Complete Game Notes (PDF)

Tuesday, March 20 - 9:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. CT)
Sioux Falls, S.D. - Sanford Pentagon
* Host site information (including tickets)  l  Bracket

ESU Watch Party - Koehler Fieldhouse Arena

ESU (27-5) vs. Northern State (34-3)
L 79-71 (Recap, Box Score, Photos, Video)

Watch  l  Listen ESPN 840 AM  l  Live Stats

National Broadcast Info
Quarterfinal (Tuesday, March 20 - 9:30 p.m. ET) - ncaa.com (Watch online)
Semifinal (Thursday, March 22 - 9:30 p.m. ET) - CBS Sports Network
Championship (Saturday, March 24 - 3:00 p.m. ET) - CBS

Other quarterfinal games Tuesday (ET / CT)
1:00 p.m. (12:00) - #4 West Texas A&M d. #5 Le Moyne, 87-73
3:30 p.m. (2:30) - #1 Ferris State d. #8 Barry, 87-84
7:00 p.m. (6:00) - #2 Queens (N.C.) d. #7 California Baptist, 100-94

PSAC Championship merchandise (until March 23)


Sunday, March 18 - 6:15 p.m. ET
Coaches Press Conference - DII Facebook Page  l  ESU Twitter

Morning Call (3/19): Warriors down to final week of DII season

Photo Galleries:
Sunday (press conference / banquet)
Monday (community engagement)
Monday (practice)
Tuesday (shootaround)

Instagram  l  Twitter


THE MATCH-UP
• #6 seed ESU (27-5) vs #3 Northern State (S.D.) (34-3) in 1st NCAA DII Elite 8 game in program history
• Northern State is making 2nd Elite 8 trip and first since 1998
• both schools have 13-game winning streaks (2nd-longest of Elite 8 - #1 seed Ferris State, 23)
• ESU's 27 wins are 2nd-most in school history (30-2 in 2014)
• Winner vs #2 Queens (31-3) or #7 California Baptist (28-5) Thursday at 8:30 p.m. CT

ATLANTIC REGION RECAP
• Warriors went 3-0 vs. Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference schools at Virginia State
• R-Sr. F Steve Harris named MVP with 52pts (17.3 ppg), including 36 in 2nd half
• R-Jr. G Jakwan Jones also named to All-Tournament team (37pts - 10+ in each game)
• ESU used key 2nd half runs in all 3 games
   78-69 vs Gannon - 18-3 spanning halftime (13-3 to start 2nd half)
   90-76 vs West Chester - 13-2 to start 2nd half
   84-72 vs Shippensburg - 17-5 to finish game (last 4:23)

NCAA HISTORY
• 5th in last 9 years, and 6th in school history (previously region runner-up in 1990, 2014)
   1990, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018

REGION HISTORY
• ESU is 3rd in Atlantic Region in wins (197) since 2010
• Atlantic Region champ has advanced to semifinals last 5 years, 7 of last 8
   produced runner-up in 2010 (IUP), 2014 (West Liberty), 2015 (IUP), 2017 (Fairmont State)
• last national champion in ESU's region was Barton in 2007 (regions realigned in 2009)
• only national champion from PSAC was Cheyney in 1978 (coached by John Chaney)

PSAC CHAMPS
• ESU won 3rd PSAC title in 7 years, 4th in school history (1990, 2012, 2014, 2018)

STREAKING
• ESU's 13-game winning streak is tied for its 3rd-longest since 1942
• 7 of last 9 wins vs teams with 20+ wins
• Warriors fell 89-64 at Shippensburg on Jan. 31, haven't lost since (beat Ship in region final)

WARRIORS NCAA DII RANKINGS
Scoring - 3 (92.6 ppg)
Assists - 3 (20.1 apg)
Steals - 1 (11.4 spg)
Turnovers Forced - 2 (21.1)
Turnover Margin - 2 (+6.3)
Scoring Margin - 9 (+14.3)

BALANCED WARRIORS
• 10-man rotation - 5 to 15 points, 12 to 25 minutes per game
• 5+ double-figure scorers in 17 games
   5 Warriors have scored 20+ points this season

WARRIORS PHILOSOPHY - 94 FEET
• ESU's press has produced 21.1 turnovers per game (2nd DII)
   10.4 steals per game (1st DII)
• top 15 in DII in steals for 6 straight years

• 1st in DII in turnover margin (+5.26) last 5 years (12-13 to 16-17)
• 2nd in DII this year at +6.3

