For Immediate Release
Monday, Feb. 3, 2014

NSIC Media Relations
Full PDF Release

NSIC Player of the Week
#1  Joey Woods
G, 6-2, 210, R-Sr.,  Naples, Fla.
Golden Gate HS  
Upper Iowa

 Woods averaged 32 points, 6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game this weekend as he led Upper Iowa to a pair of NSIC victories on the road.  Woods set a new career-high in points with 40 on Friday night against MSU Moorhead; he also set the new NSIC high this season as UIU pulled off a 109-107 victory in overtime. Woods connected on 13 of his 22 shots on Friday while adding a season-high 13 made free throws in 15 attempts. The senior’s previous career-high (26) came earlier this year against U-Mary on Jan. 11. On Saturday night against Northern State, Woods cemented his memorable weekend by scoring a game-high 24 points on 8 of 14 shooting and adding 5 assists, 4 rebounds, a block and a steal. The Peacocks won the game, 76-70, securing the team’s first weekend sweep on the road this year. Woods finished the weekend with 64 points thanks to 58% shooting (21-36) from the floor including a pair of triples.

AUGUSTANA COLLEGE -  #25 Yuriy Malashenko (F, 6-6, 200, Sr., Jordan, Minn./Jordan HS) had a steady weekend for Augustana, averaging 15.5 points and 8.0 rebounds while shooting 60 percent from the field, 50 percent from 3-point range and was 3 of 3 from the free throw line. Malashenko started off the weekend scoring 13 points on 6 of 9 shooting at Minnesota Duluth to help the Vikings to an 82-62 win. The senior then set a career-high with 18 points at St. Cloud State on Saturday do go along with 13 rebounds for his fourth career double-double.  Augustana begins a four-game homestand this Friday night hosting Winona State at 8 p.m.

BEMIDJI STATE - #3 Zach Noreen (F, 6-6, 250, Sr., Avon, Minn. / Albany HS) averaged 24 points and eight rebounds per game and shot 61.3 percent from the field to help the Beavers to a 1-1 NSIC road weekend Jan. 31-Feb. 1. He shot 4-of-9 (44.4%) from 3-point range, hit 6-of-7 (85.7%) from the free throw line and added six assists in 69 minutes of play. Noreen guided the Beavers to their eighth straight victory Friday at Southwest Minnesota State with 24 points and nine rebounds on 11-for-14 (78.6%) shooting from the field. He also added four assists. The streak came to an end Saturday at Sioux Falls, but Noreen posted his third straight game with 20 or more points with 24, which included three, 3-pointers and a perfect 5-for-5 effort from the charity stripe. He also had seven rebounds and two assists.
The Beavers recorded their eighth straight victory Friday with a 91-82 win at Southwest Minnesota State, but the run ended Saturday with a loss at Sioux Falls, 87-78. Bemidji State went 8-1 in January and is 9-2 in its last 11 games. BSU is 15-5 overall and 12-4 in NSIC play to hold down the top spot in the NSIC North and rank third overall. The Beavers continue to lead the NSIC in field goal percentage (51.8%), 3-point percentage (41.9%) and free throw percentage (77%). BSU begins a four-game homestand Feb. 7-8 when Minot State and U-Mary visit the BSU Gymnasium, where the Beavers are 9-2 this season. Bemidji State went on the road earlier this season and defeated Minot State 84-68. BSU is 4-1 in the last five against the fellow Beavers, 9-5 all-time. The Beavers recorded their fifth straight win against U-Mary Jan. 24 with a 68-59 road victory to improve to 7-9 all-time against the Marauders.

CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL -#12 Cordell Smith (G/F, 6-4, 220, Sr., Mequon, Wis. / Homestead HS) was the top all-around player to lead the Golden Bears to a 2-0 weekend with wins over Minot State and U-Mary. He averaged 15.5 points and 9.0 rebounds as Concordia picked up its first back-to-back wins in the Northern Sun schedule this year. Smith shot 52.2% (12-23) from the field, knocked down five three-pointers (5-13), added 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals while playing 35.5 minutes. In Friday’s win over Minot State, Smith registered the team’s first double-double of the year with 14 points and 11 rebounds before going for 17 points and seven rebounds on Saturday against U-Mary. In the U-Mary win, Smith’s three-pointer with under a minute to play sealed the victory while his six offensive rebounds on Friday helped hold off Minot State’s late comeback attempt.
 Junior point guard Terez VanPelt is just three made free throws shy of tying the career record … his 330 career free throws made trail Kyle Timmer’s 333 between 1990-94 … Timmer set the mark in 106 games while VanPelt has played just 73 games to date … this weekend the Golden Bears close out their home season with games against Sioux Falls on Friday and Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday … Concordia is 3-8 all-time against Sioux Falls, dropping the last two meetings while getting swept by the Cougars last year in USF’s first year in the NSIC … under head coach Kelly Boe, Concordia is 1-2 against USF with a win in Nov., 2011 at Gangelhoff Center (99-79) … the other eight meetings in the series history came between 1972 and 1975 when both were members of the NAIA … Concordia is 2-3 all-time against Sioux Falls at home in St. Paul … the Golden Bears are 7-22 all-time against SMSU including a current five game losing streak against the Mustangs … Concordia’s last win over SMSU was on Dec. 12, 2010 at home (67-66) as part of a three-game win streak against SMSU … under head coach Kelly Boe, Concordia is 4-10 against SMSU with a 3-4 mark at home under Boe … Concordia is 5-9 all-time at home against SMSU.

UNIVERSITY OF MARY -  The University of Mary tied its season-high for three pointers in a game when the Marauders drained 11 treys at #22 Minnesota State University on Friday. Chris Mason, who led U-Mary in scoring with 11 points, and Brandon Tyler both were 3-for-6 behind the arc after coming off the bench. Mike Johnson continued the hot shooting from behind the arc the next day at Concordia University - St. Paul. The senior guard made all three of his trey attempts and scored 11 points. However the rest of U-Mary finished a combined 1-of-14 on three point attempts in a 66-60 loss. Marc Musungayi led the Marauders with 17 points against the Golden Bears and Germain Decoste added nine points and seven rebounds... The Marauders continue a four-game road trip this weekend when U-Mary faces the University of Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State University. U-Mary defeated UMC in Bismarck just over a week ago and lost to BSU.

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON  - The University of Minnesota Crookston men’s basketball team is coming off an 0-2 mark this weekend on the road at University of Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State University. The Golden Eagles played perhaps their best game of the season Friday at Sioux Falls. The Golden Eagles had an opportunity with two seconds left to tie up the game as Tim Lubke (Jr., G, St. Paul, Minn.) was fouled from beyond the arc. Lubke made the first one but missed the second, forcing him to miss the third on purpose to give UMC a shot. The Golden Eagles ultimately fell 75-73 in the game.
UMC had a balanced effort against Sioux Falls led by 16 points and nine boards from Tyler West, Jr. (Jr., F, Portland, Ore./Communications). Brandon Burns (Sr., F, Baton Rouge, La./Sports and Rec Management) added 15 points and seven boards while Tim Lubke chipped in 14 points. Saturday against Southwest Minnesota State University, the Golden Eagles had an early 11-6 lead on SMSU but a stretch in the first half where UMC was out-scored 38-11 ultimately led to a 79-53 loss to the Mustangs. The Golden Eagles were paced by the play of Derrick Redd (So., G, Menifee, Calif./Sports and Rec Management). Redd had 20 points on the game.
 
