Grace at Northwestern

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Game Time... The Red Raiders will host the Pizza Ranch Classic this weekend with four games in a span of two days. Action gets underway on Friday, Nov. 13 at 2:30 with USF taking on Kansas Wesleyan followed by Northwestern against Grace University in the Raiders home debut. On Saturday, USF will play Grace at noon followed by the Raiders playing host to Kansas Wesleyan at 4:00 pm. Listen/Watch all the games via the NWC webcast at the following link: Watch/Listen Now!

All-Time Series... Northwestern leads the all-time series 1-0 against both Grace and Kansas Wesleyan. The Raiders defeated the Royals in 2007-08 in the Pizza Ranch Classic by the score of 105-72. NWC knocked off Kansas Wesleyan 74-54 in 2006-07 in the second round of the NAIA D-II National Tournament.

Scouting Report...

Grace University: The Royals belong to the NCCAA and are members of the Midwest Christian College Conference. Head Coach Thad Mott, in his eighth year, guided his team to the 2008 NCCAA D-II national championship and has led Grace to four conference championships. They finished 4-10 in the MWCCC in 2008-09.

Four key players return for the Royals, including second team all-conference guard LaMar McMorris who averaged 15.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and six assists per game last year. McMorris  and Jonathan Loutzenhizer  led the team with 18 three-pointers in 2008-09.

Grace is 0-5 this season with losses to MidAmerica Nazarene, Avila, Grand View, Iowa Wesleyan and a 92-60 setback to Dakota Wesleyan on Nov. 11. McMorris and Loutzenhizer have scored in double figures in all five games.

Kansas Wesleyan: The Coyotes were picked fourth in the KCAC preseason coaches’ poll after a 2008-09 season in which they finished second with a 13-5 record. KWU lost in the conference finals to Ottawa (Kan.), just missing out on its second straight national tournament appearance. They were 19-12 overall.

Two starters and five letterwinners return for coach Davert’s squad, who is in his third year with the Coyotes. KWU brings a 2-2 record into the Pizza Ranch Classic with wins over Peru State and Haskell Indian Nations and losses to York and Southern Nazarene (73-58) last time out. Matthew Dickman leads the Coyotes averaging 13 points per game and team-high eight three-pointers. Newcomer Wesley Jones averages 12ppg while returning starter Matthew Jarrett averages nine points per game.

U. of Sioux Falls: The 23^rd-ranked Cougars are 3-1 so far this season with three straight wins after a season-opening loss to Mayville State (70-67). Last time out, USF knocked off NCAA D-II U. of Minnesota Crookston, 68-67, on Nov. 10. Four Cougars were in double figures, led by Thomas Frames and Matt Malloy with 16 and 15 points, respectively.

USF finished the 2008-09 GPAC season in ninth place with a 7-11 record but won four straight road games in the conference tournament to earn a trip to the national tournament. They knocked off third-seeded Cedarville (Mich.) in the first round before losing in the Sweet Sixteen to College of the Ozarks (Mo.). Two starters return off last year’s squad, led by two-time all-GPAC guard Matt Malloy who ranks sixth in the NAIA this season with 22 ppg. Newcomer Kelly Hubbard is seventh in the NAIA pulling down 9.3 boards per game.

Red Raider Notes... Coach Korver, in his 10^th year, returns one starter and five letterwinners from a 2008-09 team that finished fourth in the GPAC with an 11-7 record, 16-13 overall. The Red Raiders are 0-3 this season with losses to Benedictine (91-78), Jamestown (84-79) and Valley City State (82-73).

The Raiders are averaging 77ppg, shooting 43% from the floor. Freshmen Daniel Van Kalsbeek and Ben Miller lead the team with 18.3 and 15 points per game, respectively. Both players are averaging a team-best six boards per game as well. Walker Seim averages 14.7 points per game and is the top perimeter threat with 11 three-pointers. Ryan Hoogeveen, a two-year starter, averages seven points and 5.3 boards per game.

Up Next... Northwestern opens the GPAC season next Saturday as they play host to Doane College on Nov. 21 at 4:00 pm.