For Immediate Release
Monday, Dec. 2, 2013

NSIC Media Relations
Full PDF Release

NSIC Player of the Week
#3  E.J. Williams  
G, 6-0, 190, Sr.,
Raleigh, N.C.
Capitol Hill HS
Minot State

E.J. Williams knocked down 15 of 17 free throws on his way to a career- and game-high 30 points as Minot State knocked off rival University of Mary 96-87 in overtime Saturday. Williams hit 9 of 10 free throws and scored 11 of the Beavers’ 19 points in the extra session. He was 7 of 14 from the floor and finished with four assists, three rebounds and three steals in 37 minutes.

AUGUSTANA COLLEGE - #21 Matthew Brazendale (G, 6-4, 190, Fr., Devonport, Tasmania, Australia/St. Brendan-Shaw College) scored a career-high 25 points to lead Augustana in a come-from-behind win over South Dakota School of Mines on Sunday afternoon. The Vikings erased a double-digit deficit helped by a 16-0 run and Brazendale’s 15 second-half points. The freshman finished the game 9 of 16 from the field, while knocking down a season-high 4 of 7 from 3-point range. On Saturday night, Brazendale scored 13 points in a loss at Black Hills State on 5 of 10 shooting. Brazendale is averaging 19 points and is shooting 53.8 percent from the field, including 5 of 9 from 3-point range over the last two games.
#32 Casey Schilling (F, 6-6, 190, So., Ellsworth, Minn./Ellsworth HS) has averaged 14.3 points and 7.3 rebounds over the last three games for the Vikings. The sophomore scored 15 points to go along with eight rebounds and five steals in the conference-opening win at Wayne State on Monday. Schilling then put up 21 points and nine rebounds at Black Hills State and seven points and five rebounds at South Dakota Mines on Sunday. Schilling has scored 20 or more points in a game three times this season and has twice recorded five steals in a contest.

BEMIDJI STATE - #3 Zach Noreen (F, 6-6, 250, Sr., Avon, Minn. / Albany HS) averaged 23.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and shot 66.7 percent from the field, as he guided the BSU men’s basketball team to a 1-1 week. In 37.0 minutes per game, Noreen added 3.0 blocks, 2.0 steals per game, shot 50 percent from 3-point land and 83.3 percent from the free throw line. In the nonconference finale, he matched his career-high with 25 points on 72.7 percent shooting in an 81-74 loss to Michigan Tech. Noreen went 2-for-3 (66.7%) from 3-point land and a perfect 7-for-7 from the charity stripe. He followed up that performance with 21 points, a career-high 10 rebounds and a career-best five blocks in a 78-63 NSIC-opening victory at Minnesota Crookston. The double-double was the first of his career. He shot 61.5 percent from the field and also added four steals, which tied a career-high. Noreen leads the NSIC in scoring with 19.5 points per game.
The Bemidji State men’s basketball team wrapped up nonconference play Nov. 26 with an 81-74 home loss to Michigan Tech University. BSU posted a 3-1 record entering NSIC play, Nov. 30 at University of Minnesota Crookston. BSU recorded a 13-0 run to close the final three minutes of the first half, en route to a 78-63 win against the Golden Eagles. The Beavers open their home portion of the league schedule Dec. 6-7 when St. Cloud State University and University of Minnesota Duluth visit BSU Gymnasium. Bemidji State owns a 43-93 all-time record against SCSU. The teams each won at home last season, with the Beavers downing the then-No. 22 Huskies 75-71 in Bemidji, Minn. BSU is 42-85 all-time against UMD, but are 7-1 in the last eight meetings, which include a season sweep last season.

CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL - Concordia dropped its NSIC home opener to #11 Minnesota State, 81-64 on Saturday afternoon despite 20 points from Terez VanPelt thanks to 10-for-10 free throw shooting … Concordia trailed by only three points (46-43) with just over 12 minutes remaining after a Travon Mitchell three-pointer and a defensive stop, Mitchell pulled up from just inside the arc but was off the mark … MSU rebounded and reached the free throw line at the end of a fastbreak which cued a 19-4 run to put the game away … Concordia falls to 5-15 against the Mavericks all-time and has lost three straight to MSU … this Friday and Saturday, Concordia will host Winona State and Upper Iowa … the Golden Bears are 3-38 all-time against the Warriors but all three wins have come under eighth year head coach Kelly Boe, who holds a 3-12 record in the series … Concordia won the most recent meeting, 89-74 in Winona last year to split the season series after WSU had a 66-63 win in St. Paul … Concordia has never defeated WSU in St. Paul in 16 tries … the Golden Bears are 12-7 entering the 20th meeting with Upper Iowa and have won five of the past six including the second game of a season split last year on the road (69-67) after UIU won the first game in St. Paul (77-71) … Concordia is 5-3 against the Peacocks at home and 10-4 against UIU all-time in NSIC contests.

