Northwood at Northwestern

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Game Time... Northwestern takes on 13th-seed Northwood (Fla.) in the Elite Eight round of the 2008 NAIA D-II Men's Basketball National Championship. The Red Raiders, seeded fifth, have a 29-4 overall record and are in the quarterfinals for the seventh time. This is their second straight Elite Eight Appearance and third in four years. The Seahawks of Northwood are 27-7 overall in this just their second year fielding a varsity program. Tipoff for the game is at 3:00 pm.

Scouting Report... Northwood, in just their second year with a basketball program, is making their second appearance to the national tournament and first trip to the Elite Eight. They were one of three Florida Sun teams in the 32-team field and earned an at-large bid to the Big Dance after losing to the Edward Waters (Fla.) in the conference semifinals. They are 14-2 since Jan. 23.

The Seahawks are coached by former NCAA D-I legend, Rollie Massimino. Massimino came out of a three-year retirement to start the program at Northwood in 2006. Massimino won a NCAA national title in 2004 while at Villanova in one of the biggest upsets ever in college basketball history.

Northwood averages 81ppg and is giving up 69ppg this season. They shoot 49% from the field, 36% from beyond the arc. Opponents are shooting 41% against the Seahawks.

Individually, the Seahawks are led by NCAA D-I transfer, 6-8 junior DeSean White, who averages 18 points and nine rebounds per game. White, however, broke his foot in the opening minutes of the first game here at the tournament and will not play. Guards Marvin Owens and Baree Ward average 16.5 and 12.9 points per game. Owens, a 6-5 senior, as 48 three pointers (38%) and has dished out 62 assists. Ward, 6-0 junior, runs the point and has a team-best 103 assists. 6-7 junior Seven Ezumba averages 9.1ppg and 6.1rpg. Ezumba has had a monster tournament thus far, leading the field with 29 rebound and averaging 15 points in two games. Senior guard Chad Radosevich is the team's best perimeter shooter with 62 three pointers for 36%. 6-3 senior Tim Clark has been starting in place of White for the tournament. He averages 3.4ppg. Top reserves for Northwood are Brad Haugabrook, Andrew Wood and Steve Ritzema. Haugabrook  averages five points per game and the 7-0 Ritzema averages 3.1ppg and 3.3 rpg.

Last Time Out... Northwood defeated Bluefield in the first round, 88-86, for their first ever tournament victory. Brad Haugabrook hit the game-winner with just one second left for the Seahawks. NU made 6-of-8 three pointers and shot 49% for the game. Six players scored in double figures, led by Seven Ezumba with 18 points and 20 rebounds. In the second round, Northwood upset one of the tournament favorites, fourth-seed Walsh, 66-59. Ezumba led the Seahawks with 20 points and Marvin Owens added 18.

Northwestern defeated unseeded Minot State in the opening round, 97-90, and then needed overtime to get by unseeded Oklahoma Wesleyan, 86-85. The Red Raiders led by 17 with eight minutes left to play before a huge Eagle rally cut the lead down to one. OWU tied the game in the closing seconds and Kale Wiertzema missed a jumper as time expired to send the game into overtime. Northwestern led early in the overtime period but need a Chad Schuiteman free throw with five seconds left to hold off the Eagles. Schuiteman scored 24 points and ripped down 13 rebounds. He now stands third all-time in tournament history in rebounds with 111. Kale Wiertzema added 17 points and went over 1,000 points in his career.

Red Raider Notes... Head Coach Kris Korver has led the Red Raiders to the national tournament in each of his eight years at NWC, twice winning the national championship. Northwestern will be making their 10th straight tournament appearance, 13th overall. They are the winningest program in the tournament's history (27-10).

Northwestern is the fifth highest scoring team in the NAIA, averaging just over 87ppg. They are third in the nation with a shooting percentage of 51% and shoot 41% from beyond the arc. Defensively, the Red Raiders give up 76ppg and opponents shoot 44% against the NWC defense. Northwestern is out-rebounding their opponents by a +5 margin this season.

Individually, NWC is led by a pair of 2,000 point scorers, seniors Chad Schuiteman and Curt Schilling. Both first team all-GPAC players, Schilling led the conference in scoring (19.7) and three pointers (85) while Schuiteman averaged 14.7ppg and a league-best 11.3rpg. Schuiteman also led the league in steals (58) and was among the conference leaders in assists with 127. Junior Kale Wiertzema earned second team all-league honors after averaging 13.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and dishing out 112 assists. He reached the 1,000 point milestone for his career in NWC's second round win over Oklahoma Wesleyan. Mark DeYounge, also a 1,000 point scorer, is averaging 9.3ppg and 3.7 rpg. Andrew Stimson is second on the team with 48 three pointers and is one of the leaders on the defensive end. Sharpshooter Ben Brown (6.2ppg), Ryan Hoogeveen (4.8ppg) and Travis Van Regenmorter (4.6ppg) are the other top scorers for NWC.

Next Up... The winner advances to the Final Four on Monday, March17, at 8:00 pm.

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