Orange City, Iowa — The Northwestern College men’s basketball team returns to the hardwood this weekend when they host Mount Marty in a conference match-up. Tip-off on Saturday, Feb. 6, is set for 4pm. Idle since Jan.30, Northwestern brings a season-best seven game win streak into Saturday’s contest and a 12-5 league record, 17-5 overall. Mount Marty has won two of its last three games and is 6-13 in the GPAC, 9-15 overall.
Northwestern has the upper hand in the rivalry, leading the all-time series 58-17 dating back to the 1977-78 season. The Raiders have won nine of the last 10 against the Lancers, including a 69-56 win in Yankton earlier this season.
Last Time vs Mount Marty, Craig Sterk turned in his seventh career double-double in leading Northwestern to a 69-56 road win over the Lancers on Jan. 6. Sterk scored 14 of his game-high 21 points in the second half and pulled down a career-best 18 rebounds in one of the finest games of his career. Trent Hilbrands added 19 points and Noah Slagter came off the bench to score 10.
Northwestern led by seven (30-23) at the break but the host Lancers grabbed the lead early in the second frame. Head Coach Kris Korver’s squad went on a 7-0 run to take the lead back and never relinquished the lead again, gradually pulling away to a 13-point lead.
The Raiders shot 42% and dominated the glass to a 50-24 advantage; Mount Marty shot 35% and was led by Jailen Billings with 14 points.
The Lancers have won two of their last three games since losing eight straight from mid-December to Jan.23. They have wins over Midland and Hastings in the last 10 days with a close loss to GPAC-leading Morningside (78-71) on Jan. 30. Mount Marty currently sits in eighth place in the GPAC standings with a 6-13 record, two games in front of Doane and 2.5 games in back of Briar Cliff. They are 9-15 overall.
Lorensen is in his second season as the Lancers head coach, taking over the program last year after a one-year stint in the same role at Buena Vista. Lorensen returns two starters and eight players from a 2019-20 team that finished sixth in the GPAC with a 10-10 record, 20-12 overall, and won their first postseason game since the 2005-06 season. They spent several weeks ranked in the coaches poll.
The Raiders have won seven consecutive games, nine of their last 10, to move up to fourth in the GPAC standings with a 12-5 record. They are 1/2 game in back of Dakota Wesleyan and one full game in back of second place Jamestown with three games left. Northwestern is 17-5 overall.
