SIOUX FALLS --  The University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (8-3, 4-1 NSIC) , which received support in the D2SIDA Central Region Poll, will close the calendar year with the second match -up of the season with travel partner Southwest Minnesota State (4-7, 1-4, NSIC) at 4 p.m., on Saturday, Dec. 21 at the R/A Facility in Marshall, Minn.

The Cougars, which has won 4-of-5 games to open the NSIC season, head into the contest with SMSU tied for first in the NSIC South at 4-1. Last weekend, USF split games with North Division co-leader Minnesota Duluth (100-65 loss) and St. Cloud  State (73-67 win) at the Stewart Center. Earlier on Nov. 21 at the Stewart Center, the Cougars won a 74-56 decision over SMSU in a game in which Head Coach Chris Johnson picked up his 200th career win at USF.

Follow USF Men's Basketball on twitter at @USFCooBBall. All USF's home games and NSIC contests are streamed for free through Stretch Internet at usfcougars.com/watch. Veteran announcer Tom Frederick will provide play-by-play for both the nonconference games on Stretch Internet and conference games at KWSN.com. Live stats for home games are available at www.sidearmstats.com/mbball.

Breaking it down - USF leading NSIC in rebounding defense; 2nd in margin
 
As a team, USF is averaging 70.5 points (14th, NSIC) and allow 70.4 per game (6th, NSIC) with 775 points scored and 774 allowed or a +1 different (0.1 margin).  The Cougars averaged 37.3 (410 rebounds) per game, which is seventh in the NSIC. In rebounding defense, USF is the league leader at 29.6 per game and sit second in the NSIC with 12.9 (142) offensive boards.  As a result, the Cougars sit second in the NSIC in rebounding margin at 7.6 (37.3-to-29.6).   In league play, USF is averaging 36.4 rebounds per game and lead in the conference in rebounding defense at 29.6 per game.  They are second with 12.2 offensive boards (61 total) through five games.  In rebounding margin in league play, USF is second at 6.8 (36.4-to-29.6). USF is connecting on 44.2 percent from the field for 12th in the league. However in conference only games, the Cougars rank fifth in field goal shooting at 47.3 percent as they have made 132-of-279 shots. USF is ninth in league-only games in field goal defense, allowing 46.3 percent.  While USF ranks at the bottom of the NSIC in overall games in three-point shooting (28.0 percent), they are 13th in league play at 29.5 percent with 26-of-88 conversions from deep.

USF is averaging 5.2 threes per game and have a season high of nine against Minnesota Crookston. Four times USF has seven or more. In shots inside the arc, the Cougars have made 211-of-400 for 52.75 percent. On the boards, USF has a rebound margin of 7.9 with a 410-to-326 total rebound edge. The Cougars have a season high of 42 boards in a win vs. Colorado Pueblo. 

Grinde continues to fill stat sheet

Two weeks ago, sophomore guard Chase Grinde averaged 20.5 points and 5.5 rebounds to lead the USF Men's Team to a sweep over the weekend at CSP and MSU. In the win over St. Cloud State on Dec. 14, Grinde, who is averaging 11.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, had 12 points, eight rebounds and tied a season-high with five assists. Earlier he has 20 points, four rebounds, block, steal and assist as the Cougars turned back CSP, 78-71 on Dec. 6. He hit 8-of-9 field goals, his only three, and three free throws. In an 86-81 win over Minnesota State, Grinde had 21 points, seven rebounds, and an assist. He made 7-of-12 field goals and seven free throws. Grinde, who has 19, 20 and 21 points in three straight NSIC games, is averaging 15.2 points and 5.8 rebounds in league games only. He has double digit points 13 times in his career and scored 20 points three times.

USF is 3-1 in December - 10-7 over past three years

USF was 5-2 in November this year and 15-5 over the past three seasons. The Cougars stand 3-1 in December and 10-7 over the past three seasons. 

Cougars open NSIC 4-1 after weekend split  

For the second time (2017-18) in three seasons, USF opened the NSIC season with three straight wins. Then, the Cougars split with UMD and SCSU to open with a 4-1 mark in the league and a tie for first in the NSIC South.

