FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Media Relations

SOMERS, Wis. (Jan. 2, 2013)-- The University of Wisconsin-Parkside men's basketball team hits the road for the first time in over a month, opening Great Lakes Valley Conference play against Missouri S&T University in Rolla on Thursday before closing the road swing on Saturday in Springfield against Drury University.

The trip opens on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. inside the Gale Bullman Multi-Purpose Building in Rolla, Mo. Live stats along with video and audio will all be available. Eric Zizich will be providing commentary on the audio feed available online and on WRJN 1400 AM in the Kenosha-Racine area.

Saturday's game tips at 3:15 p.m. inside the O'Reilly Family Event Center in Springfield, Mo. Live stats and audio will be available. Zizich will once again have the call and can be heard on the internet and on WRJN 1400 AM.

About the Rangers: UW-Parkside closed the non-conference portion of its schedule with a 5-3 mark, closing a four-game homestand on Saturday, falling 69-51 to Michigan Tech University on Dec. 29.

Jeremy Saffold leads the way for UWP, averaging 20.6 points per game. Saffold has registered in double figures every game this season, including five games of 20 or more points including a 34-point outburst against the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras on Nov. 24.

Zygimantas Riauka adds 14.1 ppg and a team-high 6.8 rebounds per game while Conrad Krutwig chips in an even 10.0 ppg.

The Rangers have played relatively turnover free ball this season, averaging just 9.5 per game and holding a +7.4 turnover margin on opponents.

Jan. 3 vs. Missouri S&T at the Gale Bullman Multi-Purpose Building (Live Stats)(Video)(Audio)

Series History: The Rangers and Miners have squared off eight times since the series began in 2006 with UWP holding a 5-3 edge. The two squads did not meet in 2011-2012.

Last Meeting: Host UW-Parkside closed the game on a 7-1 run, emerging with a 63-57 victory over Missouri S&T on Jan. 20, 2011 inside DeSimone Gymnasium.

About the Miners: Missouri S&T enters Thursday's clash with a 4-4 record, having alternated wins and losses all season. The Miners are 0-1 on the young GLVC season, stumbling 88-52 to West Division rival Drury on Dec. 6. S&T closed out its non-conference slate on Monday, blowing by Benedictine University-Springfield by an 89-61 count.

Mudi Eruteya paces the Miners, averaging 13.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game while Bryce Foster adds 13.2 ppg, including a 19-point game against Drury.

Jan. 5 vs. Drury University at the O'Reilly Family Event Center (Live Stats)(Audio)

Series History: The Panthers have claimed six of the seven games contested in the all-time series.  The Rangers lone victory came inside DeSimone Gymnasium on Jan. 8, 2009, edging the Panthers 74-71. The two squads did not play in 2011-2012.

Last Meeting: The Panthers downed UWP 86-78 on Jan. 17, 2011 in Springfield, Mo. The Rangers held a 24-17 lead early in the game and trailed by just three at the break but was unable to hang with Drury down the stretch, eventually falling by nine points.

About the Panthers: Drury (7-2) opened the season with seven straight victories but has since hit a rough patch, heading into Thursday's game against Lewis having dropped two straight.

Drury had its win streak snapped on Dec. 18 in Las Vegas, falling 72-69 to Western Washington University at the South Point Holiday Hoops Classic before succumbing 82-72 to Saint Mary's University (Texas) the following day.

The Panthers have four players averaging double figures with Alex Hall leading the way (18.8 points per game). Cameron Adams comes off the bench and adds 12.2 ppg while Brandon Lockhart and Ian Carter add 10.9 and 10.1 ppg, respectively.

Drury has outscored opponents by a +20.6 margin in 2012-2013, averaging 83.1 ppg.

Consistency: UW-Parkside has utilized the same starting lineup in all eight games this season. The Ranger starting five features Jeremy Saffold, Zygimantas Riauka, Conrad Krutwig, Andy Mazurczak and Bryant Smith

Preseason Picks: UW-Parkside was selected to finish tied for sixth in the GLVC East Division in 2012-2013 according to the annual preseason coaches' poll released on Oct. 24. S&T was selected to finish seventh in the West Division while Drury was picked second with seven first place votes.