SIOUX FALLS -- As the #5 South seed, The University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (16-12, 11-11, 4th NSIC South), will travel to face North #4 seed Minnesota-Duluth (15-13, 11-11 NSIC North) on Wednesday with a 7 p.m. tip at the Romano Gym in Duluth, Minn. The Cougars will try to advance to the NSIC Tourney Quarterfinals on Saturday at the Sanford Pentagon. The USF/UMD winner moves on to face the Augustana/Minnesota Crookston winner at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.
USF will look to end a three-game losing streak when they head to UMD, which has dropped six straight games. These teams will meet for the first time in the NSIC Tourney with the winner advancing to the NSIC Quarterfinals at the Sanford Pentagon this weekend. This is USF's fourth trip to the NSIC Tourney with the Cougars sitting 0-3, all on the road.
NSIC Tourney Breakdown --
Northern State 73 USF 62, Bob Wachs Arena, Aberdeen, S.D., Feb. 25, 2015.
Game Notes: USF, which hit 7-of-12 from 3 point range, was led by Charles Ward with 17 points and three treys. Jordan Stotts had a double with14 points and 10 rebounds and Mack Johnson added 13 points. Tyler Storruston had 19 to lead NSU, which made 8-of-16 from distance.
St. Cloud State 86 Sioux Falls 75, Halenbeck Hall, St. Cloud State, Feb. 26, 2014
Game Notes: The Cougars lost a high-scoring affair with SCSU, falling 86-75 as the Huskies hit 53.4 percent from the field. USF was led by Ward with 17 while Mahlon Jones and Mack Johnson added 13. MJ was 3-of-4 on 3's. Matt Craggs had 29 for SCSU while Jordan Poydras added a double double of 13 points and 10 assists.
Northern State 63 Sioux Falls, 60, Bob Wachs Arena, Aberdeen, S.D., Feb. 27, 2013
Game Notes: Despite 23 from Robert Goffney, USF fell to NSU, which had 21 from Collin Pryor. The Cougars, which outrebounded the Wolves, 37-31, were hurt by 15 turnovers. NSU had just eight.
USF edged out for #4 seed and home game
The Cougars tied Upper Iowa for fourth (11-11) in the NSIC South standings but lost the tiebreaker and as such will go on the road for the first round of the tournament. USF will face the #4 seed in the north with a date at Minnesota-Duluth set for Wednesday night.
USF heads into postseason with 16 wins, most in DII era
Despite the losses last weekend, USF heads into the postseason with 16 wins, which is the most at the DII era. In addition, USF recorded 11 conference victories, more than double a year ago and the second best total while an NSIC member (2011).
Series Notes with UMD - Coo won first matchup, 95-73
USF is 2-3 vs. Minnesota-Duluth during the Cougars' tenure in the NSIC. In the most recent action against UMD, USF lit it up from the perimeter, hitting 17 three-pointers for a 95-73 win over Minnesota-Duluth at Romano Gym. Mack Johnson had 25 points, including 7-of-10 from three-point range, while also dishing seven assists. In 2014-15, USF dropped a 74-70 decision to UMD. M. Johnson had 20 points in the loss at the Stewart Center. On Jan. 10, 2014, the Bulldogs took an 86-64 win at Romano Hall in Duluth, Minn., as Peter Crawford scored 34 points and Jordan Retz added 30. USF received 13 points and eight rebounds from Jordan Stotts. USF trailed UMD, 39-35, at halftime but were outscored 47-29 in the second half. USF's only other win over UMD was a 76-55 decision at the Stewart Center on Jan. 11, 2013. USF had five players score in double figures, including James Rader with 15. The Cougars made 11 3's.
Cougars enjoys home cooking
The Cougars finished 11-4 at home, including 7-4 in league play. USF outscored opponents, 80.9-, to-67.7 in home games or a margin of 13.3. The Cougars made hitting 48.4 percent from the field, including 38.2 from three-point range. They are making 68.8 percent at the foul line and owning a 36.2-to-33.6 rebound advantage. Also, the Cougars averaged 16.0 assists, 11.5 turnovers and 7.3 steals per game. In home games Mack Johnson leads the way at 15.1 pig while Daniel Hurtt has hit 14.2 ppg , Drew Guebert, 12.5 and Clint Thomas, 10.1.
