SIOUX FALLS -- The University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (7-7, 4-4 NSIC South), which has won five of its last seven games, will hit the road for NSIC games against Winona State on Jan. 9 and Upper Iowa on Jan. 10.
The Cougars will face Winona State at 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 9 at McCown Gymnasium in Winona, Minn. On Saturday, the Cougars battle Upper Iowa with a 6 p.m. start at Dorman Gymnasium in Fayette, Iowa.
Catch the Cougars on Radio-Video
The Cougars' radio broadcast for the Winona State game will be at www.kwsn.com. On Saturday, the broadcast will be carried on KELQ 106.9 FM. Tom Frederick, the long-time voice of USF Athletics, will provide the play-by-play.To get the live video feed for either game or both, go to http://portal.stretchinternet.com/siouxfalls/#
Cougars look to build on recent run of success
After a successful four-game home stand, the Cougars hit the road for a pair of NSIC contests. The Cougars won three-of-four games in the friendly confines of the Stewart Center. Last weekend, USF was 1-1 at the Stewart Center. The Cougars dropped a 82-47 decision on Jan. 2 to #13 Augustana (13-1, 7-1 NSIC) before rallying late for a 80-77 win over Wayne State on Jan. 3. Charles Ward led the Cougars in scoring both nights with 15 vs. Augustana and 20 against WSC.
In the win over the Wildcats, Mack Johnson scored 19 points, including 5-of-5 from 3-point range, all in the second half. His three with 19 seconds left help USF rally to take the lead (78-77) after trailing by six with 1:44 to go.
Meanwhile Winona State (5-7, 2-6 NSIC South) has a four-game slide after falling to Northern State, 74-51, and North leader MSU Moorhead, 71-65, in a pair of road games. Earlier this year, USF had a 76-54 win over the Warriors when Freddie Young had a career-best 21 points, including 4-of-5 from three-point range. Ward had a double double of 11 points and 12 rebounds while Johnson added 19 points with a trio of triples.
Upper Iowa (8-6, 4-4 NSIC South) has dropped two straight and fallen into a fifth place tie in the NSIC South with USF. The Peacocks also took two losses on the road, falling to Minnesota State Moorhead, 106-81, and Northern State, 80-67. In an earlier meeting at the Stewart Center, Upper Iowa hit 12-of-23 from 3-point range in an 82-66 win over the Cougars. Josh Weeber and Bo Pagel both had 13 points and Jace Hanna, 12 points and five assists. The Cougars, which shot 43.4 percent from the floor, were led by Ward with 16 points and eight rebounds while Johnson had 11 points.
Series Info
Upper Iowa leads, 5-2
Upper Iowa has a 5-2 edge over USF including an 82-66 win over USF on Dec. 5. In that win, The series dates to a 100-94 win by Upper Iowa in 1965-66. The Cougars recorded its first win over the Peacocks in 2005 with a 74-56 decision. Since USF joined the NSIC, Upper Iowa has a 4-1 edge, including an 82-66 decision on Dec. 5, 2014. In the 2013-14 season, USF defeated Upper Iowa, 84-78 at the Stewart Center on Jan. 17, 2014. Earlier in the season, Upper Iowa took a 96-87 win over the Cougars in Fayette on Dec. 14, 2013. The Peacocks won twice in 2012-13 with a 71-62 win in Fayette on Jan. 4, 2013 and an 82-74 decision on Jan. 26, 2013 at the Stewart Center.
Winona State leads, 4-2
USF will play Winona State for the seventh time dating to an 84-66 win by the Warriors in the 1969-70 season. Winona State leads the series, 4-2, although USF won the last meeting on Dec. 6, 2014, by a 76-54 decision at the Stewart Center. The win was USF's second straight over WSU, taking a 76-69 win on Jan. 18, 2014 as Ward scored 17. In the first meeting of the 2013-14 season, Winona State recorded a 90-65 decision at Winona. In 2012-13, Winona State defeated USF twice, taking a 76-61 win at the McCown Gym on Jan. 15, 2013 and a 73-63 win on Jan. 25, 2013 at the Stewart Center.
Cougars bites
~ USF has won five of the last seven games, including three in the past four outings.
~ Charles Ward has recorded three 20-point outings in the past four games. Twice this season Ward has had back-to-back 20 point games.
~ In his career when Charles Ward has scored in double digits (30 times), the Cougars are 19-12, including 7-7 this season.
~ In the 11 games Ward has scored 20 points in his career, USF has a 9-2 record, including 4-1 this year.
~ Mack Johnson had a team-best and career-high 30 points in a 76-50 win over Mount Marty. In that same game, USF had both a 20-point and 30-point scorer in the game for the only time all year. Johnson's point total was the highest since Derek Brown at 32 on Feb. 15, 2014.
