For Immediate Release
Monday, November 13, 2023
NSIC Media Relations
Media Packet

NSIC Player of the Week
#2 Malik Willingham (G, 6-3, 185, Sr., Waseca, Minn. / Waseca HS) - Minnesota State
- Averaged 21.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists in two wins
- Led the team in scoring in both games with 24 in a 90-70 win over Southern Arkansas 
- Added 18 points in a  69-57 win over Arkansas-Monticello
- Shot 53.3% from the field (16-of-30) and connected on 6-of-8 (.750) attempts from the line
- Had nine rebounds vs. SAU and eighth assists vs. UAM

NSIC Shining 5*
Dane Zimmer (MSUM)
- Averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds in MSUM's two victories as part of the Central Region Challenge
- Netted 17 points and 13 rebounds in MSUM's 79-77 win over Washburn on Sunday
- Scored 15 points along with seven rebounds in MSUM's 99-81 win over Missouri Southern on Friday.
- Shot 72.2 percent from the floor across the weekend including a 60 percent clip from three-point range
Jake Phipps (SMSU) 
- Helped SMSU to a 2-0 weekend at the Missouri Western State Classic
- Victories were over Southeastern Oklahoma State and No. 1 ranked Northwest Missouri State
- Averaged 12 points, 7.5 rebounds, while shooting 61 percent (11 of 18) from the field
- Made 2 of 5 from 3-point range and also had two blocked shots and two steals
- Scored a team-high 17 points on 8 of 11 shooting with a 3-pointers while grabbing a game-high nine rebounds in SMSU's 72-68 win over SE
- Scored seven points with a team-high six rebounds and two steals in SMSU's first-ever victory over a No. 1 ranked team
- Lone 3-pointer of the upset win came with 4:47 left in the game and SMSU trailing 50-45.
- The basket sparked an 8-0 run to help SMSU earn the victory
Lucas Morgan (SCSU)
- Averaged 17.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in just 24.5 minutes per game during the 2-0 weekend for the Huskies
- Shot 68.4% (13-of-19) from the field and 57.1% (4-of-7) from behind the three point line
- Erupted for 25 points and grabbed six rebounds in his collegiate debut, an 80-73 win over Pittsburg State
- Recorded a double-double (10 points and 11 rebounds) in his second collegiate game, a 74-64 win over Henderson State
Connor Dillon (WSU) 
- Averaged 23.5 points per game, leading to two Warrior wins
- Hit from the floor at a 52.8% clip
- Averaged 33.9 minutes per contest
- Was a 40.0% from 3-point land
- Was 19-of-36 overall, including 6-of-15 from behind the arc
- As a guard, averaged 3.5 rebounds per game

*Each week the NSIC will select a player of the week and highlight four other performances to make up the "NSIC Shining 5"

2023-24 NSIC Players of the Week
11/13/23
#2 Malik Willingham - Minnesota State

About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 15-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past quarter century, maturing into a union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 25 team national championships and crowned 110 individual national champions. For additional information, visit NorthernSun.org.

About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes can earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit NCAA.org.