MBB Preview: Blue Devils take their show to Vegas for two games

Live Stats vs. Pacific Lutheran | Live Video vs. Pacific Lutheran | Live Stats vs. Skidmore | Live Video vs. Skidmore

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (3-5, 0-0 WIAC) will close out the 2015 calendar year with a trip to Las Vegas, Nev., where they will play in the D3hoops.com Classic. Stout will meet Pacific Lutheran College, (7-2, 2-0 NWC) Tuesday, Dec. 29 at 8 p.m. (CT) and Skidmore College, (4-4, 0-0 NESCAC) Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. (CT). The Blue Devils have never met either program and will mark the conclusion of the non-conference portion of the schedule. Stout will get conference play underway, Wednesday, Jan. 6 when they host UW-Whitewater.

WEBCASTS: All of the games at the D3hoops.com Classic will be available in a live video stream and via Live Stats. All UW-Stout home games will be available in a live video stream by Blue Devil Video, with Sam Ripp on the call. WMEQ 880 Radio, with Pete Knutson, Jay Fahl or Jake Bostrom, will broadcast and provide a live audio stream of away conference games and a select number of home games. Stout will provide Live Stats for all home games. Check the Blue Devil Webcast page or the schedule page to see broadcasts and Live Stats available when Stout is on the road.

CAREER STATS: Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this page to check out the UW-Stout career high for points, rebounds, and assists of each Blue Devil player.

A LOOK AT THE BLUE DEVILS: John Keefe has emerged as the team's leading scorer and is currently averaging 16.1 points per contest. Jalen Patterson has has upped his average to 9.6 points.  Isaac Elliott is averaging 8.5 points. John Lahti is averaging 7.9 points and a team-best 5.5 rebounds.  While the Blue Devils are outrebounding their opponents 36.6-32.2, they are doing it by committee. Only Lahti (5.5) and Colton Williams (4.0) are averaging 4.0 rebounds or more. Keefe is the team's assists leader, dishing out 6.1 per contest. | 2015-16 Statistics

A QUICK BLUE DEVILS PREVIEW: UW-Stout returns eight of its top-10 scorers from last year, including junior guard Brett Ahsenmacher who was second on the team with 8.9 points per contest. The roster includes two seniors, seven juniors, seven sophomores and 10 freshmen - of the newcomers, four are transfers. Due to injuries last season, the Blue Devils had only three players that participated in all 25 games, and utilized 12 different starting lineups. UW-Stout will play just four of its first 10 games at Johnson Fieldhouse. The Blue Devils will look to shake off a 3-22 season.

Until Hank and Reggie Kujak returned to the squad at the conclusion of the football season, junior guard Brett Ahsenmacher brought the most experience to the Blue Devils. Coming into the season, Ahsenmacher played in 50-of-52 games over his career, and started 22 of the 24 games he played in last year, but was injured early this season and played in only the first game of the season.

Jalen Patterson showed flashes last season, finishing the year averaging 6.8 points. Patterson's 13 blocked shots averaged 0.62 per contest and ranked sixth in the WIAC...guard John Keefe exploded for 30 points early in the season against Bethany Lutheran and finsihed the season averaging 6.5 points. John Lahti saw considerable time in the paint, starting 14 games during his freshman season. Lahti, Sam Ortmann and Isaac Elliott are the only three players last season to have seen action in all 25 games. Stout last season lost seven conference games by seven points or less. | 2015-16 Statistics

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT: UW-Stout came back from a 12-point second half deficit, but came up just short, seeing a potential game tying 3-pointer fall off the rim at the final buzzer and the University of Northwestern carried a 66-63 win out of Johnson Fieldhouse Dec. 15. After trailing 57-45 with eight minutes left in the contest, Stout cut the lead and got to three points, 66-63, on Justin Thomas' layup with less than seconds remaining. John Keefe stole the inbound pass, but could not get the layup to fall. Stout did get the rebound and, following a timeout, worked the ball around to Isaac Elliott who took the 3-point shot, only to see the ball rim out. | Story and Box Score


SCOUTING PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY: PLU is looking to turn around an 8-17 overall and 6-10 conference finish from last season, and with seven wins already this season, are well on the way. Outscoring their opponents 82.6-66.8, the Lutes have four players scoring in double digits, led by Brandon Lester (18.3) and followed by Dylan Foreman (17.8), Bryce Miller (12.7) and Seth Anderson (10.0). Jared Christy is leading the team on the boards, averaging 7.2 caroms. In their home opener, the Lutes recorded a 130-52 win over Northwest Indian College.  | Lutes Statistics

