MBB Preview: Stout to put the wraps on the season with trip to Platteville

Home Games: Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio | at UW-Platteville: Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (4-19, 0-13 WIAC) will will close the season with two games this week, hosting UW-River Falls (14-9, 8-4 WIAC), Wednesday, Feb. 17 and traveling to UW-Platteville (10-14, 4-9 WIAC), Saturday, Feb. 20. Both matches are slated to start at 7 p.m.

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 is the Blue Devils' leading scorer, averaging 13.5 points per game, ranking ninth in the WIAC. Over the last five games Keefe has scored in double digits and twice has hit 20 or more points. Fourteen times this season, Keefe has scored in double digits and has been the team's scoring leader in 13 games. When Keefe isn't scoring, he is dishing and his 3.8 assists per contest leads the WIAC. Keefe had eight assists Wednesday against UW-River Falls. The sophomore from Medford is second in the league in steals with 1.78 per outing. Jalen Patterson is averaging 9.6 points per game and has scored in double digits his last six games, including a career-best 20 points against River Falls.Isaac Elliott is averaging 7.2 points. Patterson ranks sixth in the WIAC in steals (1.14). The Blue Devils are outrebounding their opponents, 35.4-34.3. John Lahti is averaging a team-best 4.8 rebounds, ranking 11thin the WIAC and is scoring 6.2 points. Stout is being outscored, 72.2-.6492.  The Blue Devils last conference win came on Feb. 8, 2014, a 57-52 home win over UW-Oshkosh. | 2015-16 Statistics

SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON: While the Blue Devils are still searching for their first conference win of the season, a quick analysis of the stats from the first half of the WIAC season to the second half shows a team that has shown improvement. Over the first seven conference games, the Blue Devils were averaging 56.6 points, shooting .382 as a team and had no players averaging in double digit points. Over the last five conference games, the Blue Devils have upped their scoring averaging to 64.0 points, are shooting .410 from the floor and have two players in double digits - John Keefe at 14.2 points and Jalen Paterson at 13.0. Patterson has worked his way into the starting line-up. After starting none of the first seven games, Patterson has started the past five, going from a scoring average of 3.2 points up to 13.0 points, an increase of 10 points per game. Patterson's playing time has gone from 14.6 minutes to 24.4 minutes. The Blue Devils have also kept the games closer over the last five contests, scoring 29.0 first half points to allowing 31.4 points. In the first half of the conference season, Stout was outscored in the first half, 33-24.5. The Blue Devils have also produced more efficiently from beyond the 3-point line in the second half of the season. After averaging 4.7 long range shots at a .264 shooting percentage before the turn, Stout is now averaging 7.2 bombs at a .364 clip. Stout opponents' 3-point shooting has not changed throughout the season. Overall, opponents are connecting on 10.3 long range shots, and in every breakdown are within a few tenths of a point outside.

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT: On a night when UW-Stout committed only six turnovers, it was a turnover in the finals seconds that sealed the deal for the Blue Devils. The Blue Devils fell to the Falcons 81-79, the third time in the last four games Stout lost by four points or less. Stout had four players score in double figures. John Keefe had 22, Jalen Patterson a career-high 20, Hank Kujak 12 and Isaac Elliott10. | Story and Box Score
 

UW-Stout	Statistic	UW-River Falls	UW-Platteville
64.9	Pts	72.4	71.8
72.2	Pts Allowed	72.9	75.3
.420	FG %	.440	.436
.452	FG % Defense	.440	.452
6.7	3 pt made	7.0	7.3
10.3	3 pt allowed	8.1	8.2
35.4	Rebounds	38.2	34.3
34.3	Rebounds Allowed	34.0	35.7
13.0	Turnovers	12.0	11.8
John Keefe 13.5	Leading Scorer	Jon Christensen 17.7	Boston Johnson 14.7
John Lahti 4.8	Leading Rebounder	Jon Christensen 8.0	Boston Johnson 6.7

SCOUTING UW-PLATTEVILLE: The Pioneers have been streaky in conference play, to say the least. After opening WIAC play with a pair of losses, Platteville bounced for four consecutive wins, including two overtime wins. But since then, the Pioneers have dropped five straight. Boston Johnson leads the Pioneers with 14.4 points. Platteville has three other player averaging double digit scoring -  Cory Vassen 11.7; Matt Oestrich 11.6; and Robert Oestreich 10.1. Johnson is averaging 6.7 rebounds and Vassen 6.5. Going into last weekend's games, the Pioneers were leading all of Division III in free throw percentage at .813 (295-363). As a team, the Pioneers are averaging 72.1 points and giving up 75.4. | 2015-16 Statistics