TURNOVER MARGIN KEY
2017-18 - 18-2 (.900) with +5 turnover margin - 9-3 (.750) when under
since 2009-10 - 127-18 (.876) with +5 margin - 70-53 (.569) when under

DEFENSE DRIVES OFFENSE
• 4th in DII in scoring (92.6 ppg)
• will lead PSAC in scoring for 6th time in last 9 years
• will break last year's school record (88.3 ppg)
• 100+ in 10 games (school record)

24-0 WHEN SCORING 84+ POINTS (19-0 with 90+)
• 3-5 when scoring 82 or less

UNBEATEN WHEN ALLOWING 90+, ALSO
• 5-0 when allowing 90+ points

LONG RANGE
• 18-1 when making 9+ 3-pointers
• 9-4 when making 8 or less

0 RETURNING ALL-PSAC EAST FROM LAST YEAR
• Warriors graduated F Rasheed Moore, first 4x All-PSAC East selection in program history, from last year's 18-11 team

GO WEST
• ESU's furthest trip west since January 1990 (Hawaii)
   (went 1-5 in 7 days - won 1st PSAC championship in March)

NORTHERN SUN
• ESU is playing an NSIC opponent for the 2nd time
   (lost 93-81 at Bemidji State early in 1975-76 season)

1ST TIME OPPONENTS
• ESU has played just one of the other 7 Elite 8 teams
• 7-8 vs. Le Moyne (2-3 when Le Moyne coached by current Michigan HC John Beilein)


HEAD COACH JEFF WILSON
• 298-162 (.648) in 16th season
• 197-71 (.735) since 2009-10
• entered PSAC top 10 in wins this year
• most wins among Elite 8 coaches

PSAC East Coach of the Year for 3rd time (2010, 2013, 2018)
NABC Atlantic Region Coach of the Year in 2010, 2014
DII Coach of the Year by two organizations in 2014 after 30-2 season
    (Basketball Times, CollegeInsider.com)

part of ESU program for 29 of last 35 years (1986 grad)
player 3 years (1983-84 to 85-86)
assistant coach 10 years (1986-87 to 95-96)
head coach 16 years (since 2002-03)

assistant coach 9 years under Sal Mentesana (1987-88 to 95-96)
• 1990 PSAC title, East Region runner-up (both 1st in school history)
• asst. coach at Lehigh under Mentesana from 96-97 to 01-02

since taking over in 2002-03
• 3 PSAC titles (4 in school history)
• 5 NCAA Tournaments (6 in school history)
• 5 PSAC East regular season titles (6 in school history)

NATIONAL CHAIR OF DII MEN'S BASKETBALL COMMITTEE
• serving 2nd season as national chair
• previously Atlantic Region chair for 3 years (2014-16)
   7 years total on regional committee (2010-16)

STEVE HARRIS - 2 MVP HONORS IN MARCH
• named MVP of PSAC Tournament, NCAA Atlantic Regional
   (15.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 64.2% [34-for-53] in 6 postseason games)
• 52 points in regional (19-for-27, 70.4%)
• 36 points in 2nd half (14-for-19, 73.7%)
   22pts in 1st round vs Gannon (13 2nd half; 9 of ESU's last 13)
   15pts in 2nd round vs West Chester (10 2nd half)
   15pts in regional final vs Shippensburg (13 2nd half)
• 38 points, 29 rebounds in PSAC Tournament
• scored 1,000th career point in final minute of PSAC title game

FIELD GOAL %
• 6th in DII (65.8) - ESU's school record
• career 63.7 - ESU's school record

Career Milestones
• 1,052 points (ESU's 31st 1,000-point scorer)
• 663 rebounds (9th at ESU)
• 8 games with 20+ points (7 this year)
• 16 double-doubles (2nd-most under Wilson)
• returned with a medical redshirt after missing all but 5 of ESU's 29 games last season.