LUTES LAST TIME OUT: The Lutes lost only their second regular season game, a 93-83 decision at Evergreen State College, Dec. 11. PLU's only other loss came in their own Thanksgiving tournament, a 62-58 first round loss to the University of Chicago. The Lutes will play Mary Hardin-Baylor the day before they meet UW-Stout. A hot-shooting second half helped Evergreen surpass Pacific Lutheran in the second half as the Geoducks defeated PLU 93-83 in a nonconference men's basketball game Dec. 11.  | Evergreen Game Story and Statistics

LAST TIME STOUT AND PACIFIC LUTHERAN MET: The teams have never met. |  Story and Statistics


SCOUTING SKIDMORE COLLEGE: Skidmore returns four starters and 10 players from a team that won a program-record 20 games last season and were picked to repeat as the Liberty League champions. The Thoroughbreds are led by 2014-15 Liberty League Co-Player of the Year, senior guard Aldin Medunjanin, who averaged 14.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists. The sure-handed Medunjanin had 116 assists with only 51 turnovers while averaging 33.5 minutes per game. Senior forward Erik Sanders, an All-Liberty League second-team selection, also returns after contributing 14.6 points along with 5.2 rebounds last season. The Thoroughbreds will have to replace all-league first-team forward Connor Merrill, the program's all-time leader in blocked shots who also ranks in the top ten in scoring and rebounding. The Thoroughbreds have three players averaging in double digit scoring this year - Erik Sanders, 16.8; Edvinas Rupkus, 15.2; and Medunjanin, 14.0. Sanders is averaging 8.2 rebounds. Skidmore is outscoring their opponents, 81.2-70.5.  |  Thoroughbreds Statistics

THOROUGHBREDS LAST TIME OUT:  Skidmore lost their first game of the season to Ithaca College but are currently on a five game winning streak since then. Skidmore will play Ramapo College in Las Vegas two days before they meet the Blue Devils. Freshman Edvinas Rupkus scored a game-high 24 points, earning Liberty League rookie of the week honors, and senior Erik Sanders added 19 points to lead Skidmore College to an 82-77 win over Middlebury College, Dec. 5.   | Crown Game Story and Statistics

LAST TIME STOUT AND SKIDMORE MET: This is the first meeting between the two programs |  Story and Statistics


AWARDS AND HONORS: John Keefe was selected as the UW-Stout/Northwestern Mutual Athlete of the Week, Dec. 7 after scoring 26 and 24 points in back-to-back games...Isaac Elliott was named to the Buzz Levick all tournament team at Wartburg College, Nov. 21...(last season) Brett Ahsenmacher was selected as the UW-Stout Northwestern Mutual athlete of the week, Jan. 5, after his performance at the St. Norbert Tournament...Brett Ahsenmacher was selected to the all-tournament team at the Nicolet National Bank Holiday Tournament hosted by St. Norbert College, Dec. 29-30...Jarvis Ragland was selected as the UW-Stout Northwestern Mutual athlete of the week, Dec. 1 and as the WIAC Athlete of the Week Dec. 2 after averaging 22.5 points during the UW-Stout Thanksgiving Turkey Shootout.

TEAM CAPTAINS: Blue Devil team captain for the 2015-16 season is Brett Ahsenmacher.

VARSITY RESERVE: The Blue Devils have a number of varsity reserve games on their schedule. Stout defeated UW-Barron County, 92-74, Nov. 17. The Blue Devils will take on UW-Superior (Dec. 1, W 79-47), St. Mary's (Dec. 3, L,82-57; Jan. 28), and UW-Eau Claire (Jan. 13, Jan. 30).

THE COACHES: UW-Stout: Eddie Andrist (189-204 at Stout, 439-395 overall) is in his 16th year as the coach of the Blue Devils, and his 26th overall in the collegiate ranks. Andrist led the Blue Devils to their first NCAA Division III appearance five seasons ago when Stout advanced to the second round. Andrist coached at Mount Senario for 11 seasons and won three national championships. Andrist spent two stints coaching international basketball, working with the country of Qatar. 

CONFERENCES: Stout is a member of the nine team Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) along with UW-La Crosse, UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Platteville, UW-Whitewater and UW-River Falls. Superior left the conference after the 2014-15 season.

UP NEXT: The Blue Devils will open conference play when they host UW-Whitewater, Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m., then will travel to UW-River Falls, Saturday, Jan. 9 at 5 p.m.