Road Games Breakout
USF is 4-8 on the road, including 4-7 in league games. To this point, USF has been outscored 74.5-to-73.0 on the road. The Cougars are shooting 45.7 percent from the field with opponents at 44.9 percent. From 3 point distance, the Coo is at 38.6 percent and opponents, 34.2 percent. USF is making 8.3 treys per contest while opponents average 6.9. From the foul line USF is at 72.2 percent and opponents, 70. percent. The Cougars averaged 13.6 turnovers, 12.8 assists, 3.4 blocks and 5.3 steals per game on the road.
Paw Tracks
~ USF has reached 16 wins in a season for the first time in the NCAA DII era.
~ In the NSIC, USF ranks 2nd in scoring defense (71.4), sixth in field goal percentage (.470), third in field goal percentage defense (.433), fourth in steals (6.1) and scoring margin (5.8) , fifth in three-point percentage (.384), second in three-point shooting percentage defense (.332) and first in blocked shots (4.0).
~ Kebu Johnson, who ranks sixth in the NSIC with 4.5 assists per game, set a career-high with 11 assists in the win over Minnesota-Crookston, which was the most by a Cougar since Ryan Coapsick had 12 on Nov. 30 2002, some 14 years ago. His 126 assists ranks tied for sixth in the past 20 years with Jermaine Byrd (2004-05). In 2002-03, Eli Hofer had 155 assists in 32 games.
~ The 110 points by USF vs. CSP is the most points scored by USF since a 115-79 win over Grand View on Nov. 22, 2013.
~ USF head men's coach Chris Johnson recorded his 150th win (now at 155) in an 83-78 win over Winona State on Jan. 8 at the Stewart Center.
Broadcast scoop
Live stats are available at usfcougars.com with each webcast through the NSIC's partnership with Stretch Internet. All USF league and home nonconference games are available for live streaming at portal.stretchinternet.com/siouxfalls. For this NSIC Tourney game, Craig Mattick will handle play by play on KWSN.com.
One year later -- Cougars showing major improvement
What difference a year makes. A year ago, USF finished 8-21 overall and 5-15 in league play. In 2015-16, they are 16-12 and 11-11 with six wins in 10 games. With the regular season complete, the Cougars begin play in the NSIC Tourney Wednesday on the road as the #5 seed. Still, USF has twice as many overall wins as a year ago and doubled its league victories. With a game to go, USF's numbers are substantially better than all off a year ago. USF had a total of 1,933 points a year ago in 29 games and this year stand at 2,162 in 28 games or 229 more in one fewer game. USF has gone from 66.7 ppg in 2014-15 to 77.2 ppg while allowing 2.5 ppg less than a year ago (71.4 to 73.9 ppg). Combine the offense and defensive scoring and the difference is 12.8 points per game improvement. Also USF's shooting is up markedly at .470 from .440 or 30 percentage points. USF is hitting 3's at a higher clip (.384 from .327) and have 86 more made 3's (248-to-162) than in 29 games a year ago One telling figure is assists where USF is up 39 per game at 14.6 per game opposed to 10.7 a year ago. In addition, USF is averaging 2.5 fewer turnovers while recording nearly a steal a game (.8) more than last year.
MJ has most season points in NSIC era; approaching 3rd in 3's
With 482 points this season, junior Mack Johnson (17.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg) has reached 1,151 career points., which ranks 22nd all-time at USF. His 482 points in a season in the most by a USF player in the NSIC era and the most since Skyler Bloch (16.8 ppg) had 487 in 2011-12. He has the chance to crack 500 points (18) and become the first Cougar at the mark since Matt Malloy had 655 in averaging 20.3 ppg in 35 games in 2009-10.
Johnson has hit double digits in 25-of-28 games this season, which gives him 55 for his career. Johnson had 22 in double digits a year ago, and eight in 2013-14 before totaling 25 this year. He has three career 30-point games (30, 39) and 15, 20-point outings, including eight times in 2015-16. He has scored 20 or more six times in the past eight games. Twenty-two times, he has led USF in scoring during his two plus seasons as a starter. He also ranks 4th all-time in made three-pointers with 179 on 452 attempts for 39.6%. This year, he has 12 games with at least three, three-point field goals and 17 with two or more. He has made a three in 25-of-28 games. In his career, Johnson has had 75 games with at least one three and 43 games of two or more treys. In addition, he has 26 games or three or more three-pointers, including a career-best 7 three times (Concordia St. Paul on Feb. 7, 2014 ; vs. Minnesota-Duluth on Jan. 29, 2016; and Minnesota State on Feb. 19) Also he has nine games with at least five three pointers. He made 13-of-20 3's against UMD and SCSU on Jan. 29-30, his best two-game total in his career. For the first time in his career, he made six or more threes in consecutive games (7 vs UMD, 6 vs SCSU). He also has scored 15 or more points in nine of the past 11 games and 17 times in 2015-16. Johnson has made 70-of-76 free throws for .921 this year,. .On Dec. 4-5, Johnson totaled 67 points, including a career-best 39 points against Upper Iowa, to earn NSIC Player of the Week honors. Johnson received the NSIC honor for the first time after putting together his best two-game total in his career. With 39 points, Johnson scored the most points by a Cougars' player since Stacy Kooistra had 41 against Colorado Christian in the 1992-93 season.
