News Release

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Extending their current winning streak to four games, the Northwestern College (Minn.) men’s basketball team picked up two key victories in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) action this past weekend and moved into a tie for first place in the regular season league standings. The Eagles opened the weekend with an 82-78 triumph over the University of Minnesota-Morris on Friday night, and followed with a 77-63 route over Presentation College (S.D.) on Saturday evening. Northwestern now boasts a 16-4 overall record and 7-2 conference mark, tied with the College of St. Scholastica for the top spot in the UMAC.

Facing Minnesota-Morris, Northwestern slowly built a 7-point advantage at 24-to-17 with just under 9 minutes remaining in the half. The host Cougars then turned the momentum and finished the half in front by a 3-point margin, leading 41-to-38 at the midway point. Both teams found their shooting touch early as Northwestern connected on 14-of-25 (56.0%) from the floor and 6-of-10 (60.0%) from three-point range, while Minnesota-Morris made 18-of-33 (54.5%) field goal attempts.

In the second half, the Cougars led by as many as 10 points on 3 occasions, before Northwestern got down to business. Trailing 61-to-51 with 12:04 remaining, the Eagles scored 12 unanswered points to take over the lead at 63-to-61 with 9 minutes to go. The intense battle stayed close as the score was tied at 76 with just under 2 minutes left. Northwestern swished 4 free throw attempts to take an 80-76 lead and sealed the win with 2 more late free throws as the Eagles hit 6-of-8 from the free throw line in the final minute.

The Eagles finished the match-up shooting a scorching 54.9% (28-of-51) from the floor and 85.0% (17-of-20) from the free throw line. Outscored 38-to-20 in the paint, Northwestern made up the difference in bench scoring as the Eagle reserves accounted for 45 of their 82 total points. Senior Joseph Sir (Cresco, Iowa/Crestwood High School) was 1-of-4 Northwestern players in double-figures, contributing a game-high 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field. Josh Strelecki (Crystal Falls, Mich./Forest Park High School) and Andrew Cramer (Alma Center, Wis./Lincoln High School) each added 15 points to aid in the offensive attack.

Avenging a loss from earlier in the season, Northwestern made sure they would not lose again to Presentation, topping the Saints on the road. The first half featured a back-and-forth shootout with 7 ties and 9 lead changes. When the halftime buzzer rang out, Presentation owned a 39-to-35 advantage. Both teams shots over 50% from the floor in the first 20 minutes of play and combined for just 7 turnovers.

Northwestern regained the lead in the second half, going in front 46-to-45 with 14:40 remaining. The Eagles would never trail again as they increased the margin to as much as 17 points, before settling for the 14-point victory. Northwestern dominated the paint in the second half, outscoring the Saints 17-to-4 in the period in the lane. Totaling the second fewest of the season, the Eagles committed just 6 turnovers total for the game and hit 29-of-52 (55.8%) field goal attempts, including 10-of-19 (52.6%) from behind the arc.

Mike Anderstrom (Mendota Heights, Minn./New Life Academy) netted a game-high 19 points, making 7-of-9 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free throw line, also grabbing 9 rebounds. Dave Zuleger (Wauau, Wis./Wausau West High School) and Steve Discher (Andover, Minn.) provided solid guard play as Zuleger tallied 12 points, while Discher owned 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists.

Continuing their attempt to secure a third-straight Upper Midwest Athletic Conference regular season championship, Northwestern will host Bethany Lutheran College on Friday, February 3rd, at 7:30 p.m.

Northwestern College Men vs Presentation College
1/28/06 5:00pm at Strode Activity Center, Aberdeen, SD
At Strode Activity Center, Aberdeen, SD
NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE MEN 77, PRESENTATION COLLEGE 63
NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE MEN (16-4 UMAC 7-2)
Anderstrom, Mike 7-9 5-5 19; Zuleger, Dave 4-7 3-4 12; Discher, Steve 4-6
1-1 11; Sir, Joseph 4-10 0-0 11; Hanson, Daniel 4-7 0-0 8; Strelecki, Josh
3-6 0-0 8; Baker, Caleb 2-2 0-0 5; Krehbiel, Josh 1-4 0-0 3; Cramer, Andrew
0-1 0-0 0; Fogelberg, Nels 0-0 0-0 0; Foulks, Nick 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-52
9-10 77.
PRESENTATION COLLEGE (7-12 UMAC 4-5)
Robinson, Marcus 5-9 0-2 14; Huber, Logan 3-6 2-2 9; Terrell, DaMarcus 4-9
1-4 9; Lokenvitz, Matt 3-8 0-0 9; Koopman, Jarred 3-3 0-0 8; Heien, Jason
3-5 0-0 7; Krawchuk, Trevor 3-11 0-0 7; LeBeau, Claymore 0-0 0-0 0; Heim,
Michael 0-0 0-0 0; Gregg, Tommy 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-52 3-8 63.
Northwestern College Men......   35   42  -   77
Presentation College..........   39   24  -   63
3-point goals-Northwestern College Men 10-19 (Sir, Joseph 3-5; Discher,
Steve 2-3; Strelecki, Josh 2-5; Krehbiel, Josh 1-2; Zuleger, Dave 1-1;
Baker, Caleb 1-1; Cramer, Andrew 0-1; Hanson, Daniel 0-1), Presentation
College 12-30 (Robinson, Marcus 4-7; Lokenvitz, Matt 3-7; Koopman, Jarred
2-2; Huber, Logan 1-3; Heien, Jason 1-1; Krawchuk, Trevor 1-8; Gregg, Tommy
0-1; Terrell, DaMarcus 0-1). Fouled out--Northwestern College Men-None,
Presentation College-None. Rebounds-Northwestern College Men 26 (Anderstrom,
Mike 9), Presentation College 21 (Krawchuk, Trevor 7). Assists-Northwestern
College Men 17 (Sir, Joseph 6), Presentation College 12 (Robinson, Marcus
5). Total fouls-Northwestern College Men 10, Presentation College 11. A-332