2018-19 NSIC Men's Basketball Weekly Release No. 8

1/7/2019 8:13:11 AM

For Immediate Release
Monday, January 7, 2019
NSIC Media Relations
Media Packet (PDF)

NSIC Men's Basketball Players of the Week
NSIC North Division Player of the Week
#0 Harrison Cleary (G, 6-1, 180, Jr., Oak Creek, Wis. / Oak Creek HS) - Minnesota Crookston
- Averaged 28.5 points, 5.0 assists, and 2.0 rebounds in wins over SCSU and UMD
- Was 22-of-39 from the field for 56.4 percent and 7-of-10 from three-point range
- Went 6-of-7 from the foul line for 85.7 percent
- Scored 28 points in a 76-57 win over St. Cloud State
- Followed that up with 29 points in a 96-88 win over UMD
- Ranks 13th in the history of the NSIC in career points with 1,237
- Named NSIC Player of the Week for the second time this season (12/10/18)

NSIC South Division Player of the Week
#4 Trevon Evans (G, 6-0, 175, Sr., Wichita, Kan. / Eisenhower HS) - Sioux Falls
- Averaged 24.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals in a pair of home wins
- Scored 16 points, including six in the final 31 seconds, in a 77-71 win over WSC
- Had 33 points with six rebounds in a 77-73 win over Augustana
- Now has seven career games with 30 or more points
 
Augustana University Vikings
Last Week Season Record Streak Preseason Poll
W 85-72 vs. SMSU
L 77-73 vs. USF		 10-4, 6-2 NSIC South L1 7th Overall, 5th South
Team Notes
- Trailing by four at the break, the Vikings shot 56% and stacked up 47 points in the second half en route to an 85-72 win over Southwest Minnesota State
- With the win, the Vikings moved into a tie for first place in the NSIC South
- Augustana controlled the glass, finishing +11 (37-26) on the boards. Augustana moves to 10-1 when out-rebounding their opponent
- The Vikings grabbed 12 offensive rebounds and outscored SMSU 15-6 in second-chance points
- Four players hit double-figures for Augustana
- On Saturday, Augustana snapped a seven game win steak with a 77-73 loss to USF
- The loss was Augustana’s first since Dec. 1st, 2018
- The Vikings forced 10 turnovers and picked up a pair of steals in the loss
- Augustana out-scored USF in fast break points, 8-2
Top Performer(s)
- On Friday, the Vikings got a career night from A.J. Plitzuweit as the freshman poured in a career-high in points (25), assists (8), and rebounds (7)
- Dylan LeBrun scored 13 points on Friday and came back with a 16-point, 9 rebound effort on Saturday
- Matt Cartwright caught fire on Saturday, dropping 25 points on an efficient 10-25 from the field
- Cartwright averaged 22 points over the weekend
- Michael Schaefer finished with 22 total points and 8 rebounds
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 11 vs. Upper Iowa - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 12 vs. Winona State - 5:30 p.m.
 