MINNESOTA DULUTH  - UMD broke a home-losing skid that ran to four games with a pair of NSIC South division foes in town. Friday night, Augustana shot an astounding 14-of-28 from three-point range to knock off the Bulldogs 82-62, but UMD turned the tables Saturday night and downed Wayne State 76-53.
Senior guard Peter Crawford was his steady self for the Bulldogs, averaging 16.0 points per game and 3.5 rebounds on the weekend, almost exactly with his season averages of 15.9 points and 3.9 boards per game. Additionally, Crawford had four assists, a key block, and a steal on the weekend. He shot 54.5 percent (12-of-22) including 42.9 from beyond the arc.
His fellow senior, Jordan Reetz had a strong weekend as well with 15.0 PPG including 18 in the win over the Wildcats. Reetz had four rebounds, 1.33 assist-turnover ratio, a block, and a pair of steals. With another weekend under his belt returning from the injured reserve, junior forward Kristofer Jackson had 14 points, seven boards, two blocks, two assists, and game-ending dunk to delight the fans of Bulldog Country on Saturday night. Junior guard Reece Zoelle led the Bulldogs with 15 boards as they out-rebounded their opponents 72-68 on the weekend. UMD will have rematches against NSIC North division opponents Northern State and MSU-Moorhead this weekend.

MINNESOTA STATE - #22 Zach Monaghan (G, 6-3, 180, Jr., Palatine, Ill./Fremd/South Dakota State) finished his week averaging a team-high 24 points and 11 assists in MSU two wins over the University of Mary (88-67) and Minot State (106-95). He also shot 54.5% (12-of-22) from the field, including an 8-of-16 showing from three point range. He also made 16-of-21 (.762) shots from the free throw line. He began the weekend with a 17-point, eight-assist performance against the Marauders. He followed with a career night as he established new career-highs in both points (31) and assists (14). His 31 points and 14 assists represented his sixth career double-double. During the game against the Beavers, he connected on 6-of-12 attempts from three point range as the Mavericks set a new single-game record of 17 three point shots made.
With its two wins this past weekend, Minnesota State improved to 19-4 on the season, including a 13-3 NSIC record. MSU is now toed with Winona State atop the conference standings. All five Maverick starters averaged at least 12 points per game this past weekend, including Zach Monaghan, who averaged a team-high 24 points. MSU established a new single-game record with 17 three point shots made against Minot State. Junior Assem Marei averaged 19.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 87.5 (14-of-16) from the field. As a team, MSU shot 56% from the field and 44.8% from long range this past weekend. The Mavericks averaged 97 points per game and passed out 42 assists.

MSU MOORHEAD - Tyler Vaughan (G, 6-1, So., Braham, Minn. / Braham HS) had a pair of solid performances during MSUM’s 1-1 weekend. He averaged 18.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.5 assists per game for the week while shooting 52.4 percent (11-of-21) from the field, including 50 percent (7-of-14) from three-point range.  Vaughan had 19 points, seven rebounds and three assists during MSUM’s overtime loss to Upper Iowa on Friday. A night later, Vaughan had 18 points and four rebounds as MSUM rallied for an 82-80 win over No. 25-ranked Winona State.  Vaughan averages 9.9 points per game for the season and leads MSUM with 43 three-pointers.
Additional note: Junior guard Malik Wood scored a career-high 25 points in a 109-107 overtime loss to Upper Iowa on Friday night. Wood made his first start as a Dragon on Saturday and had eight points in a win over No. 25 Winona State.

MINOT STATE - Minot State University battled to the end on a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference road games, but couldn’t pick up a win as the Beavers fell 66-65 at Concordia St. Paul Friday and 106-95 at No. 22 Minnesota State Saturday. On Friday, the Beavers had a chance to earn its second road win in conference play, but had a last second shot blocked by the Golden Bears. #5 Dominique McDonald (G, 6-0, 175, So., Raleigh, N.C. / Wake Forrest-Rolesville) tied a school record with eight 3-pointers in Saturday’s loss, going 8 for 10 from beyond the arc. He also scored a career high 29 points and dished out three assists against the Mavericks and averaged 23 points, 3.5 assists and committed just five turnovers at the point. #0 Samuel Johnson (F, 6-6, 200, Sr., Las Vegas, Nev. / Legacy / Montana State Billings) returned to the starting lineup and made the most of it, averaging 19.5 points and 9 rebounds per game, earning a double-double Friday with 20 points and 10 rebounds. The Beavers will finish off a four-game road swing with games at Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston this weekend.

