Division II Media Poll, presented by D2SIDA Week #9 (Jan. 19, 2016)
Despite slipping on a weekend road trip last week, the University of Minnesota Duluth remains the 27th highest ranked team in the NCAA Division II Media Poll, presented by D2SIDA. UMD (13-5, 9-3 NSIC) returns to Romano Gym this weekend hosting Minot State University and the University of Mary in a pair of key Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division match-ups.
SCOUTING THE BEAVERS | 9-9, 4-8 NSIC
Minot State has won 5-of-7 entering play this weekend but has yet to pick up a victory on the road this season ... the Beavers knocked off Winona State University last time out, 63-46 in Minot ... sophomore forward Tyler Rudolph is the only regular averaging 10+ points per game on the year for the Beavers, scoring 18.2 points and 8.7 rebounds on average this year ... senior guard Michael Pelo has averaged 10.3 points per game coming off the bench in the last seven outings for MSU ... head coach Matt Murken is in his fourth seeason leading Minot State ... UMD owns a 4-3 all-time record against the Beavers including an 83-80 victory last season on Feb. 21, 2015.
SCOUTING THE MARAUDERS | 13-5, 8-4 NSIC
U-Mary surged towards the top of the NSIC North to start the season, but has fallen in three straight entering the weekend ... the Marauders will meet up with St. Cloud State Friday night before coming to Duluth ... U-Mary has had the same starting five throughout the season with three players averaging 10+ points on the year ... junior forward Bryan Jefferson leads the way averaging 14.9 points and 6.6 rebounds on the year ... senior guard Marquealis Edwards averageds 13.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game ... head coach Joe Kittell is in his first season at Mary ... the Bulldogs are 8-5 all-time against the Marauders including a 63-60 victory last season on Feb. 20, 2015.
FREE THROWSUMD fell in back-to-back games for the first time all season, slipping in both ends of a weekend road trip to Wayne State (Neb.) College and No. 2 Augustana (S.D.) University ... senior forward
Brendon Pineda matched his career high with 35 points against Wayne State; he shot 65.2 percent on the week and averaged a team-high 5.5 rebounds and 21.0 points on the week ... junior center
Jake Harder played the most minutes of his season in both games, matching up against the big men from both teams and averaged a team-high 5.5 rebounds per game alongside Pineda ... Harder wrapped up a week in which he was awarded the NSIC's Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinciton Award ... senior guard
Pierre Newton followed up an NSIC Player of the Week selection scoring 17.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game along with a 45.2 shooting percentage.
HOW TO FOLLOWLive Stats & Video (both games)
UP NEXTThe Bulldogs will go to battle this weekend in Duluth beginning Friday night against Minot State. Opening tip is set for 8:00 p.m., following the women's contest at Romano Gym.
