Game Notes

Gameday Info

Away Team: University of Minnesota, Crookston (3-6 (0-5 NSIC)
Home Team: Minnesota State University Moorhead (10-1(4-1 NSIC)
Date: Fri., Jan. 4, 8 p.m.
Arena: Alex Nemzek Hall
Live Stats: http://web.mnstate.edu/livestats/basketball/xlive.htm
Away Team: University of Minnesota, Crookston (3-6 (0-5 NSIC)
Home Team: Northern State University (9-3 (4-1 NSIC)
Date: Sat., Jan. 5, 7 p.m.
Arena: Wachs Arena
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/northern/mbball/scoreboard.aspx
Radio: KROX 1260 AM (Friday Only)
Twitter: UMCAthletics

Quick Hits

• From Gridiron to Hardwood
    The University of Minnesota, Crookston has added Golden Eagle starting quarterback A.J. Barge (R-Fr., G, Carrollton, Ga.) to the men's basketball roster for the second semester. Barge set several passing records as he led UMC to two NSIC victories this season. Barge passed for over 1,600 yards on the season. He will hope his success continues on the hardwood as he joins Bemidji State's Lance Rongstad as starting NSIC quarterbacks who also play basketball for their respective teams.

•Lubke On Fire From Downtown
    Tim Lubke (So., G, St. Paul, Minn.) hit five three-pointers to give the Golden Eagles a chance in their last game against University of Mary. After his success in the last game, Lubke's three-point percentage catapulted to 57.1 percent, which leads the entire NSIC. The Golden Eagles will look to continue to hope Lubke's hot shooting continues as UMC faces MSU Moorhead and Northern State this weekend.


•Looking For Scoring
    The Golden Eagles have struggled to put points on the board this season as they are only averaging 60.3 points per game this season. Their opponents on the weekend come in averaging 77.5 points (MSU Moorhead) and 72.9 points (Northern State). The Golden Eagles will look for improved play from it's whole arsenal as the 2012-13 season moves forward.

•Looking For First Conference Victory
    UMC is in search of its first NSIC victory of the 2012-13 campaign heading into the weekend after starting the season with a 3-1 mark following the non-conference slate.

The Scoop

    The University of Minnesota, Crookston men's basketball team will commence the 2013 portion of their slate with a pair of tough contests on the road against Minnesota State University Moorhead and Northern State University. The Golden Eagles are in search of their first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) victory this season.

Previewing the Golden Eagles

    The University of Minnesota, Crookston men's basketball team enters the weekend with a 3-6 (0-5 NSIC) mark. The Golden Eagles are led by junior college transfer forward Brandon Burns (Baton Rouge, La.), who is averaging 13.8 points per game so far this season. Almir Krdzalic (Sr., G, Sioux Falls, S.D.) also comes into the contest averaging double-figure scoring as he is averaging 10.4 points per game coming into Friday. The Golden Eagles are coming off of a couple of close games before break with a eight-point loss to Minot State University and a one-point last-second loss to University of Mary. The Golden Eagles will look to build off of solid performances in the losses as they take on the Dragons and Wolves this weekend. Much of the success against the Marauders was due to the strong shooting off the bench from Tim Lubke (So., G, St. Paul, Minn.), who scored 15 points for UMC.
    The Golden Eagles are led on the boards by Abdou Niang (Sr., F, Dakar, Senegal), who comes in averaging 5.8 rebounds per game while Justin Rake (Sr., G, Petal, Miss.) is averaging 4.7 points per game and James Sparkman (R-Jr., F, Ypsilanti, Mich.) is averaging 4.4 points per game.

Previewing the Dragons

    Minnesota State University Moorhead has had a very strong start to the 2012-13 campaign as they come into the weekend with a 10-1 (4-1 NSIC) mark. The Dragons have a very potent offensive attack led by Winona State University/University of Iowa transfer Anthony Tucker, who is averaging 21.0 points per game. He is joined by senior forward Alex Novak, who comes in averaging 13.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game while Jordan Riewer is averaging 12.1 points per game. The Dragons have won their last five games coming into the weekend. Their only loss on the season came at the hands of Northern State
University Dec. 1.

Previewing the Wolves

    Northern State University comes into the weekend with a 9-3 (4-1 NSIC) record. The Wolves only conference loss this season came to St. Cloud State University Dec. 14. They are the only team to defeat Minnesota State University Moorhead this season.
Northern State is led offensively by senior forward Colin Pryor's 14.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. He is joined by three-point threat Michael Emge's 11.9 points per game and University of South Dakota transfer Dustin Tetzlaff's 10.4 points per game. Emge comes into the weekend shooting 49.2 percent from beyond the arc and is one of three NSU players shooting 37 percent or better from downtown. He is joined by Mack Arvidson's 41.7 percent and Skye Warwicks 37.0 percent from beyond the arc.