Midland at Northwestern

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Game Time...Northwestern plays host to Midland Lutheran this weekend in a men's GPAC basketball game. Tip-off for the Saturday contest is scheduled for 4:00pm. The Red Raiders are 5-5 in the GPAC, 10-10 overall while the visiting Warriors post a 1-9 conference record, 3-19 overall. Watch/Listen live to the game via the NWC webcast at the following link: Watch/Listen Now!

All-Time Series... Northwestern is 9-1 in the last 10 match-ups against Midland Lutheran. The Warriors last defeated NWC during the 2005-06 season. The Red Raiders hold a 57-22 advantage in the all-time series.

Scouting Midland Lutheran... The Warriors are 1-9 in the GPAC, 3-19 overall this season. They have wins over York (78-73), Iowa Wesleyan (76-64) and Doane (64-56). Since the win over the Tigers in GPAC play, Midland Lutheran has lost three straight; Briar Cliff (109-69), Nebraska Wesleyan (63-62) and Concordia (61-58). The Warriors held a slim 25-24 halftime lead over Concordia last time out (Jan. 20). The host Bulldogs, however, outscored MLC 37-33 in the second half behind a dominant performance on the glass, outrebounding Midland 48-32. Midland shot 41% for the game and was led by all-conference guard Jason Ahrens who netted a game-high 29 points. Justin Kulwicki was also in double figures with 10.

Head coach Rich McGill is in his 29th season with the Warriors and amassed over 300 wins during his tenure. He has guided the Warriors to a pair of NAIA national tournament appearances. Last year, the Warriors finished tied for 11th in the GPAC with a 6-12 record, 8-22 overall. Coach McGill returns seven players off last year's squad but lost his top two scorers from the 2008-09 season.

Senior guard Jason Ahrens leads the Warriors in scoring, averaging over 16 points per game. Ahrens, an honorable mention all-GPAC player last year, is shooting a team-best 32% from beyond the arc (23/72) and also has dished out a team-high 62 assists. Zach Rosenboom, a 6-5 sophomore forward, averages 12 points per game and ranks second in rebounding at nearly five per game. Justin Kulwicki averages 9.6 points per game and has made a team-best 26 three-pointers. Chad Langemeier returns to the Warriors' starting line-up and leads the team in rebounding (7.3rpg) and steals (37).

Raider Notes...Northwestern dropped to 5-5 in the GPAC, 10-10 overall with a 97-93 loss at fifth-ranked Briar Cliff Wednesday night. The game was close throughout and featured 25 lead changes and seven ties. Northwestern began the game on a 12-4 run and held its largest lead, 18-9, with 12 minutes left in the first half. Briar Cliff began to chip away at the Raider lead and took its first lead just before the half, 42-41.

The teams exchanged the lead several times in the second half until a late 6-0 Northwestern run put the Red Raiders up 87-86 after a Ben Miller field goal. Briar Cliff answered back with a pair of free throws by Chase VanderFeen before Walker Seim converted a jumper to give his team its last lead, 89-88. The host Chargers' scored four straight points to take the lead for good and made just enough free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.

Van Kalsbeek led the way with 26 points followed by Walker Seim with 20. Ryan Hoogeveen netted 13 points while Ben Miller and Mike Vorwald each added 11.

The Raiders lead the GPAC in scoring (86), rank fourth in the GPAC in three-pointers made (155) and second in three-point percentage (37%). They also are among the top rebounding teams in the conference, holding a +3.1 advantage on the glass.

Individually, three Raiders are scoring in double figures, led by the inside-outside combination of Daniel Van Kalsbeek and Walker Seim. Van Kalsbeek averages over 19ppg and leads the team with seven boards per contest. The freshman has four double-doubles this season. Seim also averages over 19ppg and has scored in double figures in every game this season. He ranks second in the NAIA with 74 three-pointers, shooting 47% from beyond the arc.  Ben Miller averages 12 points per game and is among the team leaders in rebounds (6.6) and assists (50). Ryan Hoogeveen (8.5ppg) and Mike Vorwald (3.3ppg, 97 assists) round out the starting line-up. Brent Dunkelberger and Ryan Stock are the top reserves and each average over seven points per game.

Up Next... Northwestern will get a week off before heading to Sioux Center to play Dordt on Jan. 30 at 4:00pm.