SIOUX FALLS --  The University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (9-3, 5-1 NSIC), which has won 5-of-6 games and sit in a tie at the top of the NSIC South Division, will continue a three-game road swing at Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foes Wayne State on Friday, Jan. 3 and Augustana on Saturday, Jan. 4. 

The Cougars will travel to face Wayne State at 7:30 pm on Friday, Jan. 3 at Rice Auditorium in Wayne, Neb. On Saturday at 5:30 pm at the Sanford Pentagon, the  Cougars will face city rival Augustana.

Cougars open NSIC 5-1 after SMSU sweep

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  and registered a 84-69 road win over SMSU to open the NSIC schedule 5-1 for the first time as an NSIC member.  USF sits in a first place tie with Augustana in the NSIC South.

In closing out 2019, USF recorded an 84-69 road  NSIC win over SMSU in Marshall, Minn., as freshman guard Jack Thompson scored 18 points.

USF, which has won 5-of-6 games, is now 9-3 overall. For the first time ever, USF swept SMSU in a season series. Since the two teams have been playing in the NSIC, the series is tied at 8-8 while SMSU holds the overall lead at 21-14 after USF's second straight win at Marshall, Minn. After a tight first half, USF had an 11-0 run midway through the second half to gain a six-point advantage (48-42, 13:20, 2nd half) and never relinquished the lead. Freshman guard Jack Thompson hit 6-of-12 shots from the field and knocked in 3-of-6 from three-point range while making all three of his foul shots. In addition, he had three assists and three steals with just one turnover in playing 39 minutes. For the third time in four games, senior captain Devin Green has surpassed double-digit points with 15 against SMSU. He made 4-of-6 field goals, including 1-of-2 from 3-point range and 6-of-7 at the foul line. Green had seven rebounds and an assist in 20 minutes of work. USF also had 14 points from junior forward Teathloach Pal, who made 6-of-11 field goals and added six rebounds with three assists, two steals and a block. Senior guard Milan Surlic also had 14 points – a season-high – and now has double-digit points in three of the past four games. He hit 3-of-9 shots with two of them from three-point range and was 6-of-6 from the foul line. USF, which built as much as a 16-point lead (4:28, 2nd half, 78-62), led 33-32 at halftime before outscoring SMSU, 51-to-37 in the second half. The 51 points in a half was a season-high for USF. 

On Dec. 13, USF fell to UMD, 100-65, at the Stewart Center 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 on Dec. 14, 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 o over SMSU in a game in which Head Coach Chris Johnson picked up his 200th career win at USF.

How to follow USF Men's BB
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 
As a team, USF is averaging 71.6 points (14th, NSIC) and allowing 70.3 per game (6th, NSIC) with 859 points scored and 842 allowed or a +1.3 differential.  The Cougars average 37.0 (444 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 13.2 (158) offensive boards.  As a result, the Cougars sit second in the NSIC in rebounding margin at 7.8 (37.0-to-29.3).  

 In league play, USF is averaging 36.0 rebounds per game and lead in the conference in rebounding defense at 28.8 per game.  They are second with 12.8 offensive boards (77 total) through six games.  In rebounding margin in league play, USF is second at 7.2 (36.0-to-28.8).  At 76.7 points per game, USF is eighth in the league  and eighth in scoring defense  at 74,0 for a 2.7 margin which is seventh in the NSIC. USF is connecting on 46.9 percent from the field for fifth in the league. USF is 10th in league-only games in field goal defense (47.2 percent).  While USF ranks at the bottom of the NSIC in overall games in three-point shooting (28.8 percent), they are 14th in league play at 31.1 percent with 33-of-106 conversions from deep.

USF is averaging 5.5 threes per game and have a season-high of nine against Minnesota Crookston. Five times USF has seven or more triples in a game. In shots inside the arc, the Cougars have made 229-of-438 for 52.88 percent. USF has a season-high of 42 boards in a win vs. Colorado Pueblo. Nine times USF has had a margin of six or more boards with a high of 22 against Southwest Minnesota State on Nov. 30 at the Stewart Center. Eight times, USF has had six or more steals which includes each of the past six games. Seven times, USF has scored over 70 points with a high of 86 points at Minnesota State on Dec. 7. When USF has scored 70 points or more, they have a 7-0 record.

USF is 16-9 in January over past three years
USF was 5-2 in November this year and 15-5 over the past three seasons. The Cougars finished 4-1 in December and 11-7 over the past three seasons.  As USF begins play on Jan. 3 in Wayne, Neb, the Cougars stand 16-9 (6-2 in 2018-19) in January over the past three seasons - all NSIC games.

