CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team will take an short excursion to Jamestown, N.D. Tues., Nov. 21 to take on University of Jamestown at 7 p.m. The Golden Eagles will take on the NAIA-affiliate Jimmies in the brand new Harold Newman Arena in Jamestown, N.D.

The Golden Eagles come into the weekend with a 2-2 mark on the season after securing two wins at home last week over University of Sioux Falls and Oak Hills Christian College. The Golden Eagles showed poise amidst adversity Saturday against the Cougars as they were down 14 points at the break to USF. The Golden Eagles came out with a better offensive flow in the second half as they outscored the Cougars 55-36 in the second half while shooting 51.7 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond the arc.

Minnesota Crookston has transformed their offense this season as they have one of the highest scoring offenses in the NSIC, averaging 88.0 points per game. Defensively, the Golden Eagles are coming off a strong performance against Sioux Falls in which they limited a team who was averaging 93.3 points per game to just 74.

The Golden Eagles are led by the backcourt play of their duo of Harrison Cleary (So., G, Oak Creek, Wis.) and Alan Hodge, Jr. (Jr., G, Dallas, Texas). Cleary is off to a strong sophomore campaign after earning All-NSIC Second Team and NSIC Freshman of the Year honors. Cleary comes in averaging 23.3 points and 4.8 assists per game. Hodge, a transfer from Southwestern College in Kansas, comes in notching 21.3 points per game. Hodge has been prolific from distance as he is shooting 40.0 percent from beyond the arc.

Chase Knickerbocker (Jr., G/F, Annandale, Minn.) has also been a thorn in opposing team's side as he is averaging 15.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Knickerbocker was instrumental in Minnesota Crookston's second-half charge against Sioux Falls with his 14 points in the half. Knickerbocker finished with 17 points against the Cougars. He comes in shooting 46.7 percent from behind the three-point line.

In the post, Gable Smith (R-Jr., F, Lodi, Wis.) has led the team on the glass with 7.3 rebounds per game. Smith is averaging 6.3 points per game. He also has notched eight blocks on the season. Chase Johnson (So., F, La Crosse, Wis.) has been off to a slow start with his 3.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.

Off the bench, the Golden Eagles look to Ben Juhl (Fr., G, Clive, Iowa), who is averaging 10.5 points per game. Darin Viken (Jr., G, Fosston, Minn.) has also been a key player off the bench as he had a crucial put-back late in the game against USF. Javier Nicolau (So., F/C, Castellon, Spain) spells Smith and Johnson in the post.

Other Notables

• The Golden Eagles are 2-0 in regular-season games against Jamestown in the Dan Weisse Era. Minnesota Crookston won the last meeting between the two schools Nov. 22 73-69. The Golden Eagles looked to 23 points from Cleary and a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds from Smith.
• Minnesota Crookston is averaging 14.0 points more per game from last season after tallying 74.0 points per game.
• The Golden Eagles are second in scoring offense in the NSIC
• Minnesota Crookston has the third-highest shooting percentage in the NSIC at 49.8 percent
• Harrison Cleary comes in with an assist/turnover ratio of 5.0

Minnesota Crookston at Jamestown
Tues., Nov. 21 – 7 p.m. – Harold Newman Arena – Jamestown, N.D.
Live Stats - http://www.dakstats.com/Websync/Pages/Webcasts.aspx?association=10
Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/jamestown/
Radio – 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM

Minnesota Crookston Projected Starters
So. PG 0 Harrison Cleary (6-1 180, Oak Creek, Wis.), 23.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.8 apg
Jr. SG 1 Alan Hodge, Jr. (6-0 191, Dallas, Texas), 21.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg
Jr. 3G 25 Chase Knickerbocker (6-7 193, Annandale, Minn.), 15.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg
R-Jr. SF 24 Gable Smith (6-7 211, Lodi, Wis.), 6.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg
So. PF 21 Chase Johnson (6-8 240, La Crosse, Wis.), 3.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg

Jamestown Projected Starters
Jr. PG 5 Jon Purintun (6-2 185, Linton, N.D.), 17.1 ppg, 4.0 apg
Jr. SG 1 Kevin Oberweiser (6-0 167, Drummond, Mont.), 14.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.8 apg
Sr. 3G 2 Ben Weisbeck (6-2 200, Bismarck, N.D.), 14.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg
Sr. SF 14 Sam Johnson (6-4 185, Mora, Minn.), 9.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg
So. PF 23 Leighton Sampson (6-6 241, Worthington, Minn.), 20.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg

Jamestown has a 6-2 mark on the season coming into Tuesday. The Jimmies are 6-1 in their new friendly confines of the Newman Center. Jamestown had previously played their home games at the Jamestown Civic Center.

The Jimmies are known for running smaller, guard-oriented lineups. Jamestown has a high-octane offense that is scoring 101.5 points per game and giving up just 79.4 points per game to their opponents. They come in shooting 54.5 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from beyond the arc. Jamestown has looked to forward Leighton Sampson, a Dordt College transfer. Sampson is averaging 20.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Guard Jon Purintun has also been effective with 17.1 points and 4.0 assists per game. Purintun is shooting 45.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Jamestown also has two more transfers that have made impacts on their starting line-up. Montana State University-Northern transfer Kevin Oberweiser, comes in averaging 14.3 points and 3.8 assists per game. Oberweiser shoots 50 percent from distance. Augustana University transfer Ben Weisbeck has been potent with his 14.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Weisbeck is shooting 64.7 percent from the field.

Jamestown coming into the week out-rebounding their foes by the tune of 40.6 to 32.1.

The Jimmies picked up a win over NSIC member University of Mary and just narrowly fell 67-60 to Northern State University. Jamestown beat nationally-ranked Dakota Wesleyan University.