POSTSEASON HONORS
• R-Sr. F Steve Harris - 2nd team NABC All-District, 1st team All-PSAC East
• R-Jr. G Jakwan Jones - 2nd team All-PSAC East
• Harris, Jones - Atlantic Regional All-Tournament Team
• Jeff Wilson - PSAC East Coach of the Year

JONES, WALLS KEY AT POINT GUARD
• R-Jr. G Jakwan Jones and Jr. G Kitt Najee Walls give ESU a pair of starting-caliber point guards splitting time this winter

• Jones named 2nd team All-PSAC East
• All-Tournament team in Atlantic Regional

ROLES REVERSED FROM 16-17
• Walls 9.8 ppg, 4.0 apg as starter (25.2 mpg)
• Jones 4.6 ppg, 2.6 apg as backup (12.7 mpg)

JONES 1 YEAR AHEAD
• joined Warriors in 2014-15; missed 2015-16 due to injury
   (Walls led PSAC with 5.4 apg, set ESU FR record with 147 in 2016)

JONES, WALLS with 100+ Assists
• Jones (182), Walls (105) are 2nd set of ESU teammates with 100+ assists in a season
[Matt Tobin 178, Whis Grant 103 in 2015 - both All-America in 2014]

WALLS, JONES 2nd, 3rd in PSAC in Assist-Turnover Ratio
• Walls 2.2; Jones 2.1 (ESU 1st at 1.38)

BOTH IN ESU'S TOP 10 IN CAREER ASSISTS
1. 546 - Matt Tobin (2011-15)
2. 467 - Mike DelGrosso (1987-91)
3. 465 - Bob Schlosser (1973-77)
4. 422 - Kevin Morrissey (1970-73)
5. 369 - Kitt Najee Walls (2015-   )
6. 349 - Whis Grant (2011-15)
7. 334 - Cliff Riddick (1977-80)
8. 310 - Robby Pines (2006-10)
9. 300 - Tyson Murdock (1989-93)
10. 299 - Jakwan Jones (2014-   )

NWANDU MAKES THE LEAP
• So. F Kobi Nwandu (12.3 ppg) is 2nd on Warriors in scoring
• 10+ points in 24 games
   (15+ points in 9 games - including 3 of last 6)
• 17pts in 85-71 win vs Kutztown in PSAC quarterfinals
• 16pts in 78-69 win vs Gannon in NCAA 1st round
• 15pts in 90-76 win vs West Chester in NCAA 2nd round

BETTER FROM DISTANCE
• 5-for-9 from 3 in postseason (7-for-35 in regular season)

BEHIND THE ARC

Current Warriors Leaders from 3 (%, made 3's) - Season, Career
Jr. G Nick Giordano - 38.4 (71) - 38.6 (141)
Sr. G Ryan Krawczeniuk - 37.3 (53) - 37.9 (121)
Jr. G Kitt Najee Walls - 32.7 (16) - 35.4 (81)
Fr. G Marc Rodriguez  - 42.7 (56) - 42.7 (56)
R-Jr. G Jakwan Jones - 33.7 (31) - 35.8 (54)
R-Jr. F Josh Williams - 27.5 (14) - 35.1 (26)

GIORDANO FROM DEEP (141 CAREER 3'S - 6th at ESU)
• Jr. G Nick Giordano (11.2 ppg) is 3rd on Warriors in scoring
• 71 3's this season (3rd at ESU)
• 10+ points in 20 games
• 32pts in PSAC Final 4 (17pts vs Edinboro; 15pts vs Gannon)
   (12pts in 1st half of PSAC championship game)

KRAWCZENIUK PLAYS VALUABLE GUARD ROLE
• Sr. G Ryan Krawczeniuk team ranks:
5th - minutes (21.8)
5th - scoring (9.1 ppg)
3rd - assists (2.7 apg)
• ESU's top bench scorer last 2 years (9.2 ppg in 2017)

GETTING WISE
• Sr. F Ralik Wise plays important post minutes behind Harris
• 11pts, 10reb in PSAC quarterfinal vs Kutztown (1st double-double)
• 17pts (1 off career-high) in 85-82 win at IUP

WILLIAMS SHINES IN TITLE GAMES
• R-Jr. F Josh Williams (7.8 ppg) in PSAC, Atlantic Region finals
   PSAC vs Gannon - 13pts (6-9 fg), 2reb
   Region vs Shippensburg - 16pts (7-11 fg), 8reb (career-high)

KRAWCZENIUK, WISE, WILLIAMS TRANSFER TO WARRIORS
• Krawczeniuk, Wise teammates at Mansfield (PSAC East) in 2015
• Williams (9 games at Rider in 2016) reconnects with Harris
   (teammates at Notre Dame HS - Trenton NJ)

RODRIGUEZ SETS FRESHMAN 3-POINT MARK
• Fr. G Marc Rodriguez set ESU's freshman 3-point record (56) with three 3's vs. West Chester in NCAA 2nd round
• 6.9 ppg (8 games with 10+ pts)


#1 Ferris State (35-1)

Head Coach: Andy Bronkema
Record: 120-41 (5th season)

