MBB Preview: Blue Devils off to River Falls in search of conference win

Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio | at UW-River Falls Audio

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (4-7, 0-1 WIAC) will travel to UW-River Falls (7-5, 1-0 WIAC), Saturday, Jan. 9 at 5 p.m. After a relatively even first half, the Blue Devils opened the conference season with a 75-59 home loss to UW-Whitewater Wednesday, while the Falcons had a successful opener with a 76-75 overtime win over UW-Oshkosh Wednesday.

WEBCASTS: 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 14.5 points per contest, ranking sixth in the WIAC, but is leading the league in assists, dishing out 4.9 assists per contest. Jalen Patterson is averaging 9.5 points, ranking in the top 20 in the WIAC. After suffering an injury in the first game of the season, team captain Brett Ahsenmacher returned to the Blue Devils' line-up and is averaging 7.3 points. Keefe and Patterson are in the top 10 in the WIAC in steals. Keefe is averaging 1.81 steals, ranking third and Patterson is averaging 1.18, ranking eighth. John Lahti is averaging a team-best 554 rebounds, ranking 10th in the WIAC and is scoring 6.5 points. Stout is being outscored, 73.2-68.7, but hold a 36.1-32.8 advantage off the glass. The Blue Devils have exceeded their wins total from last season. | 2015-16 Statistics

A QUICK 2014-15 REVIEW: 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, four juniors, seven sophomores and seven freshmen. 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. Forward John Lahti, and guards Sam Ortmann and Isaac Elliott were the only three players last season to see 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: The Blue Devils played well against the no. 15 ranked Warhawks in the first half, but failed to keep the pressure on in the second, falling 75-59. John Keefe was the only Blue Devil in double figures, scoring 11 points. Much like their last match up with Whitewater, the Blue Devils brought the first half fire, keeping the game close in the first half, behind tenacity and hustle on both ends of the floor. The first half ended with Stout (4-7, 0-1 WIAC) trailing by four points at half, 31-27 | Game Story and Box Score


SCOUTING UW-RIVER FALLS: UW-River Falls has four starters back from a year ago when they recorded 10 of their 12 overall wins in conference play to finish third. The last time a range (or ratio) of conference wins to overall wins was so close in the WIAC was 1992 when UW-Oshkosh won 10 league games and recorded 14 overall victories. Eight of the 14 overall losses during the 2014-15 campaign were by four points or less. Senior forward Jon Christensen started all 26 games a year ago and led the squad with 12.9 points, while ranking second in the WIAC with 7.1 rebounds per contest. Junior guard Grant Erickson was second in the league with 112 assists and third with 51 steals, while adding 10.1 points per game. The Falcons will square off against the University of Wisconsin in an exhibition contest for the second time in program history (2005). Christensen is leading the WIAC in scoring and in rebounding, tossing in 22.3 points per game and pulling down 8.8 rebounds. Garrett Pearson is averaging 14.9 points and CJ Lewis 9.5 points. The Falcons have been averaging 73.8 points and giving up 74.0. | Falcons Statistics

FALCONS LAST TIME OUT: In stunning fashion the UW- River Falls men's basketball team won their opening WIAC game against UW- Oshkosh 76-75 with a three point shot by River Falls native Jack Herum with just seconds to go.  In overtime, the Falcons scored the opening bucket with 3:35 in the overtime period before the Titans were fouled and Ben Boots made both his free throws to tie the game 71-71 with 1:57 to go. Christensen scored again for the Falcons and once again Boots hit two more free throws. After a turnover by the Falcons, Boots shot two more free throws to get the lead 75-53 with 22 seconds to go. On the offensive end, the Falcons attempted to get the ball to Christensen, but were unable and Herum heaved up a three point shot that fell through and gave the Falcons their second home win of the season after a miss at the buzzer by UW- Oshkosh. |  Game Story and Statistics

LAST TIME STOUT AND RIVER FALLS MET: Both teams had three players score in double figures, but UW-River Falls held a decided advantage at the free throw line and gave UW-Stout an 88-78 loss Jan. 21, 2015, at Karges Center.In game two, Feb. 11, UW-Stout surged late in the second half to bring the score to 76-73 with five seconds to go, but two free throws by River Falls' Grant Erickson sealed the game for the Falcons at Johnson Fieldhouse. Jalen Patterson finished with a team high 15 points and also contributed two blocks for the Blue Devils. | Game One Story and Statistics | Game Two Story and Statistics



