SIOUX FALLS --  The University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (13-3, 9-1 NSIC), which has won a season-best six-game winning streak, will travel for NSIC games to U-Mary (8-8, 3-7 NSIC) on Friday, Jan. 17 at 7:30 pm and Minot State (6-10, 0-10 NSIC) on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 5:30 pm at the Stewart Center.

USF, which was ranked fifth in the D2SIDA Central Region Poll, received votes in the most recent NABC Top-25 poll for the first time (five ballot votes). The Cougars have won a season-high six straight games and eight of its past nine games.  The Cougars have six straight wins for the first time since a six-game run in 2016-17 from Dec. 30, 2016 to Jan. 14, 2017.  At 13-3, USF has its best start in DII program history and the best opening run in a season since  a 15-1 start in the 2006-07 season when the Cougars were in the NAIA. In 2006-07, USF advanced to the NAIA National Tournament and fell in the opening round. 
 
With a 9-1 NSIC start, the Cougars have the best opening to the league season in the NSIC in the DII program era. One of the keys to USF's success this season is the balanced scoring in which seven players average 5.6 points per game or more. Junior forward Austin Slater leads USF with 11.2 points and has 7.2 rebounds per game. Sophomore Chase Grinde, who is hitting 50.4 percent from the field, is second in scoring at 10.6 ppg with 5.2 rebounds. Freshman guard Jack Thompson is averaging 10.2 points per game and has gone over 20 points three times. He leads USF with 13.8 points per game in league play when he has hit 45 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three-point range. USF also has junior forward Teathloach Pal in double-digit points with 10.1 and averages nearly a double-double with 9.0 rebounds per game. Pal is shooting 55.7 percent from the field. USF is also receiving 7.9 ppg from Devin Green who is shooting 54.7 percent from the field.

USF will travel to U-Mary Friday for a matchup against a Marauders team coming off an 85-80 win over St. Cloud State on Jan. 11. U-Mary, which is 3-7 in league play, has lost three of four but stand 6-3 at home with a 1-2 home league mark. On Saturday, USF will face Minot State, which is 6-10 overall, has opened the NSIC season 0-10. Last weekend, they fell at home to UMD, 93-69, and St. Cloud State, 82-65.
 

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 with a 77-65 win at Wayne State and a 65-59 decision over city rival Augustana. Last weekend, the Cougars completed season sweeps of Minnesota State, 71-64, and Concordia St. Paul, 74-59, at the Stewart Center. The two wins gave USF a 9-1 league mark, which is the best in the NSIC. At 8-0 in the South Division, USF has a three-game lead. 

In the win over Minnesota State, freshman guard Jack Thompson tied a career-best with 21 points to lead Cougars to the win. Devin Green, Troy Houghton and Austin Slater all scored 10 points for USF, which outscored the Mavericks, 39-28, to complete the season sweep. In the win over CSP, the Cougars had 16 points from Chase Grinde while Thompson had 12 points while Teathloach Pal and Austin Slater both had 11 points while Devin Green again put up 10 points in the win. As a result, USF defeated the Golden Bears for an eight consecutive time.

In the win on Jan. 3 at Wayne State, USF had a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds from junior forward Austin Slater plus a career-high 16 points from Trevon Adams, who knocked in four threes for the first time in his career at USF.  Chase Grinde supplied 10 points, four assists and four rebounds as USF outscored the Wildcats, 47-37 in the second half.  USF tied a season-high with nine made threes and had just six turnovers. Before 2,371 fans at the Sanford Pentagon, the Cougars defeated then No. 24 (NABC) Augustana, 65-59, as freshman guard Jack Thompson scored 20 points. Thompson hit a career-high five treys and was 7-of-10 from the field.  He also had five rebounds and a career-best four steals. USF also had 10 points from both Austin Slater, who added eight rebounds, and Trevon Adams. Teathloach Pal had eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds. After leading 34-31 at the break, the Cougars outscored Augustana, 31-28, on the Vikings' home floor. In the process USF held AU to its lowest point total on their home floor since 2012 when USF took a 70-58 win at the Elmen Center. 

In closing out 2019, USF recorded an 84-69 road  NSIC win over SMSU in Marshall, Minn., as Thompson scored 18 points. For the first time ever, USF swept SMSU in a season series as a result of the 84-69 road win on Dec. 21. 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.  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. Senior captain Devin Green 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. 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. 

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. Earlier in USF's NSIC home opener, Chase Grinde had 19 points and Will Lybaek added 14 points while Teathloach Pal added eight points and 13 rebounds for USF in a 74-56 win on Nov. 30.  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 NSIC road openers, 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 made 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. 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.  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. In the setback to UMC, senior captain Devin Green had a career-high in points with 16 and rebounds with seven.  

Also in the nonconference part of the schedule, Austin Slater had 16 points and 13 rebounds as 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.