Last weekend, USF fell to UMD, 100-65 as the Cougars hit just 37.5 percent from the floor and made 24.1 percent from three. UMD hit 64.4 percent from the field and knocked in a sizzling 16-of-24 (15-of-20 at one point) from 3-point distance.  Against SCSU, Austin Slater had 20 points to lead USF to a 73-67 win. USF, which led by as many as 16 points in the first half, hit 46.6 percent from the floor and had five triples while converting 14 foul shots. The Coo also limited SCSU to 39.3 percent shooting.

USF had a successful NSIC home opener with a 74-56 win over SMSU as Chase Grinde had 19 points and Will Lybaek added 14 points while Teathloach Pal added eight points and 13 rebounds.  USF hit just three triples but hit 23-of-46 field goals for 50 percent. In shots inside the circle, USF was 20-of-33 for 60.6 percent.  In USF's road opener, the Cougars finished 2-0 with a 78-71 win at Concordia St. Paul and a 86-81 victory against league favorite Minnesota State on Dec. 7. In the CSP win, Grinde had 20 points to lead the way while four other players scored in double digit points. Freshman Jack Thompson set a career-high with 14 points as he had a career-best four 3-pointers on seven attempts. Pal had his fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 boards while blocking two shots and dishing two dimes. Austin Slater and Troy Houghton added 10 points. In the 86-81 win against Minnesota State, the Cougars led by 17 in the first half and had a double digit lead for much of the second half as they upended MSU for a second straight year at the Taylor Center. Grinde had 21 points and seven rebounds for USF, which also had 15 points from senior captain Devin Green and a career-high 14 from Troy Houghton who made all six of his field goal attempts. USF also shot 52.7 percent for a second straight night and have made 50 percent or better of their field goal attempts in league play. 

In wrapping up the nonconference season, USF dropped a 94-69 decision to Minnesota Crookston as Harrison Cleary had 40 points. The loss dropped USF to 51-5 in nonconference game with Johnson. The loss to UMC ended USF's three game winning streak but USF has won four of five. In the setback to UMC, senior captain Devin Green had a career high in points with 16 and rebounds with seven. Jaxon Simons also had double digits with his career best of 11 points. Logan Dreier also had a career-high with nine points. 

With 16 points and 13 rebounds from Austin Slater, the Cougars turned back Chadron State, 62-59, in the first game at the Dacotah Bank Classic. In game two, junior guard William Lybaek had 15 points, including a trio of threes, and Teathloach Pal added 14 points and eight rebounds as USF captured its third straight victory with a 77-70 decision over CSU-Pueblo, also at the Dacotah Bank Classic.

In winning their 10th straight home opener, the Cougars handed Dakota State a 72-51 nonconference setback on Nov. 16 at the Stewart Center.  Earlier USF was 1-1 at the Central Region Challenge in Kansas City. USF defeated Lincoln University, 64-63, as Austin Slater had a career-high 22 points on Nov. 8. They also took a 62-55 loss to Pittsburgh State on Nov. 9 at the Central Region Challenge.

Inside look at SMSU

SMSU, directed by 11th-year head coach Brad Bigler (183 career wins), will conclude a three-game homestand inside the R/A Facility this Saturday, Dec. 21 against USF.•SMSU, which snapped a four-game losing streak last Saturday with a triple overtime thriller over North Division leader Minnesota Duluth,89-82 at the R/A Facility in Marshall. Junior Kenny Byers leads the team in scoring (15.8), rebounding (9.0), steals (15) and has recorded a team-high six double-doubles.  Junior Nick Dufault, who scored a career-high 28 points in the win over Minnesota Duluth last Saturday, has connected on a team-high 28 3-pointers. He ranks fourth in team history in 3-point field goal pct. (43.1). SMSU ranks 16th in the NSIC in scoring at 68.6 points per game while standing eighth in defensive scoring at 70.8 ppg. They have allowed 779 total points and scored 755 in their 11 games.

