MBB Preview: Blue Devil travel to fifth ranked River Falls

THIS WEEK'S GAMES:  The Blue Devils (12-6, 3-4 WIAC) will have a pair of conference games on the road,  and will be at No. 15 UW-River Falls (16-1, 6-0 WIAC), Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m., then begin the second loop of conference play by traveling to UW-Platteville (8-10, 1-6 WIAC), Saturday, Jan. 28, for a 7 p.m. contest.

EDDIE ANDRIST INTERVIEWS: Throughout the season, Pete Knutson of Sports Radio 1400 AM will speak with men's basketball head coach Eddie Andrist. Listed are each of the interviews throughout the season. 

WEBCASTS: All UW-Stout home games will be available in a live video stream by Blue Devil Video. 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

• The Blue Devils have fallen off a bit since their 12-3 start, losing two straight to WIAC opponents Eau Claire and Whitewater.
• John Keefe has upped his scoring average during that span, up to 17.9 points per game.
• In the span, Brett Ahsenmacher has inserted himself into the starting lineup, averaging 19.3 minutes per game.
• Stout is still averaging more points than their opponents, at 72.7 PPG vs. 69.9 PPG
• They have faced two of the best offenses in the WIAC, as well as the country, in their two game losing streak. The Eau Claire Blugolds are second the NCAA in field goal percentage averaging 51.2 percent from the field.
• John Lahti, while only starting one conference game, is averaging 10.6 points and 4.0 rebounds in conference games this season.

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT

• Stout fell to WIAC opponent Whitewater in Johnson Fieldhouse last Saturday.
• John Keefe and Sam Ortman led the team in scoring, each with 12 points.
• Whitewater's leading scorer Chris Jones led the game in scoring with 22 points.
• Whitewater shot almost 50 percent from three point range, draining 12 threes compared to Stout's three.

CAREER BESTS

• The Blue Devils have tallied a number of individual team best scoring this year.
• John Keefe went off for 32 points against Superior
• Cory Speer lit up Buena Vista for 31.
• Sam Ortmann scored a best 14 points against Buena Vista, then topped that with a 16 points effort against Bethany Lutheran.
• Keegan Dickson scored 20 points and Jacob Nordstrom has matched a career high by scoring 10 three times this season.
• Isaac Elliot tallied 19 points against Robert Morris, 17 in the first half.
• John Lahti opened the season with a career-best 17 points against UM-Crookston.
• Sophomore transfer Braden Walbeck ran his career-best up the ladder throughout the season and scored 17 against Dubuque.
• The 95 team points scored by Stout against UW-Superior was the most by a Blue Devil team since downing Bethel University 95-60, to open the 2010-11 season.
• The Blue Devils are ranked fourth in the WIAC in scoring. Stout is third in assists (13.33) and fourth in steals (6.60). Stout has a turnover margin of plus-3.07, and leads the league in assists/turnover ration (1.37).
• Stout is outscoring their opponents, 74.9-69.5.

UW-Stout	Statistic	UW-River Falls	UW-Platteville	-
72.2	Pts	79.2	70.6	-
69.9	Pts Allowed	66.4	68.8	-
.431	FG %	.488	.439	.-
.440	FG % Defense	.416	.435	.-
8.8	3 pt made	7.7	7.8	-
8.1	3 pt allowed	7.4	7.3	-
36.0	Rebounds	38.6	32.4	-
35.2	Rebounds Allowed	31.5	31.6	-
10.2	Turnovers	10.1	12.4	-
John Keefe 16.6	Leading Scorer	Alex Herink 16.8	Robert Duax 15.9	-
John Keefe 6.3	Leading Rebounder	Garret Pearson 5.8	Cory Vassen 5.3	-

SCOUTING UW-RIVER FALLS

• The Falcons have won 14 games in a row. The Falcons only loss of the season came in Johnson Fieldhouse when River Falls lost to Hope College, 90-81, in the UW-Stout Tip Off Tournament. Hope has since fallen out of the D3hoops.com poll, while the Falcons have risen to their currently fifth spot.
• The Falcons shoot from the field well, just under 50 percent, second best percentage in the WIAC and 22nd best in the country.
• River Falls is also tops in the WIAC in rebounding margin at +7.1, also the 30th best rate in the country.
• Junior forward Alex Henrink leads the Falcons in scoring with 16.8.

FALCONS LAST TIME OUT

• The No. 10 Falcons cruised to a 79-57 road win against UW-Oshkosh last Saturday
• Garret Pearson scored a high of 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to secure a double-double
• Henrik also joined the double-double fun, scoring 15 points and snagging 12 rebounds.

LAST YEAR WHEN STOUT AND RIVER FALLS  MET

• Stout fell 73-67 to the Falcons in their first meeting at River Falls Stout got to within four points after a John Keefe three pointer, but Falcons' free throws sealed the game. Issac Elliot led Stout with 13 points in the game.
• In their second matchup, Stout took River Falls to the wire, but was unable to grab the victory, losing 81-79. Stout ended up turning the ball over in the final five seconds. Keefe led the way, scoring 22 points.
• The teams are scheduled to meet again Wednesday, February 8, at 7 p.m. in Johnson Fieldhouse on Dewy Mintz Court.

