For Immediate Release
Monday, Nov. 25, 2013

NSIC Media Relations
Full PDF Release

NSIC Player of the Week
#10 Jordan Poydras
G, 6-3, 170, So.,
De Pere, Wis.
De Pere HS
St. Cloud State

Poydras scored a career high 32 points to lead St. Cloud State to an 87-84 non-conference win at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside last Saturday. Poydras was 12 of 26 from the field, made three three-point baskets and five free throws .  He also had five rebounds, three assists and a steal. He made three free throws in the final 45 seconds of the game to hold off the Rangers. The win was the 325th in head coach Kevin Schlagel’s career with the Huskies. St. Cloud State, receiving votes in the NABC coaches poll, is off to a 4-0 start and will host Minnesota Duluth next Saturday in their NSIC opener.
 

AUGUSTANA COLLEGE - #32 Casey Schilling (F, 6-6, 190, So., Ellsworth, Minn./Ellsworth HS) averaged 21.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks helping Augustana to a 2-0 record last week. Schilling started off the week with 19 points, four rebounds and four assists in a 104-55 win over Presentation on Wednesday. The sophomore then went off for a career-high 24 points against Dakota State on Saturday to go along with six rebounds, four blocks and three assists. He shot 63.6 percent (14 of 22) from the field over the two games, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range while knocking down 84.6 percent (11 of 13) from the free throw line. Schilling is averaging 19.8 points and 8.0 rebounds on the season, while picking up 3.5 blocks per game.  Augustana opens NSIC action Monday night traveling to Wayne, Neb. to take on the Wildcats at 8 p.m.

BEMIDJI STATE - #3 Zach Noreen (F, 6-6, 250, Sr., Avon, Minn. / Albany HS) recorded 19.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game and shot 58.6 percent from the field in a 2-0 week for the Beavers. He also added 4.0 assists. 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, while committing just one turnover in 22.0 minutes per contest. He shot 50 percent (3-for-6) from 3-point land. After posting 14 points and six rebounds in a victory against Finlandia Nov. 19, Noreen had a career game against St. Scholastica Nov. 23. He totaled career-highs in points (25), rebounds (9), assists (8), field goals made (11) and field goals attempted (18) in 24 minutes of play. He shot 61.1 percent from the floor and added a team-high three blocks.
The Bemidji State men’s basketball team is 3-0 in nonconference play for the firs time since 2003-04 after an 81-60 victory against Finlandia University Nov. 19 and a 103-56 win versus College of St. Scholastica Nov. 23. The Beavers battle Michigan Tech University at home Nov. 26 to conclude nonconfernece play before traveling to University of Minnesota Crookston Nov. 30 to begin NSIC play. MTU is 2-0 after home wins against fellow NSIC members, University of Minnesota Duluth (78-58) and Southwest Minnesota State University (86-64). Against UMC, BSU has won 10 straight and owns the advantage in the all-time series, 41-13. The Beavers defeated the Golden Eagles 75-58 last season in Crookston, Minn.

CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL - #11 Cole Olstad (G, 6-5, 195, Jr., Elgin, Minn. / P-E-M HS) averaged 17.0 points per game, shot 54.2% (13-24) and drained six three-pointers in helping Concordia to a 1-1 weekend against Northwood and Ferris State at games played in Winona. He also had a 5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and averaged 3.0 rebounds. He was consistent as well, scoring 17 points each game while shooting similar percentages in each, hitting three triples in each game and playing near-turnover-free basketball in the process. On the year, he’s averaging 15.3 points, is a 92.3% (12-13) free throw shooter after his 2-2 weekend.
 The Golden Bears are off to a 3-1 start to the non-conference season for the fifth time in Kelly Boe’s eight season as head coach of the program with the last 3-1 start coming in 2011-12 … with the non-conference slate complete, Concordia turns its attention to Saturday’s NSIC opener against #5 Minnesota State at Gangelhoff Center with a 4 p.m. tip … Concordia is 5-14 all-time against MSU after being swept last season … prior to last year’s sweep, Concordia had won three-straight games against MSU including two on the road … at Gangelhoff Center, Concordia is 3-6 against MSU and since MSU has joined the NSIC in the 2008-09 season, Concordia has a 3-7 mark against the Mavericks.

