Game Notes

Gameday Info

Away Team: Bemidji State University (7-6, 5-4 NSIC)
Home Team: University of Minnesota, Crookston (3-10, 0-9 NSIC)
Date: Tues., Jan. 15, 8 p.m.
Arena: Lysaker Gymnasium
Live Stats: https://netfiles.umn.edu/users/smithsd/livestats/xlive.htm
Twitter: UMCAthletics
Facebook: Golden Eagle Sports

• Battle of the Quarterbacks
    In this day and age it is rare to have a two-sport athlete but both Bemidji State University and University of Minnesota, Crookston have an even rarer occurence, a starting quarterback who also competes on the basketball team. Lance Rongstad and A.J. Barge will both suit up Tuesday for their respective squads. Rongstad has been at it a lot longer as he is in his fourth season playing both sports. Rongstad currently averages 8.0 points per game while starting 10 games this season. Barge just joined the Golden Eagles at the break and made his first game appearance Friday against Wayne State with four points and one rebound in five minutes of play.


•Lubke on Fire from Downtown
    Tim Lubke (So., G, St. Paul, Minn.) hit five three-pointers to give the Golden Eagles a chance against University of Mary. After his success against U-Mary Lubke's three-point percentage catapulted and is now at 53.3 percent, which is second in the entire NSIC. The Golden Eagles will look to continue to hope Lubke's hot shooting continues as UMC faces Bemidji State Tuesday. Lubke didn't get a lot of shots off on the weekend against Augustana and Wayne State.

•Added Production from Rake
    The Golden Eagles have been looking for their seniors to step up and Justin Rake has done just that of late. Rake had a season-high 17 points Saturday versus Augustana. In the last four games, he is averaging 11.0 points per game including tallying double figures against both Augie and MSU Moorhead, two games the Golden Eagles had a chance in late.

The Scoop
        The University of Minnesota, Crookston men's and women's basketball teams will take to the court for a mid-week showdown against Bemidji State University Tuesday at Lysaker Gymnasium. The women's game is slated to start at 6 p.m. while the men's game will commence at 8 p.m.


Previewing the Golden Eagles
    Men
    The UMC men's basketball team was swept last weekend at home as they fell decisively to Wayne State College Friday 66-41 but bounced back for a hard-fought game against Augustana College, in which they lost 70-64.
    UMC has been led this season by junior college transfer Brandon Burns (F, Baton Rouge, La.). The 6-6 Burns comes in averaging 12.2 points per game. Burns struggled Friday, being held scoreless by the Wildcats but bounced back with 18 points versus Augustana. Senior point guard Almir Krdzalic (G, Sioux Falls, S.D.) has also put together a solid start to the season as he is averaging 9.8 points per game. Krdzalic had his best outing of the season with 18 points versus Augustana Saturday. UMC however needs to find added production from its three other starters in James Sparkman (R-Jr., F, Ypsilanti, Mich.), Justin Rake (Sr., G, Petal, Miss.) and Abdou Niang (Sr., F, Dakar, Senegal). Rake stepped up last weekend with six points versus Wayne State and 17 against Augustana. He is averaging 7.6 points per game. Niang is a vital cog for UMC as he replaces Broderick Schmidt (Sr., F, Marion, S.D.) who is currently out with an injury. Niang and junior college transfer Dominique Wright (So., F, Colorado Springs, Colo.) will be important in filling the void left by Schmidt.

Previewing the Beavers

    Men
    The Bemidji State men's basketball team currently boasts a 7-6 (5-4NSIC) mark as they played two highly contested home games last weekend earning a two-point win over Augustana but falling by the same margin to Wayne State Saturday.. The Beavers are currently in their first year under head coach Mike Boschee, who came over from Central College in Iowa to replace the departed Matt Bowen, who went over to University of Minnesota Duluth.
    The Beavers have three players averaging double-figure scoring on the season. Dermaine Crockrell leads the team averaging 13.8 points per game. Forward Mason Walters comes in averaging 12.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while forward Zach Noreen is averaging 10.8 points per game. BSU is a dangerous team from beyond the arc as they are shooting 36.3 percent from beyond the arc led by six players shooting over 35.0 percent. Reserve Jake Schalow leads the team shooting 63.6 percent from beyond the arc while Noreen is shooting 42.3 percent from beyond the arc and Sean Jones is shooting 38.9 percent from trey. Bemidji State is averaging 68.3 points per game compared to their foes who are averaging 63.4 percent. The Beavers are out-rebounding their opponents 33.5 to 30.2 this season.