Bemidji State University Beavers
Last Week Season Record Streak Preseason Poll
L 72-57 vs. UMD
L 107-101 2OT vs. SCSU		 4-8; 1-7 NSIC L7 16th overall; 8th North
Team Notes
- Bemidji State dropped NSIC games to Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State to complete its first complete run through league play, Jan. 4-5
- Bemidji State topped 100 points for the second time this season marking its first 100-point NSIC contest since a 103-61 victory over UMC Dec. 20, 2013
- BSU pulled down 46 rebounds Saturday led by a season-best 13 boards from junior Logan Bader
- The Beavers got to the free throw line just four times in Friday’s loss
Top Performer(s)
- Ja Morgan posted a season-high 24 points Saturday and finished the weekend with a team-best 18.5 points per game
- Max Bjorklund posted a season-high 10 assists versus SCSU
- Derek Thompson averaged 15.5 points per game, including 22 versus SCSU, and was 13-of-19 from the floor to lead the Beavers shooting 68.4 percent from the floor
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 11 at MSU Moorhead – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 12 at Northern State – 6 p.m.
Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears
Last Week Season Record Streak Preseason Poll
W 66-61 at MARY
L 75-88 at MISU		 6-8, 1-7 NSIC L1 15th Overall, 8th South
Team Notes
- Concordia grabbed their first win of the conference season on Friday night at UMary
- The Golden Bears were successful on the glass on the weekend as they held a 53-45 edge in rebounding and a 14-13 edge in offensive rebounds while also out-shooting their opponents 49.5% (55-111) to 45.6% (52-114) over the two games
- Three-point shooting and turnovers proved to be the issue for Concordia as their opponents knocked down 36.7% (22-60) from deep compared to 30.2% (13-43) themselves while committing 32 turnovers and forcing 20
Top Performer(s)
- Isaiah McKay carried the load offensively for CSP on the weekend as he eclipsed 20+ points in both games to average 22.0 points, 4.0 boards and 4.0 assists on 60.7% (17-28) from the floor and 45.5% (5-11) from three-point range
- Bryndan Matthews hit an efficient 70.0% (14-20) of his shots en route to averaging 17.0 points and a team-best 7.5 rebounds over the two games.
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 11 vs Southwest Minnesota State – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 12 vs Sioux Falls – 5:30 p.m.
University of Mary Marauders
Last Week Season Record Streak Preseason Poll
L 66-61 vs CSP 
L 90-83 vs MSU		 6-8 | 3-5 NSIC L4 16th Overall, 8th North
Team Notes
- Third in the NSIC in scoring defense (67.1 ppg) and seventh in field goal percentage defense (.434)
- Posted a season-high field goal percentage of 54.9 percent against NSIC-leading Minnesota State
- With six wins on the season the Marauders have already equaled last year’s victory total
- In midst of playing 7-of-9 games on the road
- 6th in NSIC in turnover margin at +1.71
- UMary has shot 33 more free throws than their opponents and made 25 more (179-of-255 to 154-of-222)
Top Performer(s)
- Jr. G Jaylan White had three treys against Concordia-St. Paul and two against Minnesota State, leading to 12 points against the Golden Bears and 17 against the Mavericks. White leads the Marauders in scoring at 14.1 ppg
- Sr. F Tom Kubank posted 16 points against Concordia-St. Paul and added 17 against Minnesota State. In the two games he was a combined 10-of-12 at the free throw line and is shooting 88.5 percent from the charity stripe this season
- So. F Matthew Kreklow is fourth in the NSIC in blocked shots (2.0/game) and 15th in free throw percentage. He also is averaging 10.9 ppg and 5.6 rpg
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 4 vs Concordia-St. Paul - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 5 vs Minnesota State - 3:30 p.m.
 
University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Last Week Season Record Streak Preseason Poll
W 76-57 vs SCSU
W 96-88 vs UMD		 10-6, 4-4 NSIC W3 11th Overall,  4th North
Team Notes
- UMC picked up their first NSIC weekend sweep of the season with a 76-57 win over St. Cloud State , and a 96-88 victory over UMD
- UMC moved up the standings and now sit in a tie for fourth place with UMD
- The Golden Eagles tied their school-record with 10 wins
- Gable Smith is third all-time for career steals with 110. He needs 20 steals to surpass Almir Krdzalic for second all-time in steals
- Harrison Cleary surpassed Clayton Vette of Winona State to now sit in 13th all-time for career points with 1,237 points
- Cleary needs eight points to surpass Ryan Rasmussen for 12th all-time, and 11 points to surpass Terez Van Pelt of Concordia-St. Paul for 11th
- He has scored 1,703 career points. Cleary needs 215 points to move past Joe Hasz for the school record for points
Top Performer(s)
- Harrison Cleary averaged 29.5 points in wins over UMD and St. Cloud State
- Josh Collins tallied 13.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in victories over UMD and St. Cloud State
- Chase Knickerbocker notched 10.0 points per game
Up Next
Friday, January 11 at Northern State – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 12 at MSU Moorhead – 5:30 p.m.
 
  University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs
Last Week Season Record Streak Preseason Poll
W 72-57 BSU
L 96-88 UMC		 7-5, 4-4 North L1 10th Overall, 5th North
Team Notes
- Beat the Beavers by 15 points on Friday, UMD’s fifth double-digit win of the season
- Shot an efficient 49.1 percent for the weekend
- Shot a season high 60 percent from three against BSU
- Lost the turnover battle vs UMC, the second time all season
Top Performer(s)
- Brandon Myer tabbed a game-high 29 points on Friday. He also registered his fifth double-double on Saturday
- Trevor Entwisle tallied a season high 17 points with a 5-for-6 effort beyond the arc in Saturday’s setback
- Sean Burns scored 19 points and pulled down seven rebounds against the Golden Eagles
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 11 vs Mary – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 12 vs Minot State – 5:30 p.m.
Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks
Last Week Season Record Streak Standings
W 82-76 OT at MISU
W 90-83 at U-Mary		 11-3 (7-1 NSIC) W4 T-1st overall, 1st NSIC South
Team Notes
- Minnesota State shot 46.2% from the field last weekend, including a 19-of-44 (.432) showing from behind the arc
- Four Mavericks averaged at least 11 points in MSU’s two games last weekend
- Minnesota State defeated Minot State 82-76 in overtime. The last three meetings between the Mavericks and the Beavers have gone into overtime
- MSU passed out 27 assists and forced 23 turnovers
- The Mavericks have won eight of their last nine games
- MSU has had four games go into overtime this season and owns a 3-1 record in said games
Top Performer(s)
- Carlos Anderson, 20.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 41.7 FG%
- Cameron Kirksey, 18.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 52.0 FG%
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 11 vs. Sioux Falls – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 12 vs. Southwest Minnesota State – 5:30 p.m.
 
Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons
Last Week Season Record Streak Preseason Poll
W 68-65 over WSU
W 99-95 OT at UIU		 11-5, 5-3 NSIC W4 8th Overall, 3rd North
Team Notes
- MSUM now has a season-high four-game winning streak after road wins over Winona State and Upper Iowa last weekend
- Dragons now tied for second in NSIC North
- MSUM’s four wins during streak have come by a combined 14 points
- Four Dragons average in double figures on the season: Freshman G Gavin Baumgartner (16.1), senior F Addison Park (14.8), senior G Travaun Coad (13.4) and junior G Johnny Beeninga (11.6)
- Dragons begin four-game homestand Friday vs. Bemidji State
Top Performer(s)
- Junior G Johnny Beeninga averaged 19.0 points per game for the week while shooting 83.3 percent (5-of-6) from three-point range
- Senior F Addison Park averaged 15.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game
- Freshman G Gavin Baumgartner averaged 14.0 points per game for the week
- Senior G Travaun Coad averaged a double-double for the week at 12.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game
- Freshman G Bryce Irsfeld averaged 11.0 rebounds for the week
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 11 vs. Bemidji State - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 12 vs. Minnesota Crookston - 5:30 p.m.
 
Minot State University Beavers
Last Week Season Record Streak Preseason Poll
L 82-76 OT vs. MSU
W 88-75 vs. CSP		 7-10, 2-6 North W1 13th Overall, 6th North
Team Notes
- Minot State led by as many as 10 points in the second half, but missed a shot at the regulation buzzer to force overtime and was outscored 15-9 in the extra session, falling 82-76 Friday against Minnesota State
- Outscored Concordia-St. Paul 49-36 to snap a 39-39 tie at the half to earn the team’s second NSIC win Saturday
Top Performer(s)
- David Akibo averaged 20.5 points and 7.5 rebounds, netting a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds in Friday’s loss to MSU
- Max Cody finished with a combined 33 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds logging 83 total minutes on the weekend
- Kyle Beisch scored 23 points Saturday, knocking down five 3-pointers, to finish with a combined 30 points and 11 rebounds
- Drake Jeffries hit five 3-pointers and scored 17 points Saturday, finishing with 21 points and nine rebounds total for the weekend
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 11 at St. Cloud State - 7:30pm
Saturday, Jan. 12 at Minnesota Duluth - 5:30pm
 
