KENOSHA, Wis. — With a two-game winning streak and early movement in the GLIAC standings, the Parkside men's basketball team hits the road this week for a pair of conference matchups, beginning Thursday, Jan. 15, at Wayne State in Detroit before traveling Saturday, Jan. 17, to Purdue Northwest in Hammond, Indiana.
Parkside enters the week 8-5 overall and 3-3 in GLIAC play, tied for fifth in the league standings with three other teams — including Wayne State, the Rangers' opponent Thursday night. Parkside has played its best basketball of the season in recent weeks, winning five of its last six overall.
The Rangers opened the weekend Thursday with a 79-72 win over Lake Superior State, leaning on efficient offense and a constant trip to the free-throw line to close it out. Parkside shot 46.3% from the floor, attempted 29 free throws and got balanced scoring from Josiah Palmer (22 points, 4-for-7 from 3-point range), Paxton Warden (18) and Luka Mateski (17 points, 11-for-14 at the line). Parkside also won the turnover battle in points (19-13), and late execution at the stripe helped the Rangers fend off a Lake State push.
Two days later, Parkside completed the sweep with an 87-81 win over Saginaw Valley State behind another high-powered, efficient night. Mateski led the way with 24 points on 7-of-14 shooting, adding two 3-pointers and an 8-for-8 performance at the free-throw line to record his fifth 20-point game of the season. Parkside also set a season high with 12 made 3-pointers as a team. Raphael Nagau-Trouart delivered his most efficient performance as a Ranger, scoring 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting for his first career double-figure game while adding six rebounds as Parkside outworked the GLIAC's top rebounding team, 33-29.
The Rangers' identity has been clear through 13 games: pressure defenses with spacing, then punish them at the stripe. Parkside is scoring 76.5 points per game while allowing 71.8, and the Rangers have turned free throws into a weekly separator, averaging 19.5 made free throws per game on 25.8 attempts. Parkside is also playing with discipline defensively, committing the fewest fouls per game in the GLIAC (16.2), which has helped the Rangers control pace and stay out of foul trouble late.
Individually, the Rangers have multiple threats capable of taking over a game — and the numbers back it up. Warden has been Parkside's top scoring option at 18.1 points per game while playing 32.6 minutes per night, one of the highest workloads in the league. He is also shooting 39.4% from 3-point range (26-for-66) and has scored 20-plus in three games, including a season-high 27 at Ferris State. Mateski has been one of the nation's best at the free-throw line, leading the GLIAC at 92.0% (103-for-112). He also leads the league in total free throws made (103) and attempted (112) and is averaging 16.6 points per game.
Palmer has been a steady two-way engine and one of the most dangerous perimeter shooters in the conference. He is averaging 14.4 points and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 44.0% from 3 (37-for-84) and knocking down 2.9 triples per game. Over his last three games, Palmer is averaging 22.0 points per contest and is 11-for-19 from deep (57.9%). He is also closing in on Parkside history: Palmer has 253 career 3-pointers and sits six away from tying the program record (259) and seven away from breaking it.
Surakat anchors the frontcourt with a team-high 7.3 rebounds per game, including 25 offensive boards, while shooting 67.2% from the field. He also leads Parkside with 26 blocks (2.0 per game), giving the Rangers rim protection that changes shots and fuels transition.
Thursday, January 15
Parkside at Wayne State
6:30 p.m. CT | Wayne State Fieldhouse | Detroit, Mich.
Saturday, January 17
Parkside at Purdue Northwest
3 p.m. CT | John Friend Court | Hammond, Ind.
SCOUTING WAYNE STATE:
Wayne State enters Thursday 6-6 overall and 3-3 in GLIAC play, tied with Parkside in the early logjam near the middle of the standings. The Warriors are coming off a 1-1 road trip that showed both their ceiling and their areas to tighten.
On Thursday in Allendale, Wayne State fell at Grand Valley State 81-72 despite shooting 46% (25-for-54) from the floor and getting consistent production inside. The Warriors struggled to match GVSU's perimeter efficiency, going 5-for-23 from 3-point range (22%) while the Lakers hit 10 3s. Carlos Paul III led Wayne State with 19 points and a 9-for-11 showing at the line, while JaKobie Boose added 15, Jordan Briggs scored 12, and the Warriors kept it close on the glass in a game with just 18 total turnovers.