UNIVERSITY OF MARY -  Damonta Henry (G, 6-0, 170, Fr., Chicago, Ill. / Riverside-Brookfield HS) scored a career-high 18 points in his first career start. The freshman from Chicago, Ill., knocked down 4-of-6 three-point attempts and was 7-of-11 overall from the field in 26 minutes of play in a 96-87 overtime loss at Minot State University. He is averaging 8.7 points per game... Devan Douglas (G, 6-3, 210, Jr., Clinton, Iowa / Clinton / Kirkwood CC) also set a career-high with 18 points at Minot State. The junior college transfer made 7-of-9 shots from the floor and hit all four of his free throw attempts. He also added five rebounds and two assists. After six games he is averaging 9.0 points per game.

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON  - The University of Minnesota Crookston men’s basketball team opened up NSIC play with a 78-63 loss to Bemidji State University. The Golden Eagles fell due to cold stints at the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half after being down just one with three minutes remaining in the first half. The Golden Eagles were led on the game by 14 points apiece from Tyler West, Jr. and Ashton Harrell. Brandon Burns led the Golden Eagles with six boards while Kevin Larson had five assists.
The Golden Eagles will continue their home stand against University of Minnesota Duluth Fri., Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. and Sat., Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. against St. Cloud State University.

MINNESOTA DULUTH  - UMD suffered a pair of setbacks last week, falling in its final non-conference match-up of the year 70-83 at Wisconsin-Parkside but not for the efforts of junior guard Reece Zoelle, matching his career high of 26 points while also adding a pair of steals. Saturday saw the Bulldogs drop their conference opener at the hands of St. Cloud State 65-86. Senior guard Peter Crawford led UMD with 14 points while freshman guard Justin Byrd had 10 points and shot 66.0 percent from the floor.

MINNESOTA STATE - #22 Zach Monaghan (G, 6-3, 180, Jr., Palatine, Ill./Fremd/South Dakota State) finished the week averaging 13 points, 8.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds in MSU’s two wins over Dakota State and Concordia-St. Paul. He also shot 14-of-18 (.778) from the free throw line. Against Dakota State, he recorded his first career double-double with 14 points and 10 assists. He followed up with a 12-point, seven-assist showing against the Golden Bears.
With its two wins this past week, MSU has improved to 7-1 on the season, including a 1-0 record in NSIC play. As a team, the Mavericks shot 62-of-123 (.504) from the field, including a 17-of-42 (.405) showing from behind the arc. MSU passed out 42 assists, while committing just 14 turnovers in their last two games. The Mavericks also averaged 42 rebounds to their opponents 28. Minnesota State saw four players average at least 13 points per game last week including junior Assem Marei (24.0 ppg), senior Connor O’Brien (17.5 ppg), junior Zach Romashko (16.5 ppg) and junior Zach Monaghan (13.0 ppg).

MSU MOORHEAD - Tyler Vaughan (G, 6-1, So., Braham, Minn. / Braham HS) scored a career-high 23 points during MSUM’s 93-69 win over Jamestown College on Nov. 26. Vaughan went 5-for-6 from three-point range and hit 8-of-10 field goals overall for the game. Vaughan added six points and two assists in MSUM’s 87-76 win over Northern State. Vaughan averaged 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists for the week while shooting 58.8 percent from the field, including 62.5 percent from three-point range.
MSUM’s balance has keyed its 5-0 start. Eight different Dragon players are averaging at least 8.0 points per game, led by junior Urbane Bingham at 12.0 points per game. Vaughan is at 11.0 points per game while sophomore Ben Figini is at 10.0 points per game. The Dragons are averaging 92.0 points per game as a team.

MINOT STATE - #3 E.J. Williams (G, 6-2, 190. Raleigh, N.C. / Capitol Hill / Cape Fear Community College) knocked down 15 of 17 free throws on his way to a career- and game-high 30 points and Minot State knocked off rival University of Mary 96-87 in overtime Saturday. Williams hit 9 of 10 free throws and scored 11 of the Beavers’ 19 points in the extra session. He was 7 of 14 from the floor and finished with four assists, three rebounds and three steals in 37 minutes.
Minot State University outscored the University of Mary 18-9 in overtime to top the Marauders 96-87 in overtime to remain undefeated on the season Saturday. The Beavers set a record for consecutive wins to start the season, going to 5-0. The Beavers main weapon against the Marauders was free throws as MISU outscored U-Mary 40-12 from the line, hitting 40 of 46 attempts in the game. #3 E.J. Williams (G, 6-2, 190. Raleigh, N.C. / Capitol Hill / Cape Fear Community College) was a big reason as he went 15 of 17 in the game, hitting 9 of 10 in overtime. Williams scored a career- and game-high 30 points, outscoring the Marauders 11-8 in the extra sessions. #0 Samuel Johnson (F, 6-6, 200, Sr., Las Vegas, Nev. / Legacy / Montana State-Billings) finished with 19 points and five rebounds and #5 Dominique McDonald (G, 6-0, 175, So., Raleigh, N.C. / Wake Forest-Rolesville) added 12 points and six assists in the win. Minot State will try to make it six and seven in a row as they play host to Northern State and Minnesota State-Moorhead Friday and Saturday.