Northern State University Wolves
Last Week – 2-0 Season Record Streak Preseason Poll
W 102-73 vs. UIU
W 79-68 vs. WSU		 11-3, 7-1 North W2 5th Overall, 2nd North
Team Notes
- In their first game since December 19, the Northern State men’s basketball team swept Upper Iowa and Winona State
- The Wolves out-scored their opponents by 40 points in the two victories
- Northern shot 61.9 percent from the floor, 51.3 percent from the 3-point line, and 91.3 percent from the free-throw line
- They averaged 10 made 3-pointers, 35.5 rebounds, and 19.5 assists per game
- Seven Wolves finished the weekend averaging double figures, with eight shooting 50.0 percent or better from the field
Top Performer(s)
- Justin Decker led the team averaging 14.0 points per game with a 72.2 field goal percentage
- Gabe King and Bo Fries notched 12.5 points per game apiece, each shooting 66.7 percent from 3-point land
- Ian Smith and Mason Stark notched 11.5 and 11.0 points per game, as Stark tallied a career high 17 versus Upper Iowa
- Parker Fox and Andrew Kallman were the final Wolves in double figures notching 10.0 points per game apiece
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 11 vs. Minnesota Crookston – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 12 vs. Bemidji State – 6 p.m.
University of Sioux Falls Cougars
Last Week Season Record Streak Preseason Poll
W 77-71 vs WSC
W 77-73 vs AUGIE    		 10-4, 5-3 South W2 3rd Overall, T-1st South
Team Notes
- USF was 2-0 this weekend at home with a 77-71 win over Wayne State and a 77-73 win over city rival Augustana before a packed house at the Stewart Center
- With the victories, the Cougars remained in fourth place in a bunched up NSIC South Division
- USF defeated Augustana for a third straight time and ended the seven-game winning streak by the Vikings
- In addition, the USF win drew the rivalry into a 36-36 tie in 72 meetings all-time
- Over the past six meetings between the rivals, four games have been decided by five points or fewer and one other went to overtime
- USF leads the NSIC with 43.3 rebounds per game and a margin of 12.0
- USF has 57 more total rebounds than the next closest opponent.
Top Performer(s)
- Drew Guebert averaged 19.5 points and 7.0 rebounds as USF swept Wayne State and Augustana this weekend
- He also made seven treys this weekend to become the career leader at USF with 236
- Guebert, who recorded his fifth career double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds against WSC, had two more double digit scoring games and now has 80 in his career
- He also has 35 games of 20 points or more
- The senior has advanced his career point total of 1,690 and is just seven points from moving into fifth on USF’s all-time scoring chart
- Trevon Evans averaged 24.5 points (49), 5.0 rebounds (10), 1.5 steals, 2.5 threes, and 2.0 assists
- He hit 15-of-35 shots, 14-of-22 free throws and 5-of-18 from three point distance
- Evans, who has 14 straight double-digit scoring games and 18 dating to a year ago, has nine 20-point games this season
- Evans reached double-digits in points for the 40th time of his career, increased his career scoring total to 930 in about a season and half at USF
- With 33 points against AU, Evans now has seven career games of 30 points or more 
Up Next
Friday, January 11 at Minnesota State - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 12 at Concordia-St. Paul - 5:30 p.m.
 
Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs
Last Week Season Record Streak Preseason Poll
L 85-72 vs. AUGIE
L 75-68 vs. WSC		 8-6, 3-5 NSIC L2  6th Overall, 4th South
Team Notes
- SMSU was swept at home in NSIC play for the first time since Jan. 8-9, 2016
- SMSU attempted just 13 free throws in the two games, while opponents attempted 41
- WSC’s win on Saturday snapped a 19-game losing streak to SMSU in Marshall
- SMSU was outrebounded 37-26 versus Augustana and 45-33 versus Wayne State
- SMSU played both games without leading rebounder Steven McNease, who missed the two games with an injury
Top Performer(s)
- Senior guard Ryan Bruggeman scored 21 and 22 points in the two games and now has scored 20 or more points in eight games this season, including four straight
- Senior guard Taylor Schafer and senior forward Michael Lee each connected on four 3-pointers in the loss to Augustana on Friday
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 11 at Concordia-St. Paul - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 12 at Minnesota State - 5:30 p.m.
 
St. Cloud State University Huskies
Last Week Season Record Streak Preseason Poll
L 76-57 @ UMC
W 107-101 2OT @BSU		 10-4, 5-3 North W1 T-1 Overall, 1st North
Team Notes
- St. Cloud State split its NSIC North series over the weekend, dropping Friday’s opener to Minnesota-Crookston before rebounding with a double-overtime win at Bemidji State
- Gage Davis continued to make history over the weekend, becoming the 12th person in program history to score 40+ points in the Huskies 107-101 double overtime win over Bemidji State
- Davis tallied a career high 42 points on sixty percent (15-25) shooting, going 1-4 from three-point range and 11-12 from the free throw line, and scored 11 of his 42 points in the overtime period
- Brindley Theisen scored in double-digits in both games for the Huskies, tallying 13 points in the loss to Minnesota-Crookston before tallying a season-high 23 points in the win over Bemidji State
- Two Huskies, senior Jace Kitchen and junior Diamond Onwuka, tallied career-highs in St. Cloud State’s win over the Beavers. Kitchen tallied a career-high 20 points, scoring 17 in the second half, while Onwuka pulled in a career-high 16 rebounds in the victory
Top Performer(s)
- Gage Davis averaged 20+ points per game against NSIC opponents for the fifth consecutive week
- Davis averaged 26 points per game on 19-38 shooting (.500) and 9.5 rebounds per game
- Recorded his sixth double-double of the season in St. Cloud State’s loss to Minnesota Crookston (10/11) before scoring a career-high 42 points in the Huskies win over Bemidji State
- Davis is the 12th player in program history to score 40+ points in a single game, and his 42 point performance ranks fourth all-time in single game scoring, first player since 2010 to achieve the feat
Up Next
Friday, January 11 vs. Minot State – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 12 vs. Mary – 5:30 p.m.  
Upper Iowa University Peacocks
Last Week Season Record Streak Preseason 
L 102-73 vs. NSU
L  99-95 OT vs. MSUM		 6-8, 3-5 NSIC L2 9th Overall, 6th South
Team Notes
- Upper Iowa dropped a pair of home games this weekend despite scoring 84 points per game and shooting 44.3% from the field and 48% from three
- UIU lost to the Wolves on Friday night; Northern State converted 41 field goals and shot 65.1% to run away from UIU in the second half
- On Saturday, the Peacocks rallied from a double-digit lead and held a late three-point advantage, but MSU Moorhead tied the game in the final seconds and outlasted UIU in overtime to win 99-95
- The Wolves and Dragons combined to make 81 shots while shooting 57.4% over the weekend and outrebounded their hosts 42.5 to 24.5
Top Performer(s)
- Mu Okonkwo had his best weekend as a Peacock averaging 21.5 points and 7 rebounds per game while shooting 58.1%; the senior center blocked 2.5 shots per game as well
- Chris Olson knocked down 6 three-pointers and averaged 17 points and 3 assists per game, while Joe Smoldt hit a team-high 7 threes to average 14 points with 4 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 11 at Augustana - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 12 at Wayne State - 5:30 p.m.
 