UNIVERSITY OF MARY -  Marc Musungayi (F, 6-6, 220, Sr., Hamilton, Ontario / Iowa Central CC) earned a spot on the GCI Alaska Invitational all-tournament team after a strong three-game performance in Fairbanks. The senior forward averaged 16.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while shooting 51.2 per cent from the floor and .857 at the free throw line. Against the host Alaska Nanooks Musungayi was 8-of-12 from the field for 16 points. He also had 16 points against Emporia State and 18 points, seven rebounds and two assists against Fresno Pacific... The Marauders open up Northern Sun action at Minot State University on Saturday, Nov. 30.

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON  - Brandon Burns (Sr., F, Baton Rouge, La.)  averaged 22 points a game for the Golden Eagles as UMC improved to 3-1 in non-conference for the 2013-14 season with a 81-61 win over Finlandia University and a 88-79 victory over University of Jamestown. Burns connected on 17-of-29 of his shots for 58.6 percent. In addition, he hit 2-of-6 three-pointers and was 8-of-10 from the charity stripe. Burns had a game-high 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field in the win against Jamestown. Versus Finlandia, the senior tallied 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field. He added eight boards, two blocks and three steals on the week.

MINNESOTA DULUTH  - UMD played a pair of games over the week, but just one counted as they faced off with Green Bay in a rare in-season exhibition on Saturday evening. The Bulldogs returned to Romano Gym with a win over UW-Superior on Tuesday night, with five players hitting double-digits scoring, led by junior Kristofer Jackson’s double-double (14 points, 11 rebounds). Jackson added a pair of blocks, one steal, and two assists in the win as well. Saturday’s exhibition saw junior Reece Zoelle (15) and senior Peter Crawford (10) hit double-digit scoring as the D-I Phoenix earned a 92-57 home victory.

MINNESOTA STATE - #34 Zach Romashko (F, 6-8, 230, Jr., Blaine, Minn./Blaine) recorded his first double double of the season and second of his career, as he posted 20 points and a career-high 14 rebounds in MSU’s 117-56 win over Clarke. He shot 7-of-12 (.583) from the field and 3-of-4 (.750) from behind the arc and also dished out two assists.
With its 117-56 win over Clarke, #12 MSU improved to 5-1 on the season. Against Clarke, the Mavericks connected on 16 three point shots, tying the team’s single-game record last set back in the 2003-04 season at St. Cloud State. Every MSU player that entered the game against Clarke posted at least six points, including six playes who tallied 12 or more points.

MSU MOORHEAD - Ben Figini (F, 6-8, So., Chisago City, Minn. / Chisago Lakes HS) paced a balanced Dragon attack with 16 points during MSUM’s 102-55 rout of neighboring rival Concordia College in action last Friday at Nemzek Fieldhouse. Figini was 4-for-6 from the field but was also a career-best 8-of-8 from the free-throw line. Figini also added two assists, one block and one steal in just 17 minutes of action. Figini is second on the team at 13.0 points per game.
All 13 MSUM players who saw playing time scored in the Dragons’ 102-55 win over Concordia College. MSUM’s balance has keyed its 3-0 start; ten players are averaging at least 6.7 points per game or more. The Dragons are averaging 93.3 points per game so far.

MINOT STATE - Minot State University capped off perfect 4-0 nonconference schedule with a defensive minded 65-44 win over Valley City State Sunday. The Beavers limited VCSU to just five second-half field goals and 26.3 shooting overall in its best start since the 2004-05 season, equaling that year’s 4-0 start as the best in school history. #00 Samuel Johnson (F, 6-6, 200, Sr., Las Vegas, Nev. / Legacy / Montana State-Billings) led a trio of Beavers in double figures with 14 points and added eight rebounds. #03 E.J. Williams (G, 6-0, 190, Sr., Raleigh, N.C. / Capitol Hill / Cape Fear CC) and #15 Thomas Korf (F, 6-5, 199, Jr., St. Cloud, Minn. / St. Cloud Tech) scored 12 and 10 points respectively. Williams had a solid night with five rebounds and four assists. #5 Dominique McDonald (G, 6-0, 175, So., Raleigh, N.C. / Wake Forest-Rolesville) returned to the lineup after battling an injury to finish with a steady nine points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals. Minot State moves into conference play Saturday as the Beavers play host to rival University of Mary at 6 p.m. at the Dome.

NORTHERN STATE - The Wolves were idle last week. Their next actionw will be on November 25 when they host Mayville State at 8 p.m.  They will open up NSIC play on Saturday when they travel to MSU Moorhead for a 6 p.m. tip.