USF opened the NSIC schedule  with a 74-56 win over SMSU at the Stewart Center as Chase Grinde had 19 points and Will Lybaek added 14 points while Teathloach Pal scored eight points with 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 had 14 points as he set a career-best four 3-pointers on seven attempts. Teathloach 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 as head coach. The loss to UMC ended USF's three game winning streak. In the setback to UMC, senior captain Devin Green had a career-high in points with 16 and added seven rebounds. 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 Aberdeen, S.D.. 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.

Wayne State leads USF in all-time series, 15-11
After a season sweep a year ago, USF cut the series deficit against Wayne State to 15-11 as the teams will meet for the 27th time all-time. In the most recent meeting, Drew Guebert scored 20 points and led five players in double-digit scoring as USF rallied from 12 down to record a 79-77 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division victory over Wayne State at Rice Auditorium  on Feb. 23, 2019 in Wayne. WSC opened up a 42-30 lead with 2:11 to play in the first half but the Cougars had three-point shots from Aaron Rothermund and  Austin Slater to close within 45-39 at the break. In the second half, USF outscored WSC, 40-32, to earn the win. Guebert scored five points in the final 1:01 to help stave off the Wildcats. USF also had double digits from Aaron Rothermund and Chase Grinde, who both had 16 points while Trevon Evans had 10 points and Slater had his second career double double with a season-high 10 points and 10 rebounds. After a slow start as USF trailed 14-3 four minutes into the game, USF turned on the offensive engines and finished at 57.1 percent (32-of-56) for the game but were just 6-of-16 for 37.5 percent from three-point range.  The Cougars took a 77-71 win over the Wildcats on Jan. 4, 2019 at the Stewart Center. The USF win ended WSC's three-game winning streak in the series.  Drew Guebert had 23 points and 10 rebounds while Trevon Evans supplied 16 points. The Cougars, which hit nine threes and own a 48-to-24 rebound advantage, led 38-33 at halftime. WSC was led by Trevon Joseph with 35 points, including eight triples. Kendall Jacks had 25 points as the tandem supplied 60 of WSC's 71 total points. In 2017-18, WSC won twice which included a  78-64 win over the Cougars on Feb. 11, 2018 at Wayne, Neb., and a 78-66 decision to the Wildcats on Dec. 30, 2017 at the Stewart Center. Trevon Evans had 22 points and Drew Guebert, 17 to lead the Cougars in the setback at the SC. Trevin Joseph scored 22 and Kendall Jacks, 21, to lead WSC, which outscored USF, 47-29 in the second half.  WSC won the first five games of the series in a series that began in the 1929-30 season. The streak ended when USF took a 41-23 win in 1940-41. USF ended a three-game losing skein to the Wildcats with an 85-75 win over WSC at the Stewart Center on Dec. 6, 2013. In 2014-15, the two teams split with USF defeating Wayne State, 80-77 at the Stewart Center on Jan. 3, 2015. On Feb. 13, 2014 at Rice Auditorium, WSC won, 73-50.  On Feb. 11, 2017, USF had 20 points from Daniel Hurtt but fell to the Wildcats, 80-68, at the Stewart Center. The Cougars had 24 points from Mack Johnson and 13 from Drew Guebert in a 64-58 decision at Rice Auditorium. On Feb. 12, 2016, USF recorded a 79-58 decision as Mack Johnson scored 16 points.

