SIOUX FALLS -- SIOUX FALLS. – The University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team, led by Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason South Division Co-Player of the Year Trevon Evans, and all-league forward Drew Guebert will open the season at the NSIC-MIAA Classic in Marshall, Minn., on Nov. 9-10. The Cougars,  which been picked to finished third overall and tied for the top spot in the NSIC South Division, open against Fort Hays State at 4 p.m., on Nov. 9 . A day later at the tournament hosted by Southwest Minnesota State, they  will faceEmporia State at 6 p.m. on Nov. 10. 
 
The Cougars, which finished a program-best 20-10 overall and 14-8 (third, NSIC South) in league play a year ago, garnered three first place votes and 191 points for third overall in the league-wide balloting among NSIC men's basketball coaches. Minnesota State received eight first place ballots and 209 points to finish tied with St. Cloud State, which also collected 209 points and five first place votes.
 
Evans returns to lead USF offense
Evans, a 6-0, 175-pound guard from Wichita, Kan., becomes USF's first-ever NSIC Men's Basketball Preseason South Division Player of the Year. Evans, who was first-team All-NSIC and the league's Newcomer of the Year in 2017-18, was selected Co-Player of the Year with Ryan Bruggeman of SMSU in the South. A year ago, Evans averaged 21.1 points per game, which ranked second in the NSIC and 33rd in NCAA DII. He was named the NSIC Player of the Week three times and one of those honors followed a career-best 42-point performance at Northern State. With that point total, Evans had the second highest point total in the NSIC and was tied for 25th-best in NCAA DII during 2017-18. Evans, who had 26 double digit scoring games and 16 games of 20 points or more, knocked in 67 three-pointers (11th all-time at USF, tied with Drew Guebert, who also had 67 in 2017-18) on 170 attempts for 39.4 percent. Evans ranked seventh in the NSIC with 2.3 made three-point shots per game and made 120-of-152 free throws for 78.9 percent. He accumulated 139 rebounds (4.8 per game), had 10 blocked shots with 1.2 steals per game (12th, NSIC). Evans made at least one three-pointer in 27 games, had two or more three-pointers in 19 games,  three or more threes in a game 13 times, hitting five treys twice and seven once.
 
USF returns a big-time supporting cast
Along with Evans, all-league senior forward Drew Guebert returns after ranking fourth in the NSIC in scoring at 19.9 points per game. For the second time in school history (Stacy Kooistra, Gary Arrington, 1992-93, 1,240 points), the Cougars had a pair of players combine for more than 1,200 points (1,207) as Evans finished the season with 611 points (12th all-time in school history) and Guebert had 596 points (tied for 15th all-time with Nathan Unruh,1995-96). Through three seasons, Guebert ranks 11th on USF's career scoring list with 1,404 points. He has averaged 15.3 points per game in 92 games. He also ranks second all-time at USF in made three-pointers with 204. Guebert, who has started 75 games, owns 67 career double digit scoring games with 27 games over 20 points and four of 30 or more. He has had 12 games of at least 25 points during his USF career.
 
The Cougars, who also have starters back in Aaron Rothermund (6.4 ppg, 42.2 3-point pct.) and Teathloach Pal (4.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg) also led the NSIC in rebounding offense at 38.2 per game and finished second in scoring margin at 6.0 per game. The Cougars, which had a 13-2 record at home, advanced to the NSIC Tourney quarterfinals for a third consecutive season.
 
Inside the opponent—Fort Hays State
Head Coach Mark Johnson, who enters his 18th season at Fort Hays State, directed the Tigers to a 19-12 season in 2017-18 and a seventh place finish in the MIAA. Last year's regular starters returning to the team this year include seniors Kyler Kinnamon, Trey O'Neil, Marcus Cooper, and Brady Werth. Werth is the top returning scorer on the team after averaging 12.7 points per game and 4.7 rebounds per game. Cooper is the top returning rebounder on the team after pulling down 4.9 rebounds per game while also scoring 8.6 points per game. As the team's point guard, Kinnamon was the top assister for the Tigers last year at 4.2 per game and finished with 130 for the season. O'Neil, who averaged 7.8 points per game, drained the most 3-point field goals of any player on the team last year with 53.
 
Inside the opponent—Emporia State
Head Coach Craig Doty leads the ESU Men's Basketball Team in his first season with the program. Sawyer Glick headlines six newcomers for Emporia State after transferring from D-II Elite 8 team Barry. He averaged 13.8 points per game last season. Hassan Thomas averaged 8.0 points per game for the Hornets last year. The Hornets were 9-19, 4-15 in the MIAA last year. 
 
USF vs. Fort Hays State, Emporia State
The Cougars have played both ESU and FHSU in each of the last three years at the MIAA/NSIC Challenge. USF is 2-1 against ESU and 1-2 vs. FHSU. All of the games have been tight and decided in the final minutes with last years matchups both needing overtime to decide the outcome. Three years ago in Hays, Kan., and USF defeated Emporia State, 85-81 as Daniel Hurtt had 15 points and seven rebounds while Kebu Johnson provided 14 points. In that same tournament, they lost to host FHSU, 62-60, when the Tigers' Kenny Enoch made a shot with a second to play. Mack Johnson had 16 points to lead the Cougars. Two years ago at the Stewart Center, USF loss a pair of close games, falling to ESU, 101-94. The Cougars received 30 points from Drew Guebert, who was 4-of-6 from three point range. USF made 56 percent from the floor and 10-of-20 from three-point range. However, the Hornets knocked down 55.7 percent from the field including 8-of-17 from three point range. USF  also dropped an 80-78 decision to FHSU, which received a game-winning shot from Rob Davis with a second to play. Davis had 33 to lead the Tigers while Guebert had 23 points and Hurtt, 21, to lead the Cougars. A year ago, USF won a pair of overtime games against both ESU and FHSU. Against ESU, Trevon Evans scored 28 points and Jerrod Walton added 23 to lead USF to a 94-89 season-opening overtime victory. The Cougars held a 41-to-22 edge in rebounds, with an 18-to-6 on the offensive glass. Against FHSU, Evans had his first career double-double with 31 points and 12 rebounds in the 96-92 OT victory. 
 
USF all-time  wins leader Chris Johnson leads the Cougars
Directed by all-time wins leader and head coach Chris Johnson (192 wins), USF had its best season (20-8) at the DII level in 2017-18. The Cougars ranked fifth in scoring at 79.5 points per game for fifth in the NSIC. With a 5.7 scoring margin, USF ranked sixth in the league. Since taking over, Johnson has guided the Cougars to five 20-win seasons, three post-season appearances, two conference tournament championships and one regular season conference crown. Just twice in his run have the Cougars finished below .500. In fact, he has led the team to 15 wins nine times and recorded five 20-win seasons with the 25-10 campaign in 2009-10 the best finish. At the NCAA DII level, USF's mark of 20-10 in 2017-18 is a program-best. The 2017-18 team also finished 14-8 (5th overall) in league play and that is also the top mark for league wins.
 
During his tenure, USF is 176-132 (.571), with a 73-69 win over Concordia St. Paul making him the program's career wins leader with 155, passing Shane Murphy (154, 2001-08). Johnson, who is 192-147 (.566) overall, has compiled a 107-42 mark at home and a 56-80 road record with a 14-12 mark on a neutral floor. In NSIC play, he has a 67-75 record, including a 47-26 mark in home league games