NORTHERN STATE - Northern State returns home this weekend after a rough pair of home contests last week. Northern lost to No. 25 Winona State Friday 64-53 and 76-70 Saturday to Upper Iowa. The Wolves have lost four of their last five games. Prior to last weekend, Northern was 40-16 (.714) at home under Head Coach Paul Sather. Tydan Storrusten tied a career-high with 20 points in the loss to UIU.

SIOUX FALLS - USF kept things rolling at home, notching wins against Minnesota Crookston and then-NSIC North leader Bemidji State to improve to 11-9 overall and 8-8 in conference play. It wasn’t easy on Friday night, as it took a heroic  22 point-effort from senior Derek Brown for the Cougars to avoid a loss Friday night, holding off visiting UMC, 75-73, in the closing minutes. Tyler West had 16 points for the Golden Eagles, who left Sioux Falls with broken hearts as their losing streak extended to 13 in a row. The Cougar bench was a big reason why USF emerged with the win, as they outscored their UMC counterparts 49-24. Saturday was a different story, as Charles Ward scored 21 points and USF knocked off NSIC North leader Bemidji State 87-78 in front of an enthusiastic Stewart Center crowd. With the win, the Cougars snapped the Beavers’ 8-game winning streak. USF has now knocked off the first-place team in both the NSIC’s divisions. The Cougars have now won five of their last six games. Ward sank a clutch three-pointer to help stem a late BSU rally and then went 3-for-4 at the line with 41 seconds left to give USF (11-9, 8-8 NSIC) a nine-point lead. Robert Goffney then hit a pair to both seal the win and snap the Beavers’ eight-game winning streak. The Cougars shot 56 percent from the floor in the game, and were 13-for-28 from 3-point range. Jordan Stotts had 16 points for USF, hitting 4-of-9 from deep. The Cougars improved to 7-0 at home this season when leading at the half, and 10-2 at home overall. USF will take to the road for the next two weekends. They visit Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State-Mankato Feb. 7-8.

SMSU - Senior center Nick Smith (6-9, Johnston, Iowa) averaged 18.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 assists per game, while shooting 81.8 percent (18 of 22) from the field in SMSU’s home split last weekend versus Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston. Smith – who earlier this season scored his 1,000th career point – scored 19 points on 9 of 10 shooting with seven rebounds in SMSU’s 91-82 loss to Bemidji State. His only missed shot was a 3-point attempt from half-court to end the first half. In SMSU’s 79-53 win over UMC, Smith scored 18 points on 9 of 12 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds. For the season, Smith leads SMSU in scoring (12.2), rebounding (6.9) and blocked shots (35) and is shooting 54.7 percent from the field. Smith – the program’s all-time leader in blocked shots with 156 – ranks 11th in program history with 1,119 points.

ST. CLOUD STATE - Damarius Cruz (Sr., G, Plymouth, Minn.) averaged 17 points, 4.5 rebounds, shot 59.1 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range in a pair of wins over Wayne State and Augustana College. He scored 15 points and made three-of-six three point baskets against the Wildcats. He had 19 points, making four-of-eight treys and pulled down five rebounds in the win over the Vikings. Against Augustana he scored 14 of his 19 points in a 20-2 run that helped the Huskies overcome an 11 point deficit (with nine minutes left in the game) and take a 70-63 lead with three minutes to play.
The Huskies posted a weekend home sweep in the NSIC to improve to 11-1 on their home court this season. St. Cloud State posted a 90-63 win over Wayne State on Friday and followed that with a 76-70 win over Augustana College Saturday. While the Huskies led from start to finish in the win over Wayne State, it was a different story against Augustana. St. Cloud State overcame an 11 point deficit in the final nine minutes of the game to gain the win over the Vikings. Damarius Cruz (Sr., G, Plymouth, Minn.) and Connor Niehaus (Jr., F, Fremont, Neb.) fueled a 20-2 run to give the Huskies a 70-63 lead with 3:03 left in the game. Cruz scored 14 of his 19 points in the run. Niehaus came off the bench to score seven points and pulled down two key rebounds. St. Cloud State goes on the road this weekend to face MSU Moorhead and Northern State. The Huskies suffered an overtime loss to MSUM on Jan. 25, 88-95 and defeated Northern State on Jan. 24, 79-71.
 