USF trails SMSU, 21-13 in all-time series

USF will meet SMSU for the 35th time with the Mustangs owning a 21-13 lead in a series that dates to 1968-69.  SMSU holds an 8-7 advantage in conference games since USF joined the NSIC in 2012-13.  SMSU leads the series 15-1 in games played in Marshall with USF's lone victory coming last season on Dec. 1, 2018. USF has a 12-5 lead in games at the Stewart Center. On his birthday and during Thanksgiving weekend, University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Head Coach Chris Johnson picked up the 200th win of his career as the Cougars recorded a 74-56 decision over Southwest Minnesota State at the Stewart Center. Leading the way for USF was redshirt sophomore forward Chase Grinde who had 19 points, seven rebounds and an assist, steal and block in 35 minutes on the floor. The Spring Grove, Minn., native hit 7-of-8 field goals and his only three-point shot. Grinde, who had his 10th career double digit scoring game, was also 4-of-6 at the foul line. USF also had double digits from three others which included junior guard Will Lybaek, who had 14 points for his fourth double digit game of the season. He was 5-of-8 from the floor. USF had career-highs from both freshman guard Jack Thompson and sophomore guard Troy Houghton who both scored 10 points. USF trailed early 8-2 but rallied back to within 32-30 at halftime. In the second half, USF dominated by outscoring their travel partners, 44-24, as they improved their home mark against SMSU to 12-5 and cut the all-time series to 21-13. The Cougars, which hit 12-of-20 shots for 60 percent in the second half, made 23-of-46 shots for 50 percent. While they were just 3-of-13 on three-pointers, the Cougars converted 25-of-33 free throws for 75.8 percent while owning a 41-19 advantage on the boards. USF's dominance on the boards was led by Grinde, Slater and Teathloach Pal, who had a game-high 13 boards along with eight points, a steal and block. 

Despite 29 points from Trevon Evans, USF fell to SMSU, 79-75 on Dec. 30, 2018. USF trailed 36-35 at halftime and was outscored, 43-40, in the second half by the Mustangs, which was led by senior Ryan Bargeman with 31 points, seven rebounds and five assists. SMSU used an 11-to-8 edge in made three-pointers and a 14-13 margin at the foul line to slip past USF. The Cougars, which owned a 41-32 edge on the boards, was hurt by turnovers, especially in the second half. USF had just one in the opening 20 minutes of play but then committed 13 in the second half. USF made 27-of-58 field goals for 46.6 percent and knocked in 8-of-19 shots from three-point range for 42.1 percent but hit only 13-of-21 foul shots for 61.9 percent. As for SMSU, they were 27-of-66 from the field for 40.9 percent but made 11-of-30 shots from three-point range while hammering home 14-of-17 free throws. 

In the first game last year, USF took a 94-72 decision on Dec. 1 2018 in Marshall, Minn. Led by a career-high 27 points from Milan Surlic, who would earn NSIC Player of the Week honors two days later, and 22 points from Trevon Evans and 21 from Drew Guebert, USF ended a 15-game losing streak to the Mustangs in Marshall, Minn. USF hit 56.4 percent from the field on 31-of-55 shooting and made 10-of-19 for 52.6 percent from three-point range. Additionally, they hit 22-of-27 free throws for 81.5 percent.

The Cougars opened up a 45-33 halftime lead and outscored SMSU, 49-39, in the second half. The Cougars, which led for 37:08 of the game, built its biggest lead of 24 points (80-56) with 7:40 to play in the second half. Surlic hit 9-of-15 field goals, including a career-best 4-of-7 from three-point range, while making all five of his free throws to score 27 points in 33 minutes. Surlic, who had his second 20-point game of the season, added four rebounds, four assists and two steals. Guebert made 6-of-10 field goals and 8-of-10 foul shots while grabbing five rebounds with a season-high five assists. Evans made 9-of-17 field goals against SMSU with 4-of-7 from three-point range. He added four rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal.

Led by Guebert's career-high 36 points and 10 rebounds, USF knocked off SMSU, 91-85 in overtime on Nov. 25, 2017 at the Stewart Center. However in the second match up in the 2017-18 season, SMSU recorded an 86-57 win at the R/A Facility. USF is 11-5 in games at the Stewart Center. SMSU has a 15-1 at the R/A Facility in Marshall. Since both teams have been in the NSIC, SMSU holds an 8-6 advantage, 7-6 in league play.

