Aberdeen, S.D. (NSUWolves.com) – The 2019-20 Northern State University men’s and women’s basketball schedules were released today. Fans are reminded that all home NSIC doubleheaders are played at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Friday evenings and 4 and 6 p.m. on Saturday’s, with the Northern State women playing the opening game. Game times for non-conference home game vary and are all listed on the full schedules linked to the right.
Fans can purchase or renew the 2019-20 Wolves Club season tickets starting today. Contact Austin Hieb at 605-228-9514 or email the wolvesclub@northern.edu to purchase your tickets today.
“This year’s schedule should be entertaining for our fans as well as a great challenge for our team,” noted Saul Phillips, head men’s basketball coach. “Our preseason pits us against some excellent teams, as well as Wolves alumni who will to bring their teams back to Aberdeen. The NSIC conference slate is as tough as any in Division II. I can’t wait to take on challenges ahead with this group.”
“We are playing an all Division II non-conference schedule that includes several regional opponents,” explained head women’s coach, Paula Krueger. “The solid competition in the preseason will help us prepare for NSIC play. The regional games will play an important role in post season opportunities.”
Both the men and women will open the 2019-20 season against regional opponents on November 8 and 9. The Wolves men are on the road in Oklahoma City facing off against Southeastern Oklahoma and Southern Nazarene, while the NSU women will host the Inaugural Central Region Challenge from the Barnett Center; facing off against Central Missouri and Rogers State.
The following week remains very much the same, as the NSU men travel to Spearfish and the East West Challenge versus South Dakota Mines and Black Hills State. The Wolves women will resume play in the confines of Wachs Arena versus Black Hills State and Emporia State on November 15 and 17.
November 22 and 23 bring the home opener for the Northern State men, who host the second annual Dacotah Bank Classic with games versus CSU Pueblo and Chadron State. Meanwhile, the NSU women open conference play on the road at MSU Moorhead on November 21.
The two teams conclude the month of November on the road once again. The women head to Colorado for the Metro State Thanksgiving Classic, facing off against Metro State and Colorado Christian on November 29 and 30, while the men open their league slate at MSU Moorhead on November 30.
The combined NSIC schedule kicks off for the Wolves at home on December 6 and 7 versus Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston, before hitting the road the following weekend at Minot State and UMary. The men and women wrap up 2019 on the 21st of December 21 from Wachs Arena with a pair of contests versus MSU Moorhead.
January opens with Northern in Aberdeen, hosting Upper Iowa and Winona State on the 3rd and 4th. The Wolves head to the bus for a 4-game road trip versus Minnesota Crookston, Bemidji State, Augustana, and Wayne State. The doubleheader versus the Vikings will be aired on Midco Sports Network.
The four games on the road are followed by four games at home, with the Wolves matching up against St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth on January 24 and 25, and Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State on January 31 and February 1. The Golden Bears and Mavericks are welcomed to Wachs Arena for the annual I Hate Winter weekend, with Saturday’s contest airing on Midco Sports Network.
Four more road games are on-tap for the Wolves in the following weeks, as Northern heads to Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State on February 7 and 8, and Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State on February 14 and 15. NSU concludes the regular season versus UMary and Minot State on February 21 and 22 in Aberdeen.
The NSIC Tournament opens on February 26 with the top seeded teams hosting the first round. The advancing teams then travel to the Sanford Pentagon for the quarterfinal, semifinal, and championships games scheduled for February 29 through March 2.