~ Senior center Bryan Kielpinski has 114 career blocks, including 19 this season with his 1.4 blocks per game fifth in the NSIC. But the play of newcomer Tom Aase is drawing looks. A redshirt freshman, Aase is the league leader in blocks with 23 overall or 1.8 per game. He also six sixth in offensive rebounds with 32 or 2.5 per game.
Johnson fourth in the NSIC in made 3's
Sophomore guard Mack Johnson, who averages 15.1 ppg, ranks 10th in the league scoring. He leads USF in three's with 33 (73 attempts) with his 2.4 3's per game ranking fourth in the NSIC. He has reached double figures 11 times this year as USF has gone 7-4 in those games. Johnson has reached 20 points or more twice this season.
Cougars win when outshooting opponents
In all seven USF wins this season, the Cougars have held the advantage over opponents in shooting percentage. USF hit a season-best 58.8 percent from the floor in an 82-76 win over Young Harris. In NSIC play, USF converted 57.1 percent of their field goals in a 76-54 win over Winona State at the Stewart Center. The Cougars have shot 48 percent or better from the field in five of their six wins.
Ward 3rd in scoring in NSIC; named NSIC MBB POW in December
Senior guard Charles Ward, who ranks fifth in the NSIC in scoring, has passed 600 points (615) in career scoring. Ward, who has a team-high 245 points this season, is averaging 17.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. On Dec. 22, Ward was named the NSIC Men's Basketball Player of the Week for the South Division after averaging 23.0 points, 5.5 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game in two wins. He has scored double figures in points all 14 games this season and has a run of 19 straight double digit games dating to a year ago. Overall, Ward, who has 11 career 20-point games, including five this season, has 30 double figure point games in his career at USF.
20-point games by Ward
12-6-13 -- Wayne State -- 23
1-3-14 -- MSU Moorhead -- 21
1-25-14 -- Wayne State -- 23
2-1-14 -- Bemidji State -- 21
2-14-14 -- Minot State -- 25
2-21-14 -- MSU-Mankato -- 28 (career-high)
11-29-14 -- Young Harris -- 23
12-2-14 -- SMSU -- 21
12-16-14 -- Mount Marty -- 23
12-20-14 -- SMSU -- 23
1-3-15 -- Wayne State -- 20
Most recent action - USF over Wayne State, 80-77
For the second time in three games, the Cougars (7-7, 4-4 NSIC) rallied to post a win as Mack Johnson's three-pointer with 19 seconds left and two free throws from Charles Ward seconds later lifted USF to a 80-77 win over Wayne State College (3-11, 0-8 NSIC) on a cold and blizzardy Saturday night (Jan. 3) before 616 at attendance at the Stewart Center. Two games ago, Ward's three in the closing seconds was the difference in a 69-67 win over Southwest Minnesota State, also at home. With 1:44 left on the clock, the Cougars trailed the Wildcats, 73-67. But then Johnson asserted himself. A sophomore guard from Roseville, Minn., Johnson hit consecutive three pointers with his second one drawing USF within 75-73 with 52 seconds left in the game. On the ensuing possession, redshirt freshman Tom Aase forced a steal near midcourt which led to a drive to the basket by Ward, who converted two free throws to tie the game. After Wayne State made a pair of free throws (Jordan Cornelius), the Cougars set up Johnson again and the sharpshooter didn't miss. Johnson's shot from the right side of the key gave USF a 78-77 lead with 19 seconds left. After Wayne State missed on the other end, Ward was again fouled and his two free throws with nine seconds to play pushed the Cougars' lead to 80-77. A three pointer by the Wildcats' Jamie Pearson was offline as USF picked up a crucial home NSIC win. M. Johnson, who did not score in the first half, scored all 19 of his points in the second half, including 5-of-5 from three-point range. He reached double figure points for the 19th time in his career and 11th time in 2014-15. Ward also came up big for the Cougars with 20 points, five assists and three rebounds. He tied a season-best with 10 free throws in 15 attempts. Ward reached double digits for the 30th time in his career and his 19th straight game dating back to a year ago. He also went past 600 points (615) for his career with his fifth 20-point outing of the season and 11th during his career at USF. Also reaching double figures for USF was senior center Bryan Kielpinski with 14, as he hit all six of his field goal attempts, and junior Jordan Stotts, who had 12 points and four rebounds.