Ranking: #2 NABC
Region: Midwest #1 seed
Elite 8: 2nd
NCAA Appearance: 13th (15-13)

D2CCA All-Region
Jr. C Zach Hankins (Midwest Player of the Year, 1st team)
Sr. G Drew Cushingberry (2nd team)

NABC All-Region
HC Andy Bronkema (GLIAC Coach of the Year)
Jr. C Zach Hankins (1st team)
Sr. G Drew Cushingberry (2nd team)

All-Conference
HC Andy Bronkema (GLIAC Coach of the Year)
Jr. C Zach Hankins (GLIAC Player of the Year, All-Defensive team)
Sr. G Drew Cushingberry (1st team)
Sr. F Noah King (1st team)
Sr. G Peter Firlik (All-Defensive team)

Postseason (all games at home)
GLIAC Quarter – W 113-84 vs. Saginaw Valley State
GLIAC Semi – W 85-66 vs. Ashland
GLIAC Final – W 69-61 vs. Lake Superior State
NCAA 1st round – W 75-57 vs. Ohio Dominican
NCAA 2nd round – W 94-71 vs. Lake Superior State
NCAA Sweet 16 – W 80-65 vs. Findlay


#2 Queens (31-3)

Head Coach: Bart Lundy
Record: 231-80 (5th season in current stint, 10th overall)

Ranking: #7 NABC
Region: Southeast #2 seed
Elite 8: 3rd
NCAA Appearance: 11th (15-10)

D2CCA All-Region
Sr. F Todd Withers (2nd team)

NABC All-Region
Sr. F Todd Withers (1st team)

All-Conference
Sr. F Todd Withers (1st team)
Sr. G Ike Agusi (2nd team)
Sr. G Mike Davis (2nd team)
Sr. G Jalin Alexander (HM)

Postseason
SAC Quarter – W 73-61 vs. Lenoir-Rhyne
SAC Semi – W 92-73 vs. Carson-Newman (at Greenville, SC)
SAC Final – L 75-77 vs. Lincoln Memorial (at Greenville, SC)
NCAA 1st round – W 90-69 vs. Lees-McRae (at Harrogate, TN)
NCAA 2nd round – W 75-63 vs. UNC-Pembroke (at Harrogate, TN)
NCAA Sweet 16 – W 69-57 at Lincoln Memorial


#3 Northern State (34-3)

Head Coach: Paul Sather
Record: 160-81 (8th season)

Ranking: #6 NABC
Region: Central #2 seed
Elite 8: 2nd
NCAA Appearance: 11th (10-10)

D2CCA All-Region
R-Jr. G Ian Smith (2nd team)

NABC All-Region
HC Paul Sather (Coach of the Year)
R-Jr. G Ian Smith (2nd team)

All-Conference
HC Paul Sather (NSIC Coach of the Year)
R-Jr. G Ian Smith (1st team)
R-Sr. G DJ Pollard (2nd team)
Sr. F Logan Doyle (2nd team)
R-Sr. G Darin Peterka (2nd team)

Postseason
NSIC 1st round – W 80-52 vs. Concordia-St. Paul
NSIC Quarter – W 75-62 vs. Minnesota Duluth (at Sioux Falls, SD)
NSIC Semi – W 79-78 vs. Minnesota State (at Sioux Falls, SD)
NSIC Final – W 81-75 vs. Southwest Minn. State (at Sioux Falls, SD)
NCAA 1st round – W 91-75 vs. Washburn (at Maryville, MO)
NCAA 2nd round – W 68-61 vs. St. Cloud State (at Maryville, MO)
NCAA Sweet 16 – W 90-83 vs. Minnesota State (at Maryville, MO)


#4 West Texas A&M (31-3)

Head Coach: Tom Brown
Record: 95-34 (4th season)

Ranking: #11 NABC
Region: South Central #1 seed
Elite 8: 2nd
NCAA Appearance: 15th (10-16)

D2CCA All-Region
Sr. G David Chavlovich (1st team)
Jr. G Ryan Quaid (2nd team)

NABC All-Region
HC Tom Brown (Coach of the Year)
Sr. G David Chavlovich (1st team)

All-Conference
HC Tom Brown (Lone Star Coach of the Year)
Sr. G David Chavlovich (1st team)
Jr. G Ryan Quaid (1st team, All-Defensive team)
Sr. G Jordan Evans (2nd team)
Fr. G Gaige Prim (HM, Freshman of the Year)