UPPER IOWA - Joey Woods (G, 6-2, 210, R-Sr., Naples, Fla./Golden Gate HS) averaged 32 points, 6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game this weekend as he led Upper Iowa to a pair of NSIC victories on the road.  Woods set a new career-high in points with 40 on Friday night against MSU Moorhead; he also set the new NSIC high this season as UIU pulled off a 109-107 victory in overtime in Moorhead, Minn. The Naples, Florida native connected on 13 of his 22 shots on Friday while adding a season-high 13 made free throws in 15 attempts. The senior’s previous career-high (26) came earlier this year against U-Mary on Jan. 11. On Saturday night against Northern State, Woods cemented his memorable weekend by scoring a game-high 24 points on 8 of 14 shooting and adding 5 assists, 4 rebounds, a block and a steal. The Peacocks won the game, 76-70, securing the team’s first weekend sweep on the road this year. Woods finished the weekend with 64 points thanks to 58% shooting (21-36) from the floor including a pair of triples.
Led by Woods’ phenomenal play, the Peacocks earned their first weekend sweep of the season. Grant Lang (G, 6-4, 195, Jr., Ankeny, Iowa./Ankeny HS) also had a big weekend averaging 20 points per game; he chipped in five rebounds and two assists, while shooting 62% (10-16) from beyond the arc. His ten three’s tied a season-high for most triples in a weekend (10) as the Peacocks earned two big wins over NSIC-North opponents. UIU will stick to the road as they head to Wayne State and Augustana this Friday and Saturday. Friday’s matchup in Nebraska with the Wildcats will begin at 8 p.m.

WAYNE STATE - Ty Bauschek, a 6-1 senior guard from Mukwonago, Wis., recorded his fourth 20 point game of the season Friday evening scoring 21 points in a 90-63 setback at St. Cloud State.  He was 8 for 15 from the field, 3 of 8 from 3-point range and 2 of 3 at the foul line.  For the weekend, he led Wayne State in scoring averaging 13.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Seniors Jared Bartling and Ryan Rolfzen each scored double figures in both games.  Bartling had 11 points and four rebounds vs. St. Cloud State Friday and added a team-high 13 points with nine rebounds Saturday in a 76-53 loss at Minnesota Duluth. Rolfzen recorded 10 points both nights and matched a season-high with rebounds Friday at St. Cloud State.
 
WINONA STATE -  Riley Bambenek, Fr., G, 6-5, 200, Trempealeau, Wis. (G-E-T) put on an outstanding shooting performance while averaging 27.5 points per game as the Warriors split matchups with Northern State and MSU Moorhead last weekend. Bambenek shot 64.5 percent (20-of-31) from the floor on the weekend while also making six of his ten shots from behind the 3-point line. The freshman opened the weekend with 29 points on 10-of-15 shooting against Northern State. He followed with 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting against MSU Moorhead. Bambenek drilled three 3-pointers in each game while going 9-of-10 at the free throw line. He also averaged 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals in the two games.

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
12/9/13 - Maxie Rosenbloom - BSU
12/16/13    - Casey Schilling - Augie (2)
12/23/13 - Jake Schalow - BSU
1/6/14 -     Kellen Taylor - WSU
1/13/14 - Brock Lutes - BSU
1/20/14 - Marc Musungayi - U-Mary
1/27/14 - Matt Craggs - SCSU
2/3/14 - Joey Woods - UIU