SCOUTING UW-PLATTEVILLE

• The Pioneers sit one game under .500 at 8-9 overall. They are last in the WIAC with a 1-5 record.
• They average a +2.5 scoring margin, just below Stout's +2.8 mark.
• Robert Duax ranks third in the WIAC in total free throws, sinking 67 on the season.

PIONEERS LAST TIME OUT

• The Pioneers lost to UW-La Crosse in their last matchup, 77-66
• .Neither team shot the ball well, both around the 40 percent mark, but Platteville scored 24 points from their bench players, compared to La Crosse's six.
• Senior forward Cory Vaassen scored a season-high 21 points and pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds

LAST TIME STOUT AND PIONEERS  MET

• Stout edged the Pioneers in their first matchup this season.
• Stout won, 82-73, in the first WIAC game of the season January 4.
• Cory Speer shot the ball extremely well for 21 points, including 5-of-6 from the three point line.

AWARDS AND HONORS: Cory Speer was selected as the UW-Stout/DigiCopy Athlete of the Week, Jan. 10, after coming off the bench against UW-Platteville and UW-Oshkosh...John Keefe was selected WIAC Athlete of the Week, Nov. 29, after scoring 32 points against UW-Superior and 15 against Buena Vista University...John Keefe was selected as the UW-Stout/DigiCopy Athlete of the Week, Nov. 20, after his performance over the first three games of the season....2015-16: John Keefe was a WIAC honorable mention selection...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.

BLUE DEVIL HISTORY: UW-Stout, then Stout Institute, played their first game Jan. 11, 1907, hosting the University of Wisconsin at the Armory in Menomonie. The Badgers handed the Trainers a 29-19 loss.




UW-STOUT COACH EDDIE ANDRIST

• Eddie Andrist (202-225 at Stout, 452-415 overall) is in his 17th year as the coach of the Blue Devils, and his 28th 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 as a UW-Stout assistant, first as a student coach in the 1970s, then again during the 1980s.
• Andrist spent two stints coaching international basketball, working with the country of Qatar.

UW-RIVER FALLS COACH JEFF BERKOF

• Jeff Berkhof has been a mainstay of the Falcon program both as a player, assistant coach and now in his 11th season as the Head Coach of the Falcons.  Berkhof follows only his predecessor, Rick Bowen, in coaching victories at UW-River Falls.
• Berkhof has brought the Falcons to the forefront of Division III college basketball and the WIAC conference.  During the 2015-16 season, the Falcons made their third appearance in the WIAC Conference tournament championship game in the past six seasons.   The Falcons finished with a 17-11 record and a WIAC regular season 2nd place finish. 

UW-PLATTEVILLE COACH JEFF GARD

• Jeff Gard enters his eighth 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.

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. Oshkosh was picked to win the league, followed by La Crosse, Whitewater, Eau Claire, River Falls, Stevens Point, Platteville and Stout.


DEWEY MINTZ COURT: The basketball court in Johnson Fieldhouse was named Dewey Mintz Court, Dec. 10, in honor of 27-year Blue Devil coach Dwain Mintz, who coached the Blue Devil men's basketball team from 1962-1989. Nearly 30 years after he retired, Mintz is currently fourth on the WIAC all-time men's basketball coaches wins list with a record of 385-280.Mintz coached league contenders throughout his tenure at UW-Stout from 1963-89, including conference championships in 1966, 1969 and 1975. He was the NAIA District 14 Coach of the Year in 1966 and 1973, and NAIA Area IV Coach of the Year in 1969. During his 27 years at UW-Stout, Dewey Mintz Court is the fifth floor named among member schools in the WIAC. The others include: Bo Ryan Court at UW-Platteville; Ken Anderson Court at UW-Eau Claire; Dave "Augie" Vander Meulen Court at UW-Whitewater; and Bennett Court at UW-Stevens Point, named in honor of Dick and Jack Bennett.

UP NEXT: The Blue Devils will host UW-Eau Claire, Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m., then will be at UW-Whitewater, Saturday, Feb. 4 at 5 p.m.



UW-Stout 2016-17 Individual Season Highs (Updated January 26, 2017)

Points: 32, John Keefe vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016
3-Pointers Made: 6, John Keefe, vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016
Rebounds:15, John Keefe vs. Silver Lake College, Jan. 3, 2017
Assists: 8, John Keefe vs. University of Dubuque, Dec. 10, 2016
Steals: 5, John Keefe vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016

UW-Stout 2016-17 Team Season Highs (Updated January 26, 2017)