The teams met in the NSIC Tournament on Feb. 26, 2017 as SMSU registered a 79-68 victory in the NSIC Tournament quarterfinals on Feb. 26, 2017 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls. Guebert led USF with 19 points as he made four treys. On Nov. 28, 2016, SMSU defeated USF, 74-72 in Marshall, Minn. Guebert had 26 points and five rebounds for USF while Ryan Bruggeman added 15 points and Carter Kirk had a double double. On Dec. 16, 2016, USF dropped an 87-86 decision to SMSU at the Stewart Center, despite 27 points from Mack Johnson. USF led 86-83 with 1:21 to play after two foul shots by Zach Wessels, who had 16 on the night, but the Mustangs closed with four straight points, including a game-winning lay-up by Ryan Bruggeman with 10 seconds to play.  On Dec. 8, 2015 at the Stewart Center, USF rallied from a 13-point deficit to pick up a 78-72 victory as Jared Mayes had 23 points and seven rebounds. in the second game of the 2015-16 season, (Dec. 19, 2015),  SMSU edged USF, 62-60 at the RA Facility in Marshall, Minn.  Mitch Weg and Bruggeman had 10 points. In 2014-15, USF and SMSU split a pair of games, each winning on its home floor. Down one in the final seconds at the Stewart Center, Charles Ward, who scored 23 points, hit a three from the left corner to give USF a 69-67 win over SMSU on Dec. 20, 2014. Earlier, SMSU took a 72-68 win  on Dec. 2 at Marshall, Minn. In the series, the two teams have played five overtime games, with USF winning twice. The Cougars won the Nov. 25, 2017 game at the Stewart Center and registered 87-83 OT decision on Nov. 30, 2013, at the Stewart Center. USF won three straight in the series with victories in 1976-77, 1980-81 and 1983-84. SMSU won seven straight in 1989-90, 1990-91, 1991-92, 1998-99, 2007, 2008 and 2012. USF's largest margin of victory was 32 points, 85-53, in the 1969-70 season at Sioux Falls.   

Teathloach Pal averaging a double-double this season

With four double-doubles in 11 games this season, junior forward Teathloach Pal is averaging a double-double of 10.0 points (110 points) and 10.3 rebounds (113 rebounds). Pal was named the NSIC Men's Basketball Player of the Week on Nov. 18 after scoring a career-high 26 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in the win over Dakota State at the Stewart Center. Pal, a junior forward from Fridley, Minn., is third in the NSIC with 10.3 rpg. Through 11 games, Pal has produced four double digit scoring games and nine in his career.  Pal had a career-high 17 boards against Pitt State and registered double doubles in three straight games to open season.  He has one double-double in league play with 12 points and 13 rebounds in the road win at Concordia St. Paul. 

Austin Slater averaging 11.4 points and 6.6 boards  

After his second career 20-point game (20 points vs SCSU), junior forward Austin Slater is averaging 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. He has reached double digits five times in 11 games. Slater has eight career double digit scoring games and three double-double with seven games of double figure rebounds. He scored a career-high 22 points to lead USF to a 64-63 win against Lincoln and then had a team-high 14 points in a 62-55 loss to Pittsburg State. He had his first double-double of the season against Chadron State on Nov. 22 after scoring 16 and grabbing 13 rebounds. 

Freshman guard Jack Thompson making impact
Through 11 games with five starts, freshman Jack Thompson is making an impact. He is averaging 7.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. In lead play he is averaging 3.0 assists with a 2.5 assist turnover ration for eighth in the NSIC. He has a career-high 21 points (vs. UMD) and twice made four threes in a game. Four times in the past five games he has reached double digits in points, including twice in a row. He has hit 13-of-37 from three points range for 35.1 percent.

Cougars picked to finish fourth in the NSIC South
USF has been picked to finish fourth in the South Division and tied for 10th overall in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, according to the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll released earlier this fall. USF, The Cougars officially opened practice on Oct. 15 and returned three starters & seven letter winners from a team that was 19-11 overall and 13-9 in league play as they advanced to the NSIC Quarterfinals for a fourth straight year. Minnesota State was selected by the league coaches as the preseason favorites in the NSIC for the 2019-20 season. The Mavericks received 214 points with seven first place votes and six points ahead of Augustana with 208 points and six first place votes. Minnesota Duluth was third with 196 points and three first place votes. USF was 10th overall, and tied with Wayne State for 10th with 96 points. In the South Division, USF was fourth with 25 points. They sit behind favorite MSU, 47 points, five first place votes; Augustana, 44 points, three first place votes and Winona State with 37 points.