USF trails Augustana, 37-36 in all-time series
USF will face Augustana for the 74th time with the Vikings owning a 36-35 overall series advantage. This intra-city rivalry began in the 1922 season as USF defeated the Vikings, 30-12 on Jan. 23. USF won the first seven games of the series, including a 55-16 decision on March 9, 1922. The Cougars have won three of the past four games. With a 77-73 overtime win over AU on Jan. 5, 2019,  Rothermund was 7-of-12 from the floor, including tying a career-high four three-pointers. He also made 3-of-4 free throws including one in the final seconds. On the night, Rothermund also had three assists and three steals. As for Evans, he had 14 points in the second half after supplying nine in the opening 20 minutes. Evans, who was 9-of-13 from the floor, knocked in a trio of threes and added three rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot. Drew Guebert recorded 18 points, all in the first half when he knocked in four three-pointer.  In the 77-73 win, Trevon Evans scored a season-best 33 points and hit two clutch free throws with four seconds to left to rally the USF past city rival Augustana (before 1,738 in a packed Stewart Center. Evans  hit 11-of-22 field goals and made 8-of-11 free throws while grabbing six rebounds and recording two steals in leading USF to their second straight win.  Trevon Evans scored 19 points USF fell to Augustana, 81-65, before 3,027 in attendance on Feb. 22, 2019 at the Elmen Center.  In the first game USF has played at the Elmen Center in five years, the Vikings outshot USF and made 49.2 percent from the floor on 29-of-59 shooting.  Two years ago, USF swept with AU with a 70-61 overtime win at the SC. In that game, USF played without starting guard Trevon Evans but freshman guard Drew Maschoff recorded his first career double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds while Drew Guebert led USF with 18 points.  Justin Taylor added 12 points and nine rebounds while Zach Wessels had 10 points and eight boards. Down seven with 12 minutes to play, USF rallied to send the game into overtime, outscoring the Vikings, 13-4 in the extra session.  On Feb. 10, 2018, Trevon Evans had 23 points and Aaron Rothermund added a career-high 21 to lead USF to an 88-86 decision over Augustana before 3,491 in attendance at the Sioux Falls Arena. With the win USF swept the Vikings in a season for the first time since 1941.The Cougars recorded a 56-38 win over AU on Feb. 1, 1941 and a 42-40 decision on Feb. 11, 1941. The Cougars ended a seven-game losing streak to the Vikings with a 69-62 come-from-behind victory on Dec. 31, 2016 at the Sioux Falls Arena. It was USF's first win at Augustana  since a 93-87 victory at the Elmen Center on Nov. 22, 1994.  Wessels led USF to the win with 21 points and nine rebounds with Mack Johnson adding 17  in which the Cougars rallied from nine down with 10:41 to play in the game.

Pal has four double doubles this season
With four double-doubles in 12 games this season, junior forward Teathloach Pal is nearly averaging a double-double of 10.3 points (124 points) and 9.9 rebounds (119 rebounds) per game. Pal, who has 12 career double-digit scoring games, 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 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. Six times this season Pal has double digit rebounds and each times has had 13 rebounds or more.

Slater averaging 11.1 points and 6.4 boards  
Junior forward Austin Slater is averaging a team-high 11.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. He has reached double digits six times in 11 games. Slater has nine 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  also had 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field and 7-of-8 from the foul line in a win against St. Cloud State on Dec. 14 at home. Slater has hit 50 percent from the floor on 35-of-70 shooting and is 6-of-16 from three-point range. Slater, who set a career high with 16 made free throws on 20 attempts in a win against Lincoln (Mo.), has 133 points in making 12 starts. He had his third career double-double against Chadron State on Nov. 22 after scoring 16 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. 

Freshman guard Jack Thompson making impact
Through 12 games with six starts, freshman Jack Thompson is making an impact. He is averaging 8.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. In league play he is averaging 13.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game with a 2.6 assist turnover ratio for fourth in the NSIC. He has a career-high 21 points (vs. UMD) and twice made four threes in a game. Five times in the past six games he has reached double digits in points, including three times in a row. He has hit 13-of-26 from 3-point range for 50 percent over the past five league games.

Grinde continues to fill stat sheet
In his career, sophomore guard Chase Grinde has 13 double-digit scoring games with six this season. Twice this season, Grinde has scored 20 or more points with a high of 21 against in an 86-81 win at Minnesota State on Dec. 7, 2019. He hit 7-of-12 field goals and was 7-of-12 at the foul line with seven rebounds. He had 20 points against Concordia St. Paul in a 78-71 road win on Dec. 6, 2019. In that gave he made a season-high eight field goals in nine attempts and had four rebounds. His season-high for rebounds is eight in the USF win over SCSU at home when he also scored 12 points.  He has three career games over 20 points with a personal-best 22 points against Winona State on Jan. 26, 2019.

Notes on WSC and AU
USF will face a pair of teams that have coaches with 400 career wins. Wayne State, directed by Jeff Kaminsky (497 wins), is 5-10 and a 2-4 league mark. The Wildcats average 72.7 ppg for 11th in the league but are eighth in field goal shooting at 45.4 percent. They are led by forward Jordan Janssen who averaged a double-double with 17.7 ppg and 10.1 rpg while guard Nick Ferrarini is supplying 14.5 ppg. 

AU, which is led by Tom Billeter (412), owns a 10-2 record with a 5-1 record in league play. AU, which defeated Wayne State, 74-72, on Dec. 21, ranks second in the league in scoring with 84.8 ppg. They also lead the league in rebounding at 42.8 per game.  Guard Matt Todd is averaging 14.5 ppg and hitting 44.4 percent from 3-point range. Tyler Riemersma is supplying 12.2 ppg. Guard Matt Cartwright, who has missed four straight games, is averaging 16.1 points and knocking in 35.3 percent from 3-point land.

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.