SCOUTING UW-WHITEWATER: UW-Whitewater is slotted for second in the eight-team WIAC derby after sharing the regular-season crown with the Pointers and establishing a program record with 15 conference victories last season. The Warhawks also won their second WIAC tournament title in the last three years and made the program's 20th NCAA appearance. Eight letterwinners return from that group, including junior guard Drew Bryson, who played in all 28 games and averaged 3.4 points. Head coach Pat Miller became the fastest active coach in NCAA Division III to reach 300 career wins last season, doing so in 385 games. He was the third-fastest coach in league history to reach the 300-win plateau (Ken Anderson - 355, Bo Ryan - 374). Gone from last year's squad is Quardell Young, who claimed WIAC Player of the Year recognition. The Warhawks have four player averaging in double digits, led by Trinson White's 16.1, followed by Cole Van Schyndel and Haki Stampley with 14.7 and Ethan Guske with 10.1 and lead the conference in scoring with 82.6 points. White is second in the league in scoring and rebounds (8.3).Van Schyndel leads the WIAC in field goal percentage, hitting 70.5 percent of his shots from the floor. Stampley has played in the last three games only. The Warhawks have twice broken 100 points, downing Concordia-Chicago, 107-84, Dec. 20 and Concordia-Texas, 108-90, Dec. 27. The Warhawks were ranked 20th in the December 13th D3hoops.com poll. | Warhawks Statistics

WARHAWKS LAST TIME OUT: The 20th ranked Warhakws finished with a 3-0 mark for the week and extended its win streak to six games Wednesday afternoon in an 81-58 victory at Colorado College on the final day of the Pikes Peak Holiday Classic. Senior guard Trinson White and junior guard Drew Bryson led the Warhawks, who matched their non-conference win total from a season ago. | Colorado College Game Story and Statistics

LAST TIME STOUT AND WHITEWATER MET: The Warhawks took both games last season, but the Blue Devils' final game of the season against the Warhawks gave the Blue Devils something to build on. Stout fought hard in their final game of the season, but the D3 Hoops.com No. 2 ranked UW-Whitewater proved to be too much and the final buzzer sounded with UW-Whitewater on top 86-77, Feb. 21, 2015. In the first meeting in early January in Whitewater, the Warhawks roared past the Blue Devils, 96-67. | Game Two Story and Statistics | Game One Story and Statistics


AWARDS AND HONORS: John Keefe was named to the D3hoops.com Classic all-tournament team, Dec. 30...John Keefe was selected 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 (190-206 at Stout, 440-397 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. UW-Whitewater: Pat Miller (324-89) enters his 15th year at the helm of the programin 2015-16. With a winning percentage of .784 (324-89), Miller ranks tied for 11th all-time, among all NCAA divisions, in winning percentage among coaches with a minimum of 10 seasons coaching at the NCAA level. He passed Ohio State's Thad Matta and North Carolina's Dean Smith following the 2013-14 campaign, and just tied Division I legend Jerry Tarkanian.; UW-River Falls: Jeff Berkhof (114-132) has been a mainstay of the Falcon program as a player, assistant coach and now in his 10th season as head coach. During the 2014-15 season Berkhof moved into second place in coaching victories at UW-River Falls trailing only his predecessor, Rick Bowen who retired in 2006. In the past five years, Berkhof has brought the Falcons to the forefront of Division III college basketball and the WIAC conference. In 2012 the Falcons claimed its first ever WIAC conference tournament championship and enjoyed back-to-back 20 win seasons and NCAA Tournament bids during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons.

CONFERENCES: Stout is a member of the eight 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. UW-Superior left the conference after the 2014-15 season.

UP NEXT: The Blue Devils will be at UW-Eau Claire, Wednesday, Jan. 13, then will host UW-Platteville, Saturday, Jan. 16.

UW-Stout 2015-16 Individual Season Highs (Updated January 7, 2016)

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 January 7, 2016)

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: 18 vs. Skidmore College, Dec. 30, 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 January 7, 2016)

Jacob Nordstrom - #3
Points: 8 vs. Skidmore, Dec. 30, 2015
Rebounds: 7 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: 1 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015

Solon Ellis - #4
Points: 2 vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 6, 2016
Rebounds: 1 (2x) vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 6, 2016; vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: 4 vs. Pacific Lutheran, Dec. 29, 2015

Brandyn Christman - #5
Points: 9 vs. Dubuque, Dec. 8, 2015
Rebounds: 3 vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 6, 2016
Assists: 1 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015

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

Cory Speer - #23
Points: 5 vs. Ripon College, Nov. 15, 2014
Rebounds: 9 vs. Skidmore, Dec. 30, 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

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 (2x) vs. Pacific Lutheran, Dec. 29, 2015; vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Rebounds: 2 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: x

Joe Haas - #45
Points: 2 (2x) vs. Pacific Lutheran, Dec. 29, 2015; vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Rebounds: 1 (2x) vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 6, 2016; vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: x


The Last Time...(updated January 6, 2016)

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