CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team will continue their two-game home stand with a match-up against University of Sioux Falls Sat., Nov. 18 at 3:30 p.m. The Golden Eagles take on the Cougars in non-conference play. Sioux Falls came away with a narrow 69-60 win over the Golden Eagles last season at Lysaker Gymnasium.
Minnesota Crookston comes into the weekend with a 1-2 mark. The Golden Eagles had hard-fought losses to the top two GAC teams in Arkansas Tech University and University of Arkansas-Monticello in their first two games. Tuesday, Minnesota Crookston came away with a dominant 104-68 win over Oak Hills Christian College.
The Golden Eagles have been a high-scoring team this season as they have topped the century mark twice in three games. Minnesota Crookston comes in averaging 91.0 points per game. They are shooting 51.2 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from beyond the arc.
The key for the Golden Eagles through three games is improving a defense that is giving up 84.3 points per game and allowing opponents to shoot 51.3 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from behind the three-point line.
Minnesota Crookston has four players averaging double-figure scoring this season. They have been led by their guard court with Alan Hodge, Jr. (Jr., G, Dallas, Texas) guiding the team with 21.7 points per game. Hodge comes in shooting 52.2 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from beyond the arc. In addition, his backcourt mate Harrison Cleary (So., G, Oak Creek, Wis.) has continued his strong play from last season in which he was named NSIC Freshman of the Year. Cleary is notching 20.0 points per game, while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from behind the three-point line. Off the bench, look for Ben Juhl (Fr., G, Clive, Iowa) to continue to make a major impact. Juhl is averaging 13.7 points per game. He is shooting 55.2 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from beyond the arc.
On the wing, Chase Knickerbocker (Jr., G/F, Annandale, Minn.) has been an inside/outside player. Knickerbocker is averaging 14.3 points and is bringing down 6.0 rebounds per game.
In the post, Gable Smith (R-Jr., F, Lodi, Wis.) leads the team with 6.7 rebounds per game and has tallied 7.0 points per game. The Golden Eagles have played smaller line-ups so far, so neither Smith nor Chase Johnson (So., F, La Crosse, Wis.) have been able to showcase their abilities as much. Johnson comes in averaging 3.7 points and 3.7 boards per game.
Sioux Falls vs. Minnesota Crookston
Sat., Nov. 18 – 3:30 p.m. – Lysaker Gymnasium
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/mbball/
Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/#liveEventsTab
Radio – 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM
Sioux Falls comes in with a 3-0 mark on the season. The Cougars opened the season with a pair of overtime wins against Emporia State University and Fort Hays State University. They picked up a 90-49 win at home over University of Wisconsin-Superior earlier this week.
USF has looked to junior college transfer Trevon Evans, who had an instant impact in his opening weekend. Evans was named NSIC South Player of the Week after big games against Emporia State and Fort Hays State. He has averaged 24.0 points and 8.7 rebounds per game through three games. Evans is shooting 50.0 percent from beyond the arc.
In addition, Drew Guebert returns on the inside for the Cougars. He is also off to a strong start with 22.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Guebert is shooting 54.3 percent from the field. West Texas A&M University transfer Jerrod Walton has also been strong with 10.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Teathloach Pal has been big off the bench as he is tallying 6.7 boards per game. He is also averaging 7.7 points per game. Sioux Falls comes into the weekend shooting 51.8 percent from the field and 42.6 percent from beyond the arc. They are averaging 93.3 points per game and giving up 76.7 points per contest to their foes.