Wayne State responded Saturday with an 80-66 win over Davenport in Grand Rapids, turning the game with bench scoring, rebounding and trips to the stripe. The Warriors shot 47% (23-for-49), drilled 9 3-pointers (9-for-20) and went 25-for-30 at the free-throw line (83%). Five Warriors reached double figures, led by Briggs with 18. Jotham Nweke posted the Warriors' first double-double of the season with 13 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, while Boose (14), Paul (13) and Cooper Craggs (12) also scored in double figures.
Under fourth-year head coach Bryan Smothers, Wayne State has paired pace with physicality and depth. The Warriors are scoring 79.8 points per game — one of the top marks in the league — while allowing 73.3. Wayne State is shooting 46.1% from the floor and winning the rebounding battle by 3.7 boards per game (38.6-34.9). The Warriors' ability to create extra possessions has been a staple, and they have also been disruptive defensively, averaging 7.8 steals and 3.5 blocks per game.
Briggs is the headliner and one of the league's most consistent scorers, averaging 17.4 points per game while shooting 45.3% from the field. Paul provides a powerful interior presence at 12.8 points per game on 51.3% shooting, and Nweke brings a versatile frontcourt profile at 10.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest with 17 made 3-pointers. Wayne State's rotation features multiple double-figure capable options, and the Warriors' depth has shown up in their bench production — especially in recent wins.
Parkside is 11-6 all-time against Wayne State. The Rangers split the season series a year ago, falling 65-61 in Detroit on Jan. 9 before responding with an 80-63 win in Kenosha on Feb. 1. Parkside is 2-5 all-time at Wayne State Fieldhouse, but the Rangers have won seven of the last 10 meetings and are 9-5 against the Warriors since joining the GLIAC.
SCOUTING PURDUE NORTHWEST:
Purdue Northwest enters the weekend 6-7 overall and 2-4 in GLIAC play, tied for ninth in the standings. The Pride are coming off an 0-2 weekend and the tail end of a 1-3 conference road trip, and they will host Roosevelt on Thursday before welcoming Parkside on Saturday.
Despite the recent results, Purdue Northwest has been dangerous when its perimeter game is clicking. The Pride are shooting 39.1% from 3-point range as a team and averaging 9.0 made 3s per game, one of the best long-range profiles in Division II. Purdue Northwest is scoring 74.6 points per game while allowing 73.3, and the Pride have won the rebounding battle by 2.6 boards per contest (35.0-32.4), giving them a steady possession base.
Last weekend, Purdue Northwest dropped a tight 77-74 decision to Davenport on Thursday in a game that featured six ties and 10 lead changes. The Pride shot 42.9% from the field and 42.9% from 3 (9-for-21), and Trevon Stoutermire led the way with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting off the bench. On Saturday at Grand Valley State, Purdue Northwest fell 76-54 while struggling at the free-throw line (5-for-14) and chasing the game against one of the league's most physical teams.
The Pride are led by Kyle Ross, who has been one of the most efficient players in the conference. Ross is averaging 14.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting 60.6% from the field, and he ranks among the GLIAC leaders in offensive rebounding. Kevin Taylor adds another scoring punch at 11.0 points per game while shooting 39.3% from 3, and Garrett Clark (7.4 points) provides additional spacing at 43.9% from deep. Purdue Northwest's ability to stretch the floor is real, and Parkside will need to be sharp in closeouts while still controlling the glass and keeping the Pride off the 3-point line.
Parkside is 10-4 all-time against Purdue Northwest and has won three straight meetings. The Rangers swept the Pride last season, opening with a triple-overtime road win (76-73) on Feb. 4 behind Palmer's 27 points before edging Purdue Northwest 70-69 in Kenosha on Feb. 8. Parkside is 4-3 all-time in Hammond, and the first meeting between the programs came Jan. 26, 2019.
LOOKING AHEAD:
Following the road weekend, Parkside returns to DeSimone Arena for a three-game homestand, taking a quick break from conference play to host a make-up game against Division III Edgewood on Monday, Jan. 19, at 3 p.m. CT. Then, the Rangers return to the GLIAC slate for good, hosting Grand Valley State (receiving votes) on Thursday, Jan. 22, at 7:30 p.m. CT before welcoming Davenport on Saturday, Jan. 24, at 3 p.m. CT.
To follow the Rangers throughout the season, visit parksiderangers.com/coverage.