USF Career 3 Point Field Goals
1. 193 Ryan Coapstick (2001-03)
2. 193 Derek Brown (2010-14)
3. 186 Chad Bendt (1991-95)
4. 179 Mack Johnson (2013-)
5. 167 Adam Burnison (2000-03)
6. 163 Billy Eichman (1987-91)
7. 151 Matt Correa (1993-97)
8. 145 Joel Mulder (1990-940
9. 143 Jesse Huser (2006-08)
10. 127 Lance Winter (1991-93)
USF All-time Leading Scorers
1. Gayle Hoover (1954-58) 2,169
2. Ron Krayl (1964-68) 2,029
3. Tony Overbaugh (1987-91) 1,809
4. Matt Malloy (2007-11) 1,698
5. Todd Kelsey (1977-81) 1,696
6. Chris Frick (1984-87) 1,642
7. Herb Buckner (1966-70) 1,633
8. Luther Hippe (1983-87) 1,589
9. Tim Dykstra (1971-75) 1,524
10. Joel Running (1985-88) 1,323
11. Dylan Kvaale (2003-07) 1,307
12. Adam Burnison (2000-03) 1,290
13. Roy Deboer (1951-55) 1,282
14. Paul Johnson (1989-93) 1,270
15. Roger Heibult (1964-68) 1,260
16. Stacy Kooistra (1992-94) 1,247
17. Joel Mulder (1990-94) 1,240
18. Brad Ferrie (1982-86) 1,176
19. Bob Pickert (1961-65) 1,173
20. Kevin Flegner (1993-95) 1,172
21. Gary Arrington (1992-94) 1,166
22. Mack Johnson (2013-) 1,154
Hurtt has 18 games in double digits; 3 20-point games
Junior forward Daniel Hurtt has been a solid force inside for the Cougars with 11.8 ppg (308 points) and 4.2 rpg adding 15 blocks and 13 steals. Hurtt, who had a career high 28 points against Dakota Wesleyan on Dec. 15 at the Stewart Center, has scored in double digits 18 times, including three games of 20 points or more (28, 25, 20). He is solid from the field, making 49.6 percent on 128-of-259 shooting. Hurtt is also effective from 3-point range at 40.4 percent (19-of-47).
Thomas has 54 3s and one in 28 games
Junior guard Clint Thomas has provided USF with a spark, mostly off the bench but has started 12 games. Through 28 games, Thomas is averaging 9.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Thomas has hit 54 three-point field goals on 133 attempts for a 40, 6 percent make rate. In addition, he has made 45-of-55 for 81.8 percent from the foul line. Twice this season, Thomas has made seven three-pointers in a game twice becoming the only USF player in the last 20 years to accomplish that shooting feat. He has knocked down four or more 3's five times, including in three of the past six games. This season, he has made at least two 3's12 times. He has made a trey in 22 games this year.
Aase increases total to 92 career blocks
In his second year at USF, sophomore forward Tom Aase is the Cougars' leading shot blocker, totaling 52 in 2015-16, with his 1.9 bpg ranking second in the league. Aase (3.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg) is shooting 54.1 percent from the floor (40-of-71) and 68.4 percent (26-of-38) from the foul line. In 55 games at USF, he has made 26 starts, accumulating 92 blocked shots. He set a career-high with five blocks against nationally ranked Augustana on Jan. 3 and matched it against Wayne State on Feb. 12, 2016. He has had 44 games with a block shot, including 25 games this year. Aase has had at least one block in 20 straight games. In his career, he has 15 games with three or more blocks and 27 games with at least two blocks. This season, he has nine games with at least three blocks and 14 games with two or more swipes. A year ago, he had 40 blocks and has already surpassed that total with 52 this year.