PIONEERS LAST TIME OUT: Senior Boston Johnson did his best to shoulder the load for the short-handed Pioneers Wednesday night.  With injured teammate junior Cory Vaassen on the sideline in dress clothes nursing an injured calf, Johnson scored a team-high 22 points, grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and passed out five assists, but it wasn't enough to overcome UW-Stevens Point's one-man show of Sean McGann.  The senior small forward scored a game-high 35 points on an array of post moves and short jumpers to will the visiting Pointers to a 72-64 road win at Bo Ryan Court. McGann, who is only 6-foot-4, made 14 of his 19 field goal attempts and finished 7 of 10 at the free throw line. He also grabbed a team-high six rebounds.  | Game Story and Statistics

LAST TIME STOUT AND PIONEERS MET: Stout battled the entire length of the game, including a five minute overtime period, but it wasn't enough as Platteville beat the Blue Devils 66-62, Jan. 16. Stout's John Keefe led the way with 15 points. | Story and Statistics


SCOUTING UW-RIVER FALLS: The Falcons started off the conference season with five consecutive wins before dropping a pair of games to complete the first loop of play. In the second half of league play, the Falcons have gone 3-2 with a pair of overtime wins over UW-Stevens Point and UW-Platteville. The Falcons are currently in a tie for second place with UW-Oshkosh. Jon Christensen leads the conference in scoring with 17.7 points per contest. Christensen is second in the WIAC in rebounds, averaging 8.0 caroms. Garret Pearson is averaging 14.8 points and 5.7 rebounds. The Falcons have won all three of their overtime games this year, with all three of them coming in conference play. As a team, the Falcons are averaging 72.4 points and giving up 72.9.  | 2015-16 Statistics

FALCONS LAST TIME OUT: River Falls offense came to life on Saturday afternoon via the three point shot and got an overtime victory over UW- Platteville 96-88 on Senior Night. The men's team was 15-25 (60 percent) from downtown, and was led by sophomore guard Devin Buckley off the bench who scored 23 points and hit 5-6 from three point range. In overtime, the Falcons scored the first four points with all coming from Pearson. After a layup by Platteville, Erickson stole the ball in the backcourt and hit a layup with 1:46 to go to give the Falcons a four point game. Leading all scorers was Buckley with 23 points off the bench. Pearson was 9-16 on the night with 20 points and seven rebounds. Christensen scored 19 points on 5-14 shooting and had 12 rebounds, five of which were offensive. Erickson scored 11 points, snagged nine rebounds, and had seven assists in the victory. | Game Story and Statistics

LAST TIME STOUT AND RIVER FALLS MET: UW-Stout got to within two points with 20 seconds remaining, but could do little to prevent UW-River Falls from making their free throws and the Blue Devils fell, 73-67, Jan. 9 at Karges Center. A 3-point bucket by John Keefe  with seconds 20 seconds remaining pulled the Blue Devils to within 69-67. The Falcons' CJ Lewis was immediately fouled, and he drained both shots to make it a four point game. The Blue Devils missed two free throw attempts around the 10 second mark, the Falcons were not off the mark as Grant Erickson hit two to effectively end the game with four seconds remaining. The Falcons, who led at halftime, 32-31, were led by Jon Christianson, the WIAC's leading scorer, who dropped in 15 points, seven points under his average. Lewis finished with 13 and Austin Moldenhauer came off the bench to score 12. Isaac Elliott led Stout with 13 points. John Lahti was 5-for-5 and finished with 10 points. | 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.

THE COACHES: UW-Stout: Eddie Andrist (190-220 at Stout, 440-411 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-River Falls: Jeff Berkhof (121-136) has been a mainstay of the Falcon program as a player, assistant coach and now in his 10th season as the head coach of the Falcons. During the 2014-15 season Berkhof moved into 2nd 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. UW-Platteville: Jeff Gard  (106-78) enters his seventh year as the head men's basketball coach at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He was named the 13th head coach in Pioneer history on June 9, 2009, after serving as an assistant with the Pioneers for the previous six seasons including his final two as the associate head coach. Gard's older brother, Greg, is the interim coach of the Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team.

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 season concludes.



UW-Stout 2015-16 Individual Season Highs (Updated February 18, 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 February 18, 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 February 18, 2016)

Jacob Nordstrom - #3
Points: 8 vs. Skidmore, Dec. 30, 2015
Rebounds: 7 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: 2 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 16, 2016

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: 13 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 16, 2016
Rebounds: 7 vs. UW-La Crosse, Jan. 20, 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 (2x) vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 30, 2016; 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: 20 vs. UW-River Falls, Feb. 17, 2016
Rebounds: 9 vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015
Assists: 4 vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 1, 2015

Cory Speer - #23
Points: 9 (2x) vs. UW-La Crosse, Jan. 20, 2016; vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 13, 2016
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 (2x) vs. UW-Whitewater, Feb. 13, 2016;  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:3 vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 5, 2015

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 February 18, 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: 13, 2015-16 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