Northwestern at Concordia

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Game Time...13th-ranked Northwestern heads to Seward, Neb. to play Concordia tonight in a make-up game that was originally scheduled for Feb. 4. Northwestern is in third place in the GPAC with a 10-5 record, 17-6 overall, while Concordia has moved up to sixth place in the GPAC with a 6-9 conference mark, 12-12 overall. The Bulldogs have won three straight and four of the last five games. Listen live to the game via the KSOU webcast at the following link: Listen Now!

All-Time...Northwestern leads the all-time series 40-17 and is 7-3 over the last 10 games against the Bulldogs.

Earlier This Year...Concordia scored the first five points and led from start to finish in the Bulldogs 94-75 win over Northwestern on Jan. 4 in Orange City, Iowa. Concordia shot 63% en route to a commanding 49-29 halftime lead and then kept even with the Red Raiders in the second half.

Porter Birtell scored a career-high 37 points, going a perfect 12-for-12 from the field and 13-of-16 from the free throw line. Freshman point guard Joel Haywood added 22 points and six rebounds while Barrett Braun scored 14.

Northwestern shot 46% for the game and was led by Ben Miller with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Concordia News and Notes...The Bulldogs have won three straight games heading into Monday's contest against Northwestern. With wins over Concordia (Mich.), Concordia (Wis.) and Nebraska Wesleyan, they have moved up to sixth in the current GPAC standings with a 6-9 record, 12-12 overall. Concordia also defeated Dakota Wesleyan (Jan. 21) prior to its only loss in the last five games (Doane).

Concordia outscored Nebraska Wesleyan 45-26 en route to an impressive 67-47 road win on Feb. 1. The Bulldogs led by just one at halftime but held the host Wolves to 0-14 from beyond the arc and 29% from the field in the win. Porter Birtell led all players with another double-double, scoring 19 points and nabbing 10 rebounds. Joel Haywood added 13 points and three assists while Adam Vogt scored 14 points off the bench.

Concordia averages 73 points per game, shooting 44% from the field and 36% from beyond the arc. They lead the GPAC in three-point shooting (186 this season) and have five players with at least 30 three-pointers this season. Defensively, Concordia is giving up 74 points per game.

Porter Birtell is among the GPAC's top scorers and rebounders, averaging 18 points and nearly nine rebounds per game. The junior is second in the NAIA in field goal percentage (65%) and has 12 blocked shots this season. Beau Smith averages 11.7 points per game and ranks eighth in the GPAC in rebounding (6.3). He is third on the team with 35 three-pointers. Joel Haywood leads the team with 84 assists and averages 9.5 points per game. Adam Vogt is the top perimeter shooter, ranking ninth in the GPAC with 41 on the season.

Northwestern News and Notes...The Raiders are third in the GPAC with a 10-5 record and are ranked 13th in the NAIA with a 17-6 overall mark. Northwestern has lost two of its last three games, losing on the road to ranked teams (Briar Cliff and Dordt) while defeating Hastings at home (79-71).

Northwestern ranks second in the GPAC in scoring (81.2) and field goal percentage (48%) while leading the conference in rebounding (+10). Walker Seim is among five NWC players scoring in double figures, averaging 13.5 points per game. The senior  guard is shooting a team-best 39% from beyond the arc. Both Ben Miller and Stu Goslinga average 13.3 points per game and rank second in the GPAC in rebounding, pulling down eight boards per game. Zack Leeper averages 11.7 points per game and leads the team with 38 three-pointers.

Up Next...Northwestern heads back on the road on Wednesday, Feb. 8 as the Raiders play Mount Marty in Yankton, S.D.