Sioux Falls at Northwestern

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Game Time... Northwestern plays host to 21st-ranked USF Saturday afternoon in the final game of the regular season for both teams. The Red Raiders are currently tied with Dordt for sixth in the GPAC with a 9-8 record, 14-13 overall. The visiting Cougars are tied with Briar Cliff for third place in the GPAC with a 12-5 record, 21-8 overall. Watch/listen live to the game via the NWC webcast at the following link: Watch/Listen Now!

Series Record... This will be the 81st meeting between the two GPAC rivals with Northwestern leading the all-time series 52-29 but lost to the Cougars on earlier this year, 85-84 in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Down to the Wire... A free throw by USF center Skyler Bloch with no time left gave the host Cougars an 85-84 win over Northwestern on Jan. 13. With the score tied at 44, Sioux Falls outscored the Raiders 15-4 during a four minute stretch and eventually led by as much as 14 (71-57) with 10:29 left to go. USF still held a 77-64 advantage with under eight minutes to go when Northwestern stormed back courtesy of an 18-2 run and took an 82-79 lead after a lay-up by Daniel Van Kalsbeek. A three-point play by USF guard Matt Malloy tied the game at 82 and the two teams traded baskets to tie the score again at 84. Both teams missed on their chances to take the lead during the final minute and after a USF miss, Northwestern called a timeout with 22 seconds left. The Raiders missed a jumper with under three seconds left and in the ensuing action, were whistled for a foul as time expired which put Bloch at the free throw line where he made 1-of-2 to seal the win.

Northwestern shot 47% for the game compared to 38% by the Cougars. Daniel Van Kalsbeek tied for game-high honors with 27 points, going 9-for-13 from the field. Walker Seim netted 26, making four three-pointers. Ryan Hoogeveen scored 12 points, pulled down seven boards and dished out four assists. Matt Malloy led USF with 27 points while Kelly Hubbard added 16 points and a game-high 18 rebounds.

USF News and Notes...The Cougars hold a 21-8 overall record and are 3-3 in their last six games. They lost to Dordt, Dakota Wesleyan and Briar Cliff and defeated Doane, Morningside and Concordia (73-63) on Feb. 13. Earlier this year, USF was ranked as high as sixth and come in ranked 21st in the Feb. 15 poll.

Four USF players scored in double figures and the Cougars pulled away in the second half in its 73-63 win over Concordia last Saturday. Thomas Frames, Matt Malloy and Kelly Hubbard all shared game-high honors with 15 points while David Maxwell scored 11 off the bench.

Head Coach Chris Johnson, in his second year at USF, returns two starters and his two leading scorers off a 2008-09 team that qualified for the national tournament and ended with a 20-16 overall record. Thomas Frames averages 12.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game while also leading the team with 47 three-pointers and 93 assists. Frames earned honorable mention all-GPAC honors last season. Also an honorable mention all-GPAC pick last year, Matt Malloy ranks second in the GPAC averaging nearly 19 points per game. USF features a pair of talented newcomers in the front court in juniors Kelly Hubbard and DeShawn Hubbard who average 11 and 7.1 points per game. The duo leads the team in rebounding, averaging 6.5 and 5.8 boards per game. Jack Ridgway (6.1, 32 three-pointers), Cedric Seefeldt (5.8ppg) and freshman David Maxwell (4.7ppg) are the top reserves for Coach Johnson's squad.

Raider News and Notes... Northwestern currently is tied with Dordt for sixth place in the GPAC with a 9-8 record, 14-13 overall. The Raiders will either be the sixth seed (NWC win, Dordt loss) or seventh seed (NWC loss, Dordt win or NWC loss, Dordt loss) in the upcoming GPAC tournament. Either way, NWC will open tournament play at home on Tuesday night against an opponent to be determined.

The Red Raiders upset-bid against seventh-ranked Dakota Wesleyan fell short Wednesday night as they host 88-86. Northwestern shot 44% for the game, 50% (9/18) from beyond the arc. Ryan Hoogeveen led the Raiders with a career-high 24 points on 7-of-15 from the floor. Daniel Van Kalsbeek netted 17 points and pulled down nine boards before fouling out with four minutes to go. Brent Dunkelberger registered his second double-double of the season with 12 points and a career-best 11 boards.

Three NWC players are averaging in double figures, led by Daniel Van Kalsbeek who leads the GPAC at 19.3ppg. He also ranks sixth in the GPAC in rebounds (7.1) and fourth in blocked shots (38). Walker Seim is fifth in the GPAC in scoring (17.9) and ranks fourth in the NAIA with 92 three-pointers. Ben Miller averages 11.8 points and 6.6 boards per game, 10th best in the GPAC. Coach Korver's squad averages a GPAC-best 84.7ppg and ranks fourth in the league in field goal percentage (47%).

Up Next... Northwestern will begin postseason play on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at home against an opponent to be determined. The GPAC office will announce the tournament pairings Saturday night.