last three games, Schilling is 12/21 from beyond the arc (57%). Chad Schuiteman is averaging a double-double per game, 15.6 points and a league best 11.6 rebounds per contest. He had his string of six consecutive double-doubles snapped in the win over USF. Kale Wiertzema averages 14 points per game and is third in the GPAC with 64 assists. Wiertzema has averaged over 17 points in the last four games.

Next Up...Northwestern will play Briar Cliff next Wednesday, Jan. 16, in Sioux City, for their only game next week.