Three double doubles in one game a rarity
When senior guard Charles Ward (23 points, 11 rebounds), redshirt freshman Tom Aase (11 points, 11 rebounds) and sophomore guard Freddie Young (12 points, 10 assists) all recorded double doubles in the 82-76 win over Young Harris, the trio combined for a statistical rarity. The three double doubles in a single game has not been met at USF at least dating back to prior to 2001. It is a first in USF's DII era (since 2011).
Cougars continue solid work on boards
In league stats, USF sits 14th in scoring at 68.4 ppg and 9th in scoring defense at 72.2 ppg. They rank fourth in field goal percentage defense (42.9 percent) and seventh in 3-point field goal defense (34.8 percent). In rebounding offense, the Cougars are third in the league at 37.1 per game while sitting fourth in rebounding margin at 5.7 per game (37.7-to-31.3). USF is tied for second in offensive boards at 12.7 per game. The Cougars lead the league in blocks with 58 or 4.1 per game.
Wessels steps up against Wayne State
With regular starting guard Freddie Young out with an injury, freshman point guard Zach Wessels stepped into a starting role against Wayne State. A 6-3 guard from Austin, Minn., Wessels had a career best six assists while adding three points, three rebounds and a steal. Most importantly, he had just one turnover in 33 minutes of action.
Scouting Winona State
Winona State, which has lost four straight games, will look to get back at the winning track against USF. Winona State, which is 5-2 at home but 0-5 on the road, will be at home in McCown Gymnasium. The Warriors last win was a 75-56 win over Concordia St. Paul on Dec. 12 at McCown Gymnasium. The Warriors average 71.4 points per game (13th, NSIC) and have a 4.1 per game scoring margin, which ranks ninth in the NSIC. Winona State ranks second in the league in field goal percentage defense at 41.0 percent and sit fourth in rebounding offense at 37.0 per game. The Warriors also are second in the NSIC with 4.0 blocks (48) per game and top the league with 27.8 defensive rebounds per game. Riley Bambenek ranks ninth in the league in scoring at 15.6 per game while reserve guard Isaiah Gray is second on the team at 13.2 ppg. Bambenek, who has a team-best 3.2 assists per game, also hauls in 4.8 rebounds per game. Forward Kyle Gauman tops the Warriors in rebounds at 4.9 per game just ahead of Bambenek, Gray and Mark Blaylock at 4.8 per game.
About Warriors HC Mike Leaf
In his 28 seasons at Winona State, Mike Leaf has led Winona State to significant success. Leaf, who has a career mark of 373-145 in five season, advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2013, winning the National Championship in both 2006 and 2008. The Warriors have won the NSIC six times and earned five NSIC tournament titles. He has led the Warriors to at least 20 wins 10 straight seasons, including 26-8 a year ago. Overall Leaf has spent 28 seasons with the Warriors' basketball program, the last 17 as head coach. Leaf earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1983 from Saint Mary's University, Minn., in elementary education. He received a B.S. degree in physical education from Winona State in 1985 and a M.A. also from WSU in 1989.
Scouting Upper Iowa
After opening the season at 7-3, Upper Iowa has dropped 3-of-4 game, taking a 90-76 win over Winona State at home.IUI, which is 8-6 overall, is tied with USF for fifth in the NSIC South. Upper Iowa puts up the points, sitting third in the league at 82.8 per game. On the flips side, they rank last in scoring defense at 79.4 per game. Upper Iowa is solid at the foul line at 70.2 percent (9th in the league) but rank 14th in field goal shooting and ninth in three-point percentage at 36.0 percent. They defense the three-pointer, ranking fourth in the league with opponents hitting just 34.3 percent from distance. One of the big factors for their success has been the ability to create turnovers, they have a league-best 5.07 turnover margin (10.6-to-15.6) as they also lead the NSIC in steals at 8.7 per game. The Peacocks sit third in the league in assist turnover ratio at 1.4 (14.5-to-10.6).
About IUI Head Coach Bryce McKowen
In his third season at Upper Iowa, Bryce McKowen has already developed a winning squad. He has led the Peacocks to a 44-32 overall record, including 31-21 in the NSIC. This year Upper Iowa is 8-6 and 4-4 in league play. In his first season, McKowen led UIU to a 20-12 mark (14-8, NSIC) and a berth in the NCAA Central Region Tourney. A year ago, the Peacocks finished 16-14 overall and 13-9 in league play. A 2007 graduate of Northern Iowa (Master's in 2009), he was a four-year letter winner at point guard for the Panthers. McKowen is a former Mr. Basketball in Iowa, scoring a record 1,002 points in 2003. He also set the career mark with 2,831 points as a prep in Fairbanks, Iowa. McKowen came to UIU after two seasons at SMSU, a season at Des Moines Area Community College and three years (two as a graduate assistant) at Northern Iowa.