Series Breakdowns -- 

USF leads U-Mary, 6-2

Overall USF has a 6-2 all-time lead in the series, including 5-2 while members of the NSIC. The Cougars took a 77-72 win at the Stewart Center on Jan. 18, 2019 as Trevon Evans had 26 points. The Cougars hit 38 percent from the field on 19-of-50 shooting. They were also 8-of-19 from three-point range for 42.1 percent and 31-of-41 free throws for 75.6 percent. U-Mary also had struggles from the field as they made 32.1 percent by making 18-of-56 from the field and 7-of-24 from three-point range. The Marauders also used the foul line to their advantage by making 29-of-36 charity tosses for 80.1 percent. U-Mary was led by Connor Hellebust and Tom Kubank with 15 points while guard Jaylan White added 12.  In a game that included eight lead changes and eight ties, USF and U-Mary were tied at 30 at halftime. The Cougars outscored the Marauders, 47-to-42 in the second half to earn their second straight win in the series. USF registered a 75-66 win over U-Mary on Feb. 2, 2018 at the Stewart Center. On Feb. 3, 2017, U-Mary  defeated USF, 81-73 at Bismarck (McDowell Activity Center). Damonta Henry scored 25 and Bryan Jefferson supplied 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Mack Johnson led USF with 18 points while Clint Thomas had 13. On Dec. 12, 2015, U-Mary took a 69-65 decision at Sioux Falls (Stewart Center). Clint Thomas had 17 points and USF had a 29-22 advantage on the boards, 10-to-5 edge in made threes and 7-4 margin in blocked shots but fell to Mary at home. Damonta Henry led the Marauders with 12 points. Marquelis Edwards, who had 11 points, made a pair of free throws in the final seconds to ice the victory. On Dec. 13, 2014, USF edged U-Mary, 75-73 at Bismarck (McDowell Activity Center). USF's Jordan Stotts had 19 points, four rebounds, three steals and two blocks with a three-pointer at the 1:23 mark of the second half to give USF a 71-70 lead.  On Feb. 15, 2014, USF picked up a 79-71 overtime win at Bismarck (McDowell Activity Center). Mahlon Jones had 16 points and Derek Brown added 13 while Charles Ward converted all his points at the foul line (12-of-12). USF, which led 37-31 at halftime, outscored the Marauders, 12-4 in overtime. U-Mary, which was led by 16 points from Marc Musungayi, outrebounded USF, 41-39, and had a 41.7%-to-35.6% edge in shooting from the field. However, the Cougars won the game with a 31-of-36 performance at the foul line while the Marauders hit 16-of-30 charity tosses. DaMonta Henry sent the game into overtime tied at 67 with a three with six seconds left. In overtime, USF didn't make a basket from the floor but converted all 12 of its foul shots, including six by Ward. On Feb. 9, 2013, USF defeated U-Mary, 75-70 at the Sioux Falls (Stewart Center). Derek Brown scored 21 points, including 6-of-9 from three point range to lead USF.  The Cougars outscored the Marauders, 53-39 in the second half after trailing 31-22 at the break. USF, which also had 14 points from David Maxwell, hit 11-of-25 from three-point range and committed just four turnovers. Both teams had 29 boards. Josh Turner led all U-Mary with 28 points, including seven treys.???????

USF leads MiSU, 10-3, all-time in series

USF owns a 10-3 all-time mark against Minot State, including a 2-0 mark against the Beavers in the NSIC Sanford Health PostseasonTournament. In the 2018-19 postseason tourney, USF took a 96-51win at the Stewart Center as Trevon Evans scored 23 points and Aaron Rothermund, 16. During the 2018-19 regular season, MiSU defeated USF, 75-70 as David Akibo had 30 points and 10 rebounds. Trevon Evans led USF with 32. In the 2017-18 year, USF took an 80-59 decision over the Beavers at the Stewart Center on Feb. 3, 2018. In that game Drew Guebert scored 25 points with six rebounds while Teathloach Pal had 10 points and 13  rebounds. In NSIC matchups, USF has a 5-3 advantage. On Feb. 22, 2017, Guebert scored 23 points, including hitting the game-winning shot with a second to play, to lift USF to an 80-77 win in the first round of the NSIC Postseason Tournament. Minot State opened up a seven-point lead (61-54) on a Russ Davis triple with 9:36 to play. USF closed on a 26-to-16 run to grab the win. On Feb. 4, 2017, MiSU defeated USF, 77-66, at the Minot State Dome despite 16 points by Guebert and Mack Johnson. On Dec. 11, 2015, Mack Johnson hit a three-pointer with a second to play in overtime as the Cougars took a dramatic 66-65 win over the Beavers at the Stewart Center. USF trailed 64-58 with 1:29 left in overtime before USF rallied. Jordan Stotts had 17 points and seven rebounds while Johnson, who hit the game-tying basket with 13 seconds left in regulation, had 15 to lead the Cougars. On Dec. 12, 2014, MISU's Dominque McDonald, who scored just five points, hit a floater to lift the Beavers to come-from-behind win. The key to the win for MSU was shooting 56.1 percent while USF was at 54.2 percent However, MSU, which was 20-of-32 for 62.5 percent in the second half, made 13-of-20 from three-point range. Interestingly, USF was 17-of-31 from the field in the second half and had a 33-30 rebound margin but made just four treys in 13 attempts.