RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota School of Mines men's basketball team has a short way to go this weekend as the Hardrockers will be in Spearfish, S.D., for the second annual East vs. West Challenge. SD Mines faces the No. 15 ranked Northern State Wolves Friday and then squares off with Augustana University Saturday. Both tipoffs are slated for 5:30 p.m. MDT.
The Hardrockers are coming off two competitive games from last weekend notching a win over Texas A&M International, 91-66, after falling by one point, 70-69, against Texas A&M Kingsville.
The Hardrockers are shooting 47.1 percent from the field, 45.9 percent from the 3-point line, and 69.2 percent from the foul line this season; averaging 80.0 points, 39.5 rebounds, 16.0 assists, 16.5 turnovers, 3.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. SD Mines is out-scoring their opponents by 12.0 points and out-rebounding their opponents by 11.0 boards per game.
Jack Fiddler leads the team overall and off the bench averaging 16.0 points per game, shooting 66.7 percent from the floor and 80.0 percent from the 3-point line;
Wilfred Dickson and
Troy Brady lead the starters averaging 15.0 and 10.5 points per game respectively, both shooting above 50.0 percent from the field thus far;
Logan Elers leads the team on the glass averaging 8.0 rebounds per game, as well as 7.0 points per game with a 60.0 field goal percentage
Northern State heads into the weekend following two losses to Southeastern Oklahoma and No. 9 Southern Nazarene to open the year. The Wolves are shooting 40.3 percent from the field, 22.7 percent from beyond the arc, and 62.5 percent from the foul line this season. They are averaging 62.5 points, 40.5 rebounds, 12.0 assists, 11.5 turnovers, 4.0 steals, and 5.0 blocks per game; being out-scored by their opponents by 8.5 points and out-rebounding their opponents by 2.0 boards per game.
Parker Fox leads the team after a career weekend, notching highs in points rebounds and assists; the sophomore is averaging 20.0 points and 13.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 51.4 percent from the floor; Gabe King is second on the team averaging 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, shooting 47.6 percent from field goal range; Mason Stark leads the Wolves off the bench averaging 12.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, while shooting a team leading 60.0 percent from the floor and 57.1 percent from the 3-point line; Tommy Chatman made the first two starts of his Northern State career, averaging 7.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game with a team high eight assists.
Augustana comes into the weekend with two exhibition wins, defeating Cornell College, 110-61, followed by an 88-58 victory over Concordia Moorhead. The Vikings are shooting 41 percent from field goal range, 26 percent from downtown and making good on 41-50 free throws in the first two outings.
Individually, Matt Cartwright leads Augustana averaging 22 points a game, followed by Michael Schafer with 16 points a night and Tyler Riemersma is contributing with nine points a game and leads the team in rebounding, grabbing 10 boards a game.