NORTHERN STATE - Skye Warwick (So., G, Rapid City, S.D.) led the Wolves with 18 points and also dished out four assists Saturday in the Wolves’ 87-76 loss to MSU Moorhead. Warwick tied a career-high with six made three-pointers in the loss and hit four three-pointers in the final three minutes of the game to try and bring NSU back. Saturday’s loss snaps a five-game winning streak for the Wolves and it is also their first loss in an NSIC opener under Head Coach Paul Sather.

SIOUX FALLS - The University of Sioux Falls men’s basketball team defeated Southwest Minnesota State, 87-83, in overtime on Saturday, Nov. 30 at the Stewart Center in Sioux Falls. The Cougars let a 13-point second half lead slip away in regulation, as the Mustangs forced overtime and at one point led by two in the overtime, before USF rallied for its first overtime victory since defeating Dakota Wesleyan, 94-89, on Feb. 2, 2011. USF (4-1, 1-0 NSIC) had five players in double figures, paced by sophomore Jordan Stotts’ 17 points, which is a new career-best. Senior guard Robert Goffney added 15 points on 5-for-9 shooting, while Derek Brown and Charles Ward scored 13 points apiece. Junior center Bryan Kielpinski added 10 points on 4-for-9 shooting. Ward also went 7-for-8 from the charity stripe in overtime to help the Cougars improve to 2-1 against SMSU since joining the NSIC last season.
 USF shot 50.8% from the floor and tallied 15 assists on 30 field goals. The Cougars were out-rebounded 36-29 while the Mustang reserves edged their Cougar counterparts, 29-27. The Cougars will wrap up their five-game homestand this weekend when they host Wayne State College and rival Augustana College.

SMSU - Junior guard Shaun Condon (6-2, 215, Clara City, Minn.) scored a career-high 19 points in SMSU’s 87-83 overtime loss at Sioux Falls on Saturday. Condon was 6 of 11 from the field, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range. He also had three rebounds and two assists. SMSU returns home for the first time since Nov. 9-10, taking on Augustana and Wayne State this Friday and Saturday.

ST. CLOUD STATE - St. Cloud State opened NSIC play with an 86-65 North Division win over Minnesota-Duluth and improved to 5-0 on the season. James Fort (Jr., C, South Haven, Minn.) scored a career high 20 points to the lead the Huskies. He was 9 of 11 from the field. Matt Craggs (Sr., F, Kimberly, Wis.) collected a season-high 11 rebounds. The Huskies are averaging 81.0 points per game this season and have four players averaging double figures in scoring, led by Jordan Poydras (So., G, De Pere, Wis.) at 15.6 ppg. Craggs, Fort and Damarius Cruz (Sr., G, Plymouth, Minn.) are all averaging 11.0 points a game. The Huskies take to the NSIC road next Friday and Saturday at Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston.
 
UPPER IOWA - Josh Weeber (C, 6-5, 215, Fr., Dubuque, Iowa/Senior HS) averaged 15.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in just 23 minutes of action this past week for the Peacocks as the team dropped a pair of contests against Missouri Western and Winona State. On Saturday, three Peacocks finished in double figures led by Grant Lang (G, 6-4, 195, Jr. Ankeny, Iowa/Akeny HS), who had a game-high 20 points. Joey Woods (G, 6-2, 210, R-Sr., Naples, Fla./Golden Gate HS) and Weeber both had 15, but UIU couldn’t slow down the Griffons’ offense in a 84-79 loss on the road. The Peacocks rounded out the week with their conference opener at home against Winona State. Despite 12 points from Weeber in the first half, the Warriors jumped out to a 52-31 lead at intermission. UIU posted a frantic comeback in the second half which featured a 16-2 run in just a 2:39 span, but it was too little, too late as UIU fell 93-86. Now looking to end their two-game skid, the Peacocks will hit the road this week to face Minnesota State and Concordia, St. Paul on Friday and Saturday.

WAYNE STATE - Ty Bauschek, a 6-1 senior guard from Mukwonago, Wisconsin, scored a career-high 28 points Saturday evening to lead the Wildcats in a 86-68 win over Peru State to close out the non-conference schedule this season.  Bauschek was 9 of 13 from the field, 5 for 8 from the 3-point line, and a perfect 5 of 5 at the free throw line.  It was Bauschek’s second 20-point game of the season after recording 23 in the season opener at Nebraska-Kearney.  Bauschek now leads the 3-2 Wildcats in scoring this season averaging 13.6 points a game.  

WINONA STATE -  Kellen Taylor, Sr., G, 6-7, 215, Plymouth, Minn. (Wayzata) helped lead the Warriors to a 93-86 victory over Upper Iowa in the team’s NSIC opener, scoring 14 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Taylor hit 4 of his 5 field goal attempts on the night, including his lone attempt from behind the 3-point line. The Warriors made 52.8 percent of their field goal attempts and a stellar 64.7 percent of their 3-point attempts. Taylor also handed out three assists in the game.


Past NSIC Players of the Week
11/11/13    - Casey Schilling - Augie
11/18/13    - Sam Johnson - MISU
11/25/13    - Jordan Poydras - SCSU
12/2/13 -  E.J. Williams - MISU