UW-Stout 2015-16 Individual Season Highs (Updated December 16, 2015)

Points: 26, John Keefe vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 1, 2015
3-Pointers Made: 6, John Keefe vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 1, 2015
Rebounds: 11, John Lahti vs. University of Northwestern, Dec. 15, 2015
Assists: 9, John Keefe vs. Dubuque, Dec. 8, 2015
Steals: 7, Jalen Patterson vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015

UW-Stout 2015-16 Team Season Highs (Updated December 16, 2015)

Points: 93 vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015
Field Goals Made: 35 vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015
Field Goal Percentage: .554 vs. Emmaus Bible College, Nov. 21, 2015
3-Pointers Made: 12 vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 1, 2015
Free Throws Made: 17 vs.Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015
Free Throw Percentage: .750 vs. Dubuque, Dec. 8, 2015
Rebounds: 46 vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015
Assists: 23 vs. Emmaus Bible College, Nov. 21, 2015
Steals: 13 vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015
Double-Doubles:   (2014-15 season) Jarvis Ragland (4x), 25 points, 15 rebounds vs, Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 3, 2014; 18 points, 10 rebounds vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 10, 2015; 21 points, 11 rebounds vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 14, 2015; 21 points, 10 rebounds vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 31, 2015.


UW-Stout Career Bests (updated December 16, 2015)

Jacob Nordstrom - #3
Points: 6 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Rebounds: 7 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: 1 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015

Solon Ellis - #4
Points: x
Rebounds: 1 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: x

Brandyn Christman - #5
Points: 9 vs. Dubuque, Dec. 8, 2015
Rebounds: 2 (2x)  vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 1, 2015; vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: 1 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015

Jerry Butler
Points: 1 vs. Monmouth College, Nov. 20, 2015
Rebounds: 3 vs. Monmouth, Nov. 20, 2015
Assists: 1 vs.Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015

Caleub Watkins - #10
Points: 3 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Rebounds: 2 (2x) vs. Buena Vista, Dec. 5, 2015; vs. UM-Crookston, Nov. 14, 2015
Assists: x

John Keefe - #11
Points: 30 vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 3, 2014
Rebounds: 7 vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 1, 2015
Assists: 9 vs.Dubuque, Dec. 8, 2015

Zach Dahl - #12
Points: x
Rebounds: 2 vs. Monmouth College, Nov. 20, 2015
Assists: x

Brett Ahsenmacher - #13
Points: 22 vs. John Carroll University, Dec. 29, 2014
Rebounds: 5 vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 7, 2015
Assists: 4 vs. UW-Whitewater, Feb. 21, 2015

Isaac Elliott - #14
Points: 14 (3x) vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015; vs. Monmouth College, Nov. 20, 2015; vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 21, 2015
Rebounds: 6 vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015
Assists: 2 (3x) vs. University of Northwestern, Dec. 15, 2015; vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015; vs. Northwestern, Dec. 20, 2014.

Jalen Patterson - #15
Points: 19 vs.Buena Vista, Dec. 5, 2015
Rebounds: 9 vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015
Assists: 4 vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 1, 2015

Justin Thomas - #21
Points: 13 (2x) vs. University of Northwestern, Dec. 15, 2015; vs. Buena Vista, Dec. 5, 2015
Rebounds: 4 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: 1  s. UW-Superior, Dec. 1, 2015

Cory Speer -  #23
Points: 5 vs. Ripon College, Nov. 15, 2014
Rebounds: 4 vs. UM-Crookston, Nov. 15, 2015
Assists: 5 vs. Viterbo University, Nov. 19, 2014:

Sam Ortmann - #24
Points: 10 (2x) vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 31, 2015; vs. John Carroll University, Dec. 29, 2014
Rebounds: 6 vs. Dubuque, Dec. 8, 2015
Assists: 6 vs. John Carroll University, Dec. 29, 2014

Luke Murphy - #32
Points: 6 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Rebounds: 2 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: 1 (2x) vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015; vs. UM-Crookston, Nov. 14, 2015

Hank Kujak - #33
Points: 17 vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 10, 2015
Rebounds: 9 (2x) vs. Dubuque, Dec. 8, 2015;  vs. John Carroll University, Dec. 29, 2014
Assists: 7 vs. Wartburg College, Nov. 29, 2014

Keegan Dickson - #34
Points: 7 vs. UM-Crookston, Nov. 14, 2015
Rebounds: 6 vs. UM-Crookston, Nov. 14, 2015
Assists: 2 (2x) vs. Buena Vista, Dec. 5, 2015; vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015

Colton Williams - #31
Points: 10 vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 1, 2015
Rebounds: 6 (2x)  vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 1, 2015; vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015
Assists: 3 vs. Wartburg College, Nov. 29, 2014

