Orange City, Iowa — The Northwestern College men’s basketball team will host No.8 Morningside this weekend in the final game of the regular season for both teams. Tip-off for the match-up on Saturday, Feb. 20 is set for 4pm.
Receiving votes in the latest coaches’ poll, Northwestern brings a nine-game win streak into Saturday’s contest and is in second place in the GPAC with a 14-5 record, 19-5 overall. Morningside has won three consecutive games, 10 of its last 11, and already has claimed the GPAC regular season title. They are 16-3 in the conference, 20-3 overall, and is ranked eighth in the NAIA.
This weekend marks the final home game of the regular season for the seven seniors involved with this year’s program; Brady Frick, Isaac Heyer, Trent Hilbrands, Chris Kroll, Jay Small, Craig Sterk and Keegan Van Egdom. Parent’s of all the varsity players, and the seven seniors, will be recognized prior to the game.
Last Time vs Morningside, The Northwestern College men’s basketball team dropped a heart-breaker in the final seconds to Morningside, losing 79-77 in a conference match-up played in Sioux City, Iowa, on Nov. 24.
Down by two (77-75) and coming out of its own timeout, Northwestern worked the ball to Craig Sterk, who scored on a jumper and tied the score at 77 with six seconds left. Morningside, however, had the final answer as sophomore guard Will Pottebaum score on a fadeaway jumper from the corner that first hit rim, bounced up and settled into the net as time expired.
Jay Small poured in game-high 22 points to go with five rebounds; Small was one of two Raiders, along with Keegan Van Egdom, to knock down four three-point attempts. Sixth-man of the year candidate Craig Sterk came off the bench to score 15 points and grab seven boards. Van Egdom scored 11 of his 14 points in the second half while Trent Hilbrands (13) and Alex Van Kalsbeek (10) gave Head Coach Kris Korver five players in double figures.
The Raiders shot 53% from the floor, 46% (12/26) from the three-point line, and made all three free throw attempts. Northwestern was outrebounded 33-27 and committed 16 turnovers compared to 12 by the Mustangs.
Pottebaum led Morningside with 18 points, followed by Trey Brown with 14.
With a full two-game lead on second place Northwestern, Morningside has clinched the GPAC regular season title and will be the No.1 seed in the upcoming conference tournament. They are 16-3 in the GPAC, 20-3 overall, and are ranked eighth in the latest NAIA Coaches’ poll, highest among the four GPAC teams recognized in the poll. Morningside has won three straight, defeating Mount Marty, Dakota Wesleyan and Doane, heading into Saturday.
Sykes became the head of the Mustangs’ program in January of the 2003-04 season. Now in his 17th year, Sykes owns a 69% win percentage which puts him first all-time in program history. He is a six-time GPAC Coach of the Year, including the last two seasons. Sykes led last year’s team to the GPAC Regular Season title and a first round win over College of the Ozarks (Mo.) at the NAIA D-II National Championship. One starter, eight players return from the 2019-20 team.
On a nine-game win streak, Northwestern has climbed into a tie for second place with Jamestown in the current GPAC standings with a 14-5 record. The Raiders own the tie-break against the Jimmies by way of sweeping the two regular season games and can earn the No.2 seed for the upcoming GPAC Tournament. Northwestern is 19-5 overall and has not lost since an 81-74 overtime setback to Concordia on Jan. 2.