SIOUX FALLS - #11    Derek Brown (G, 6-0, 180, Sr., Clark, S.D.  / Clark ) led the Cougars (3-1) to a weekend sweep of NAIA programs Grand View University and Waldorf College, scoring 36 combined points and finishing with a per game average of 18 points, three rebounds and 5.5 assists in the two wins. Against the GVU Vikings, Brown matched his career-high with 23 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the floor where he also went 4-for -8 from beyond the arc. Brown also shattered his career-best assist output (4), dropping seven dimes while also hauling in two rebounds. Brown followed up his big night with an efficient outing versus the Warriors, scoring 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting, and he shot 50% from deep for the second night in a row (3-for-6). He was also credited with four rebounds and four assists.  

SMSU - Shaun Condon (G, 6-1, Jr., Clara City, Minn.) helped lead the Mustangs to a split of two games in Michigan last week. Condon came off the bench to average 14.5 points and 2.0 rebounds, while shooting 62.5 percent (10 of 16) from the field, and 71.4 percent (5 of 7) from 3-point range. He scored 11 points on 3 of 6 shooting in 19 minutes in a win over Northern Michigan, then scored a team-high 18 points on 7 of 10 shooting with three 3-pointers in a loss to Michigan Tech.

ST. CLOUD STATE - Jordan Poydras (So., G, De Pere, Wis.) scored a career high 32 points to lead St. Cloud State to an 87-84 non-conference win at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside last Saturday. Poydras was 12 of 26 from the field, made three three-point baskets and five free throws .  He also had five rebounds, three assists and a steal. He made three free throws in the final 45 seconds of the game to hold off the Rangers. Matt Craggs (Sr., F, Kimberly, Wis.) led the Huskies in rebounding with nine boards and scored six points on three of four shooting. The win was the 325th in head coach Kevin Schlagel’s career with the Huskies. St. Cloud State, receiving votes in the NABC coaches poll, is off to a 4-0 start and will host Minnesota Duluth next Saturday in the NSIC opener.
 
UPPER IOWA - Jordan Hay (W, 6-6, 195, So., Stanwood, Iowa/North Cedar HS) averaged 12 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks in just 24.5 minutes of action this past week for the Peacocks as the team earned a pair of victories against Missouri-St. Louis and William Jewell. On Tuesday, the Peacocks hosted the Tritons and Hay finished with nine points, a team-high eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal in just 24 minutes of work. With the ball in his hands Hay consistently attacked the rim, but he also hit the game’s biggest three-pointer as he put his team up for good with just 2:04 left in regulation. Hay’s aggressiveness on offense translated to the defensive side of the ball as well as UIU held UMSL to just 30 points in the second half after giving up 45 in the first 20 minutes. Hay scored all nine of his points in the second half as the Peacocks combined for 45 points in the final stanza to earn their first victory of the 2013 season, 81-75. Hay followed that up with his best game as a Peacock to date. Against William Jewell on Saturday, Hay finished third on the team with a career-high 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting, while collecting six rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 25 minutes. Over the weekend, Hay shot 52-percent from the floor, including 44-percent from beyond the arc.

WAYNE STATE - Ryan Rolfzen, a 6-7 senior forward from Papillion, Neb. (Papillion-LaVista South High School), scorched the nets for a career-high 31 points Tuesday evening in an 80-52 win over Crown College of Minnesota.  Rolfzen had 20 of his 31 points in the second half as he finished 11 of 22 from the field and 8 for 14 from 3-point range in the win.  Rolfzen also contributed a career-high nine rebounds in the win while playing just 29 minutes in the contest.

WINONA STATE -  Taylor Cameron (G, Sr., 6-5, 200, Oshkosh, Wis. (North) led Winona State by averaging 20 points and 3.5 rebounds as the Warriors split games against a pair of teams from Michigan this weekend. Cameron opened the weekend by scoring 24 points and grabbing 6 rebounds against Ferris State, just one point off his career high. He was 8-of-13 from the floor on the game while also handing out three assists. He followed with 16 points against Northwood on Sunday. The senior shot 46.4 percent from the floor on the weekend while also making 12 of 16 free throws.


Past NSIC Players of the Week
11/11/13    - Casey Schilling - Augie
11/18/13    - Sam Johnson - MISU
11/25/13    - Jordan Poydras - SCSU