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

SOMERS, Wis. (Jan. 23, 2013)-- It's a big week for the University of Wisconsin-Parkside men's basketball team, playing host to Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division co-leaders University of Southern Indiana and Kentucky Wesleyan College.  The Rangers face 10th-ranked USI on Thursday while clashing with the third-ranked Panthers on Saturday as the team hosts its annual Coaches vs. Cancer game.

The Rangers tip off at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday against USI while hitting the court at 3 p.m. on Saturday against the Panthers. Live stats, video and audio will be available for both games. Steve Kratochvil will be providing play-by-play for both contests while Jim Kramer will be providing color commentary on the audio feed available online and on WRJN 1400 AM in southeast Wisconsin.

Saturday's game the Rangers will be hosting their annual Coaches vs. Cancer game. Coaches vs. Cancer is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) that empowers coaches, their teams, and local communities to make a difference in the fight against cancer. Through this program, coaches host or participate in a variety of activities and involve their community to help battle the disease. From awareness activities to game-day fundraisers, there are many opportunities for coaches to increase cancer awareness, promote healthy living, and raise money to help save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

Luke Reigel and his coaching staff will be donning sneakers during the game in an effort to raise awareness and help defeat cancer.

About the Rangers: UW-Parkside (19-5, 5-2 GLVC) continues its three-game homestand and will look to rebound after suffering a heartbreaking 77-74 defeat to Lewis University on Monday night.

UW-Parkside led by as many as 10 points in the contest but was unable to contain the Flyers' Ryan Jackson, who finished with a game-high 32 points, shooting 10-for-13 from the floor.

The Rangers held an eight-point advantage with 15 minutes left but Lewis fought back, shooting 70 percent from the floor in the second half to steal the win. Down three, UWP had a chance to tie the game with 37 seconds left with Conrad Krutwig at the line shooting three. Krutwig hit two and the Rangers misfired on two straight shots in the waning moments in the three-point defeat.

Saffold paced the Rangers with 22 points and five rebounds while Krutwig chipped in 18 points.

Averaging 20.0 points per game, Saffold continues to lead the offense while Zygimantas Riauka adds 12.4 ppg and a team-best 5.9 rebounds per game. Krutwig is the third Ranger averaging in double figures, good for 11.2 ppg while adding 5.8 rpg.

Jan. 24 vs. University of Southern Indiana at DeSimone Gymnasium (Live Stats)(Video)(Audio)

Series History: The Rangers and Screaming Eagles have met 33 times on the hardwood with USI holding a 26-7 edge in the all-time series. UW-Parkside has lost six straight with the Rangers last winning on Jan. 10, 2008, a 72-65 victory in Evansville.

Last Season: The Eagles won both encounters in 2011-12, nipping UWP 71-69 on Dec. 3 in Somers before completing the sweep with a 77-50 win in Evansville on Feb. 9.

About the Screaming Eagles: 10th-ranked Southern Indiana (13-2, 6-1 GLVC) comes to DeSimone Gymnasium riding a four-game win streak. The Screaming Eagles knocked off No. 11 UIndy 69-55 on Saturday to remain unbeaten in Evansville this season (10-0) before escaping Owensboro, Ky. on Monday night with a 72-53 victory over No. 3 Kentucky Wesleyan College, forcing a tie atop the East Division standings between the two squads.

Thursday's clash is just the third true road game of the season for USI. The Eagles have played 10 of their 15 games at home in Evansville, while playing three road games and two neutral site affairs. While unbeaten at home Southern Indiana is just 3-2 outside of Evansville.

UW-Parkside and Southern Indiana have faced just one common opponent this season in Cedarville University. The Rangers fell 80-72 to the Yellow Jackets on Dec. 1 inside DeSimone Gymnasium while the Screaming Eagles soared past Cedarville 72-61 on Dec. 29 to close out their non-conference slate.

Orlando Rutledge is the Eagles leading scorer, coming into Thursday averaging 15.5 ppg. Aaron Nelson adds 11.9 ppg and 7.9 rpg while Keith DeWitt leads the team on the glass, grabbing 8.9 rpg along with 11.6 ppg. Taylor Wischmeier is the fourth USI player averaging in double figures, chipping in 11.1 ppg.

USI is one of the nation's premier rebounding teams. The Eagles lead the conference and rank second nationally in rebounding margin at +13.4. Southern Indiana is 13th nationally in scoring margin (+14.5), 26th in field goal percentage defense (39.4 percent) and 27th in scoring offense (81.5 ppg).

Jan. 26 vs. Kentucky Wesleyan College at DeSimone Gymnasium (Live Stats)(Video)(Audio)

Series History: The Rangers and Panthers have met 32 times with KWC winning 29 of those encounters. The series' first began during the 1990-1991 season as a non-conference contest. UWP won three straight, sweeping the series in 2005-06 and securing another win in 2006-07 but have since dropped nine straight.

Last Season: The Rangers fell in overtime 81-78 to then No. 9 KWC to open the GLVC season on Dec. 1, 2011 before falling 72-65 to the then No. 7 Panthers on Feb. 11 in Owensboro.

About the Panthers: No. 3 Kentucky Wesleyan (14-1, 6-1 GLVC) was the last GLVC squad to fall from the ranks of the unbeaten, rattling off 14 straight victories before falling 72-53 to Southern Indiana at home inside the Owensboro Sportscenter.

Prior to the USI loss, Kentucky Wesleyan had earned a 79-69 win over nationally-ranked University of Indianapolis on Jan. 17 while blowing out Saint Joseph's College 92-58 two days later.

Desmond Starke powers the Panthers, averaging a team-best 15.1 ppg and 8.6 rpg. Lucas Barker and Donovan Johnson contribute 12.5 and 10.7 ppg, respectively.

Wesleyan leads the GLVC in scoring margin (+18.3) and field goal percentage (51.9 percent) and rank fourth nationally in both categories. KWC is fifth nationally in three-point field goal percentage (42.5 percent) and stand 11th in rebounding margin (+9.7).

National Rankings: UW-Parkside ranks in the top ten in three statistical categories while ranking among the top 25 nationally in seven categories.

UW-Parkside is seventh nationally (out of 286 Division II programs) in free throw percentage (76.5 percent), assist to turnover ratio (1.42) and turnovers per game (10.7). The Rangers ranked 14th in turnover margin (+4.9), 15th in personal fouls per game (14.9), 17th in scoring margin (+13.5) and 19th in field goal percentage (49.5 percent).

Individually, two Rangers are ranked in the top 100 nationally. Saffold is 26th in the nation in points per game while Bryant Smith is 11th in assist to turnover ratio (2.81). Zygimantas Riauka is 62nd nationally in blocks (1.5 bpg) and 71st in field goal percentage (53.3 percent).

Record Book Watch: Jeremy Saffold continues to climb the program's all-time scoring list. The senior cracked the top ten on Monday; his 22-point effort against Lewis gives the forward 1,338 career points, surpassing Chuck Chambliss (1971-74) who tallied 1,334 points as a Ranger. Saffold is 82 points shy of Quincy Moman (1999-2003) and ninth place. At his current pace, Saffold is set to surpass Moman around Feb. 7 against KWC.

Beast of the East: Four of the GLVC East Division's eight teams appear in the top 25 this week. Kentucky Wesleyan College climbed one spot to No. 3 while Bellarmine University climbed into the top 10, rising four spots to No. 8. Southern Indiana jumped five positions to 10th from a week ago while the University of Indianapolis tumbles from No. 5 to No. 11.