Postseason
Lone Star Quarter – W 86-70 vs. Eastern New Mexico (at Denton, TX)
Lone Star Semi – W 73-63 vs. Texas A&M Commerce (at Frisco, TX)
Lone Star Final – W 80-76 vs. UT Permian Basin (at Frisco, TX)
NCAA 1st round – W 79-65 vs. Colorado School of Mines
NCAA 2nd round – W 93-70 vs. Texas A&M Commerce
NCAA Sweet 16 – W 95-87 vs. UT Permian Basin


#5 Le Moyne (27-6)

Head Coach: Patrick Beilein
Record: 59-30 (3rd season)

Ranking: #24 NABC
Region: East #1 seed
Elite 8: 1st
NCAA Appearance: 13th (7-16)

D2CCA All-Region
None

NABC All-Region
HC Patrick Beilein (Coach of the Year)
Sr. F Isaiah Eisendorf (2nd team)

All-Conference
HC Patrick Beilein (NE10 Coach of the Year)
Sr. G Russell Sangster (2nd team, Defensive Player of the Year)
Sr. F Isaiah Eisendorf (2nd team)
R-Sr. G Tyquan Rolon (HM)
Sr. F Robert Jones III (HM)

Postseason
NE10 Quarter – W 99-60 vs. Stonehill
NE10 Semi – W 83-55 vs. Merrimack
NE10 Final – W 69-63 vs. Saint Anselm
NCAA 1st round – W 75-57 vs. Jefferson
NCAA 2nd round – W 67-63 vs. Saint Rose
NCAA Sweet 16 – W 75-59 vs. Bloomfield


#7 California Baptist (28-5)

Head Coach: Rick Croy
Record: 132-28 (5th season)

Ranking: #21 NABC
Region: West #2 seed
Elite 8: 1st
NCAA Appearance: 5th (7-4)

D2CCA All-Region
Sr. C Kalidou Diouf (1st team)

NABC All-Region
Sr. C Kalidou Diouf (2nd team)

All-Conference
Sr. C Kalidou Diouf (1st team)
R-Jr. G Jordan Heading (2nd team)
Gr. G Cory Lange (HM)

Postseason
PacWest Semi – W 67-57 vs. Azusa Pacific
PacWest Final – L 64-66 vs. Dixie State
NCAA 1st round – W 81-67 vs. UC San Diego (at Monmouth, OR)
NCAA 2nd round – W 72-68 vs. Azusa Pacific (at Monmouth, OR)
NCAA Sweet 16 – W 80-76 at Western Oregon


#8 Barry (23-8)

Head Coach: Butch Estes
Record: 116-36 (5th season)

Ranking: unranked
Region: South #7 seed
Elite 8: 2nd
NCAA Appearance: 8th (9-7)

D2CCA All-Region
Sr. G Elvar Fridriksson (1st team)

NABC All-Region
Sr. G Elvar Fridriksson (1st team)

All-Conference
Butch Estes (SSC Coach of the Year)
Sr. G Elvar Fridriksson (Player of the Year, 1st team)
Sr. G Sunday Dech (All-Newcomer team)

Postseason
SSC Quarter – W 102-83 vs. Florida Tech
SSC Semi – W 77-63 vs. Rollins (at Lakeland, FL)
SSC Final – L 71-96 vs. Eckerd (at Lakeland, FL)
NCAA 1st round – W 90-73 vs. West Florida (at Atlanta, GA)
NCAA 2nd round – W 89-64 vs. Claflin (at Atlanta, GA)
NCAA Sweet 16 – W 79-72 vs. Eckerd (at Atlanta, GA)

WARRIORS RETURN TO PSAC FINAL 4
• ESU missed PSAC Final 4 the last 2 years after 6 straight trips
• joined Cal (1992-97) as only school with 6 straight in last 30 years

3rd PSAC TITLE IN LAST 7 YEARS
• 2012, 2014, 2018

5 NCAA TOURNAMENTS IN LAST 9 YEARS
• ESU has reached NCAA DII Tournament in 2010, 2012-14, 2018
• Prior to 2010 - one NCAA appearance (1990)
Atlantic Regional trips since 2010
9 - West Liberty
7 - IUP
5 - ESU
5 - Fairmont State

3rd IN ATLANTIC REGION IN WINS IN LAST 9 YEARS
(2009-10 thru 2017-18)
• 1st in PSAC East, 2nd in PSAC, 3rd in Atlantic Region
272 - West Liberty
234 - IUP
197 - ESU
192 - Fairmont State
189 - Wheeling Jesuit