For Immediate Release
Monday, February 19, 2024
NSIC Media Relations
Media Packet

NSIC Player of the Week
#11 Caden Kirkman (F, 6-8, 215, Fr., Wilton, Iowa / Wilton HS) - Augustana
- Led Augustana to a 2-0 week including an upset at No. 8 MSU Moorhead
- Averaged 18 points and 7.0 rebounds over the two contests
- Shot an NSIC best 76.2 percent from the field (16-of-21) on the week
- Went off for 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting with 10 rebounds in a 93-73 win at UMC
- Recorded his first double-double of his career
- Scored 12 points with four rebounds in a 83-76 win at No. 8 MSU Moorhead

NSIC Shining 5*
Drew Blair (UMD) 
- Averaged 24.5 pts, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 steals over two UMD wins
- Shot 15-31 (.481) from the field, 7-15 (.467) from three point range, and 12-14 (.857) from the line
- Achieved 100 career wins in victory over No. 23 Minot State
Dane Zimmer (MSUM) 
- Averaged 14 points, 12 rebounds and an NSIC-best three blocks per game
- Scored 17 points to go along with 11 rebounds against Wayne State
- Put in another 11 points and 13 rebounds against Augustana on Saturday
- Surpassed 1,000 career rebounds and 100 career blocks against the Vikings
- Shot 73.3 percent from the floor over the two contests
Jacksen Moni (NSU)
- Averaged 26.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists against WSU and No. 5 MSU
- Shot 57.6% from the floor, 45.5% from the 3-point line, and 90.9% from the foul line
- Added a steal and a block
- Dropped a career high 40 points against Winona State
Jake Phipps (SMSU) 
- Averaged 16.5 points and 6.5 rebounds, while shooting 74 percent (14 of 19) from the field
- Made 2 of 3 3-pointers and was 3 of 6 from the foul line
- Also had four assists, three blocked shots and two steals on the weekend
- Scored 12 points with seven rebounds, two blocks and two assists in a 65-52 win over St. Cloud State
- Had 21 points on 9 of 13 shooting with six rebounds in the Mustangs' win over Bemidji State

*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
11/20/23
#0 Antwan Kimmons - Concordia-St. Paul
11/27/23
#12 Josh Dilling - Northern State
12/4/23
#23 John Sutherland - Bemidji State
12/11/23
#21 Jacksen Moni - Northern State
12/18/23
#0 Dalton Albrecht - Bemidji State
1/3/24
#4 Dylan Peeters - Minnesota State
1/8/24
#10 Dunwa Omot - SMSU
1/15/24
#21 Isaac Fink - Augustana
1/22/24
#23 Connor Hollenbeck - Minot State
1/29/24
#2 Connor Dillon - Winona State
2/5/24
#21 Jacksen Moni - Northern State (2)
2/12/24
#0 Dalton Albrecht - Bemidji State (2)
2/19/24
#11 Caden Kirkman - Augustana

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 111 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.