Points: 95 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016
Field Goals Made: 40 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016
Field Goal Percentage: .537 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 4, 2017
3-Pointers Made: 15 vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016
Free Throws Made: 19 vs. Buena Vista, Nov. 27, 2016
Free Throw Percentage: 1.000 (15-15) vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 7, 2017
Rebounds: 51 vs. Silver Lake College, Jan. 3, 2017
Assists: 21 (2x) vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 4, 2017; vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016
Turnovers: 16 vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016
Blocked Shots: 8 vs. Hope College, Nov. 18, 2016
Steals: 11 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016
Double-Doubles: 24 pts, 15 rbs, John Keefe vs. Silver Lake College, Jan. 3, 2017; 15 pts, 11 rbs, John Keefe vs. University of Dubuque, Dec. 10, 2016


UW-Stout Career Bests (updated January 26, 2017)

John Keefe - #0
Points: 32 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016
Rebounds: 15 vs. Silver Lake College, Jan. 3, 2017
Assists: 9 vs. Dubuque, Dec. 8, 2015

Solon Ellis - #1
Points: 2 vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 6, 2016
Rebounds: 1 (4x) vs. Silver Lake College, Jan. 3, 2017; vs. UM-Crookston, Nov. 15, 2016; vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 6, 2016; vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: 4 vs. Pacific Lutheran, Dec. 29, 2015

Keegan Dickson - #2
Points: 20 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016
Rebounds: 9 (2x) vs. University of Dubuque, Dec. 10, 2016; vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016
Assists: 3 vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016

Jacob Nordstrom - #3
Points: 12 vs. UW-La Crosse, Jan. 14, 2017
Rebounds: 9 (2x) vs. UW-La Crosse, Jan. 14, 2017; vs. Central College, Dec. 29, 2016
Assists: 3 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 4, 2017

Ringo Dau - #4
Points: 4 (2x) vs. vs. Silver Lake College, Jan. 3, 2017; vs. Hope College, Nov. 18, 2016
Rebounds: 3 vs. Hope College, Nov. 18, 2016
Assists: 1 vs. Hope College, Nov. 18, 2016

Brandyn Christman - #10
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

Zach Dahl - #12
Points: 2 vs. Silver Lake College, Jan. 3, 2017;
Rebounds: 2 vs. Monmouth College, Nov. 20, 2015
Assists: x

Brett Ahsenmacher - #13
Points: 22 vs. John Carroll University, Dec. 29, 2014
Rebounds: 8 vs. Northwestern, Dec. 7, 2016;
Assists: 4 vs. UW-Whitewater, Feb. 21, 2015

Isaac Elliott - #14
Points: 19 vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016
Rebounds: 6 (2x) vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 30, 2016; vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015
Assists: 2 (4x) vs. UM-Crookston, Nov. 15, 2016; vs. University of Northwestern, Dec. 15, 2015; vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015; vs. Northwestern, Dec. 20, 2014.

Peyton Fulkerson - #20
Points: x
Rebounds: 1 vs. Silver Lake College, Jan. 3, 2017;
Assists: x

Cory Speer - #23
Points: 31 vs. Buena Vista, Nov. 27, 2016
Rebounds: 9 (2x) vs. Buena Vista, Nov. 27, 2016; vs. Skidmore, Dec. 30, 2015
Assists: 5 vs. Viterbo University, Nov. 19, 2014:

Sam Ortmann - #24
Points: 16 (2x) vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 4, 2017; vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 5, 2016
Rebounds: 8 vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016
Assists: 6 vs. John Carroll University, Dec. 29, 2014

John Lahti - #25
Points: 20 vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 7, 2017
Rebounds: 11 vs. University of Northwestern, Dec. 15, 2015
Assists: 3 (2x) vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016; vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 5, 2015

Braden Walbeck - #30
Points: 17 vs. University of Dubuque, Dec. 10, 2016
Rebounds: 6 vs. Lawrence University, Dec. 30, 2016
Assists: 2 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 4, 2017

Adam Mackey - #32
Points: 2 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016
Rebounds: x
Assists: x

Tanner Schmitt - #40
Points: x
Rebounds: x
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 26, 2017)

A Stout Individual...
Scored 30 points: 31, Cory Speer vs. Buena Vista (11/27/16)
Scored 25-29 points: 26, John Keefe vs. UW-Superior (12/1/15)
Recorded 15 rebounds: 15, John Keefe vs. Silver Lake College (1/3/17); 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. UW-La Crosse, Jan. 14, 2017: Jacob Nordstrom (12); Cory Speer (12); Brett Ahsenmacher (11); John Lahti (11); Sam Ortmann (10); vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 5, 2016: Sam Ortmann (16); John Keefe (13); Keegan Dickson (12); Jacob Nordstrom (10); Cory Speer (10); vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016: John Keefe (32); Keegan Dickson (20); Cory Speer (12); John Lahti (11); Jacob Nordstrom (10). vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016: John Keefe (24); Isaac Elliott (19); Keegan Dickson (16); Sam Ortmann (10); John Lahti (10).
Had four players score in double digits: vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 7, 2017. John Lahti (20), John Keefe (18), Cory Speer (17), Jacob Nordstrom (10); vs. Buena Vista, Nov. 27, 2016, Cory Speer (31); John Keefe (15); Sam Ortmann (14); John Lahti (11).
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, 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