Wayne State College Wildcats
Last Week Season Record Streak Preseason Poll
L at USF 77-71
W at SMSU 75-68		 11-3, 6-2 South W1 12th Overall, 7th South
Team Notes
- WSC split NSIC road games at Sioux Falls (L 77-71) and Southwest Minnesota State (W 75-68)
- WSC snaps 19-year losing streak at SMSU, winning in Marshall for first time since 2000
- WSC tied season-high making 11 three-pointers at USF
Top Performer(s)
- Senior guard Trevin Joseph scored career-high 35 points at Sioux Falls
- Joseph made 8 of 11 3-pointers at USF, most by a Wildcat since Ryan Rolfzen in 2013
- Joseph averaged 23.5 points per game, shooting 51.5 percent from field and 56% from 3-point line
- Senior forward Kendall Jacks averaged 20 points and 6.5 rebounds per game
- Jacks scored season-high 25 points at Sioux Falls
Up Next
Friday, January 11 vs. Winona State – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 12 vs. Upper Iowa – 5:30 p.m.
 
Winona State University Warriors
Last Week Season Record Streak Preseason Poll
L 68-65 vs. MSUM
L 79-68 vs. NSU		 5-9, 2-4 South L4 4th Overall, 3rd South
Team Notes
- Shot a season-low 33% from the field in three-point loss to MSUM
- Have knocked down at least nine three-pointers in seven of their last eight games
- Tied for the NSIC lead in assist/turnover ratio this season (1.53) … have committed the fewest turnovers in the league (119)
Top Performer(s)
- Sophomore Kevion Taylor averaged 18 points and five rebounds over the weekend
- Junior Caleb Wagner averaged 17 points, 5.5 rebounds and two assists in two games
Up Next
Friday, Jan. 11 at Wayne State – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 12 at Augustana – 5:30 p.m.
NSIC Men's Basketball Players of the Week
11/13/18
North:  #40 Sean Smith - St. Cloud State
South:  #15 Isaiah McKay - Concordia-St. Paul
11/19/18
North:  #10 Brandon Myer - Minnesota Duluth
South:  #23 Bryndan Matthews - Concordia-St. Paul
11/26/18
North:  #20 Gage Davis - St. Cloud State
South:  #3 Chris Olson - Upper Iowa
12/3/18
North:  #10 Brandon Myer - Minnesota Duluth (2)
South:  #3 Milan Surlic - Sioux Falls
12/10/18
North:  #0 Harrison Cleary - Minnesota Crookston
South:  #3 Ryan Bruggeman - Southwest Minnesota State
12/17/18
North:  #40 Sean Smith - St. Cloud State (2)
South:  #25 Tyler Riemersma - Augustana
1/3/19
North:  #15 David Akibo - Minot State
South:  #3 Ryan Bruggeman - Southwest Minnesota State (2)
1/7/19
North:  #0 Harrison Cleary - Minnesota Crookston (2)
South: #4 Trevon Evans - Sioux Falls
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