Kebu Johnson ranks 6th in assists
In his first year as the starting point guard, Kebu Johnson is having a solid year for the Cougars with 5.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists. through ranks sixth in the NSIC and his 126 total is a career high and ranks sixth in USF's best single season marks in the past 20 years. With his career best 11 assists vs. Minnesota-Crookston on Feb. 5, 2016, Johnson recorded the most assists since Ryan Coapsick had 12 vs. Black Hills State on Nov. 30, 2002. Jermaine Byrd also had 11 vs. Northwestern College on Feb. 21, 2004 but regardless, Johnson's total is the best in at least 14 years. Johnson has scored a career-high 16 (Wayne State, 2/12/16). Six times, he has recorded seven or more assists in a game (vs. Fort Hays State, 11/15/15, 7; Concordia, St. Paul, 1/22/16, 7; Minnesota State, 1/23/16, 7; and SCSU, 1/30/16, 7; Minnesota-Crookston, 2/5/16, 11 and Minnesota State, 2/19/16, 7). Seventeen times this season, Johnson has at least four assists and 13 times has had at least five assists. In his career, he has six double digit scoring games with five this season. He has a career-high 12 rebounds against Augustana on Jan. 2, 2015. Five times in his career, he has recorded seven or more rebounds, including four this year.
Top Assists Seasons since 1990
1 195 Lance Winter 1992-93
2 166 Eli Hofer 2001-02
3 158 Kevin Flegner 1993-94
4 155 Eli Hofer 2002-03
5 141 Eli Hofer 2000-01
6 126 Jermaine Byrd 2004-05
6 126 Kebu Johnson 2013-
8 121 Kevin Flegner 1994-95
9 120 Lance Winter 1991-92
10 119 Steve Esselink 2003-04
Guebert making impact as a freshman
Through 28 games, freshman guard/forward Drew Guebert continues to make his presence known. He is averaging 10.3 points and 3.3 rebounds. This season, he has 13 double digit games, including 11 in past 13 games. He established a career high with 28 points against Concordia, St. Paul on Jan. 22, 2016. The Apple Valley, Minn., native made a career best 8-of-10 from the floor and a career-best 5-of-6 from three-point range while knocking down 7-of-7 from the foul line, also a career-best. Guebert, who has 16 blocks and 288 total points has hit 53-of-132 from three point range for 40.2 percent. He set a career/season high with nine rebounds vs. Upper Iowa on Jan. 9. He has three or more 3-pointers eight times and at least two 3's in a game 16 times, including three straight outings. He has four or more 3's four times in the last 10 games. Guebert has scored 20 points or more three times.
USF tied NSIC record with 20 3's against CSP
The Cougars put on a memorable shooting exhibition Jan. 22 at the Stewart Center in a 110-90 decision over Concordia, St. Paul. In the win, USF set a school record and tied the NSIC mark (Bemidji State, 2002-03 vs. Concordia, St.) with 20 3-point field goals. USF hit 20-of-34 from 3-point range and was 35-of-57 (61.4 percent) from the field. In the win, Clint Thomas made 7-of-11 three's which matched his career-best performance set earlier this year vs. Waldorf. While Thomas poured in a career-high 22 points, his performance was overshadowed by freshman guard Drew Guebert, who had a career-high 28 points, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range, and six rebounds with two blocks. Breaking down USF's total, six different players hit 3-pointers, including Clint Thomas, who was 7-of-11 while Drew Guebert hit 5-of-6, Mack Johnson, 4-of-6, and Jared Mayes, 2-of-3. Cutler Finnegan (1-of-2) and Aaron Rothermund (1-of-1) also joined the 3-point party. USF was 9-of-18 in the first half and 11-of-16 in the second stanza.
OPPONENT NOTES
Minnesota Duluth Notes
Minnesota Duluth, which finished 11-11 for fourth in the NSIC North, is a solid offensive team at 80.2 ppg, which ranks ninth in the league. UMD comes into the playoff game, stinging from six straight losses after sitting in second in the North for a good share of the season.
UMD is allowing 80.5 ppg (12th, NSIC). Leading the Bulldogs, directed by fourth-year head coach Matt Bowen, is senior forward Pierre Newton who is supplying 20.1 ppg (2nd, NSIC) and team high 6.9 rpg (8th, NSIC). Newton has scored 563 points, including 188 made free throws. Another key player for UMD is senior guard Taylor Lavery at 18.1 ppg (7th, NSIC) and 3.0 rebounds while forward Brendon Pineda is adding 15.1 ppg (14th, NSIC) and 5.3 rebounds for the Bulldogs. Lavery is one of the league's three-point artists with 2.5 made threes per game. He has hit 69-of-172 for 40.1 percent. At the line, UMD ranks fifth in free throw shooting at 73.5 percent. UMD is 11th in field goal shooting at 45.6 percent while hitting 36.5 percent on three-pointers, which ranks 11th in the league.