Reggie Kujak - #35
Points: 11 vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 30, 2014
Rebounds: 10 vs. John Carroll University, Dec. 29, 2014
Assists: 2 vs. UW-Stevens Point, Dec. 10, 2014

John Lahti - #42
Points: 16 vs. Dubuque, Dec. 8, 2015
Rebounds: 11 vs. University of Northwestern, Dec. 15, 2015
Assists: 2 (3x) vs. Buena Vista, Dec. 5, 2015; vs. UW-Whitewater, Feb. 21, 2015; vs. John Carroll University, Dec. 29, 2014

Mason Elsen - #44
Points: 2 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Rebounds: 2 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: x

Joe Haas - #45
Points: 2 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Rebounds: 1 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: x


The Last Time...(updated December 16, 2015)

A Stout Individual...
Scored 30 points: 30, John Keefe vs. Bethany Lutheran, (12/3/14)
Scored 25-29 points: 26, John Keefe vs. UW-Superior (12/1/15)
Recorded 15 rebounds: 15, Jarvis Ragland vs. Bethany Lutheran, (12/3/14)
Recorded 10 assists: 11, Erik Olson vs. UW-Stevens Point (2/13/13)
Recorded 6 steals: 8, by Jerrel Enerson-Matthews vs. Bethany Lutheran (11/21/08)

A Stout Team...
Had five players score in double digits:vs. Wartburg College, Nov. 29, 2014 - Jarvis Ragland (24), Isaac Elliott (11), John Keefe (10), Brett Ahsenmacher (10), John Lahti (10)
Had four players score in double digits: vs. UW-River Falls, Feb. 11, 2015 - Jalen Patterson (15), John Lahti (13), Jarvis Ragland (10), John Keefe (10)
Scored 105 points: 109, vs. Crown College (2/15/11)
Scored 100-104 points: 102 vs. Silver Lake College (2/17/2010)
Recorded 60 rebounds: 64, vs. Concordia-Texas (12/11/2011)
Recorded 55-59 rebounds: 56 vs. Northland College (11/24/12)
Recorded 25 assists: 25, vs. Silver Lake College (2/17/2010)
Won 10 or more games in a row: 10, 2005-06 season
Lost 5 or more games in a row: 14, 2014-15 season
Was held to 40 or fewer points in game: 40, vs. Plattsburgh State (12/30/13)

UW-Stout Individual Game Records
Most Points: 43, Chris Korba vs. UW-Oshkosh, 1991
Most Field Goals Attempted: 32, Bill Heideman vs. UW-River Falls, 1967-68
Most Field Goals Made: 17, Bill Heideman vs. UW-River Falls, 1967-68
Most 3-Point Field Goals Attempted: 14, Eric Hostetter vs.Crown College, 2010-11; Jeff Vandenberghe vs. Elmhurst, 12/13/03
Most 3-Point Field Goals Made: 9/14, Jeff Vandenberghe vs. Elmhurst, 12/13/03; 9/12, Jerrod Buchholtz vs. UW-River Falls 1/5/11
Consecutive Field Goals Made: 13, Craig Summers vs. E. Montana,1981-82
Best Field Goal Percentage: 100%, Tuwan Clayton (8/8) vs. Northwestern, 12/1/94; Jimmy Whitehead (8/8) at UW-Eau Claire, 1/25/14; Aaron Jenny (5/5) vs. Northland, 11/24/12; Josh Kosloske (5/5) at Luther College, 11/25/13; Brandon White Blackmon (5/5) vs. UW-La Crosse, 1/12/08
Most Free Throws Attempted: 22, Cal Glover vs. UW-Stevens Point, 1970-71
Most Free Throws Made: 16, Cal Glover vs. UW-Stevens Point, 1970-71; Troy Hamilton vs. Mt. Senario, 1989-90; Keith Moessner vs. UW-La Crosse, 1957-58
Consecutive Free Throws Made: 16, Cal Glover vs. UW-Superior, 1970-71
Best Free Throw Percentage: 100%, 16-16, Cal Glover vs. UW-Superior, 1970-71; 12-12, Duke Severson vs. Augsburg, 1959-60; 11-11, Nate Templer vs. La Crosse, 2/12/03; 8-8, Erik Olson vs. UW-Superior, 1/30/13
Most Rebounds: 38, Mel Coleman vs. UW-Whitewater, 1967-68
Most Assists: 14, Brian Ellingson vs. Northland, 1986-87
Most Steals: 8, Jerrel Enerson-Matthews vs. Bethany Lutheran 11/21/08
Most Blocked Shots: 9, Jacob Nonemacher vs. UW-Whitewater, 1/27/07