KENOSHA, Wis. — Parkside men's basketball returns to De Simone Arena this week for its final two home games of the regular season, hosting Purdue Northwest on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m. CT before welcoming Wayne State on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 3 p.m. CT for Senior Day in Kenosha.
Parkside enters the week 11-13 overall and 5-11 in GLIAC play with four regular-season games remaining. The Rangers have been at their best at home this season, going 9-5 inside De Simone Arena, and they return to Kenosha after a split 1-1 trip to Michigan. Parkside earned a 77-71 road win at Davenport on Thursday, then fell at No. 19 Grand Valley State on Saturday, 73-57, after trailing by one at halftime.
Through 24 games, Parkside is averaging 74.1 points per game and allowing 74.8. The Rangers are shooting 42.9% from the field (194 made 3-pointers) and 75.8% at the free-throw line (436-575), while holding opponents to 44.6% shooting. Parkside has been steady on the glass (34.6 rebounds per game) and continues to get to the stripe consistently, with 575 free-throw attempts as a team.
Individually, Paxton Warden leads the Rangers at 18.7 points per game (411 points) while logging 33.1 minutes per game. Luka Mateski adds 16.0 points per game (352 points) and is shooting 91.0% at the line on high volume (162-178). Josiah Palmer is averaging 12.8 points per game (269 points) and is shooting 40.6% from three (54-133). In the frontcourt, Fawaz Surakat is averaging 7.3 rebounds per game (167 total) and has 45 blocks on the year, while Parkside has 75 team blocks through 24 games.
Thursday, Feb. 19
Purdue Northwest at Parkside
7:30 p.m. CT | De Simone Arena | Kenosha, Wis.
Saturday, Feb. 21
Wayne State at Parkside
3 p.m. CT | De Simone Arena | Kenosha, Wis.
SCOUTING PURDUE NORTHWEST:
Parkside and Purdue Northwest meet again after the Pride earned an 82-61 win in Hammond on Jan. 17. Purdue Northwest enters the week 11-12 overall and 7-9 in GLIAC play.
Statistically, the Pride are scoring 74.0 points per game and allowing 72.5. They shoot 45.1% from the field and 36.4% from three (189-519), while holding opponents to 31.2% from three (148-474). Purdue Northwest has been competitive on the glass (34.9 rebounds per game) and has leaned on balance across the rotation, with six players averaging at least 7.8 points per game.
Kyle Ross has been the centerpiece, averaging 14.7 points and a team-best 7.7 rebounds per game while shooting 55.1% from the floor (134-243). Kevin Taylor is scoring 10.5 points per game, and Kwat Abdelkarim is at 9.4 points per game while shooting 41.2% from three (35-85) and 83.9% at the free-throw line (52-62). On the perimeter, Garrett Clark is shooting 41.6% from three (32-77).
All-time, this is the 16th meeting between Parkside and Purdue Northwest. The Rangers lead the series 10-5 and are 6-1 against the Pride in Kenosha.
SCOUTING WAYNE STATE:
The Rangers and Warriors meet for the second time this season after Wayne State edged Parkside 82-78 in Detroit on Jan. 15. Wayne State enters the week 11-11 overall and 8-8 in GLIAC play.
Wayne State is averaging 76.0 points per game and allowing 73.8. The Warriors are shooting 45.6% from the field, but have been more selective from deep (30.4% as a team), and they have controlled the backboard at 35.9 rebounds per game. Defensively, they have limited opponents to 44.7% shooting, though opponents have found success from three (36.6%).
Jordan Briggs leads Wayne State at 17.5 points per game (367 points) and is shooting 87.0% at the free-throw line (100-115). Carlos Paul III is next at 13.1 points per game while shooting 53.8% from the floor (107-199). Jotham Nweke rounds out the primary scoring options at 10.0 points per game and is also the Warriors' top rebounder at 6.0 per game (132 total), while adding 20 blocks and a team-high 32 steals. Wayne State has multiple secondary contributors, including Devin Belle (8.0 ppg) and JaKobie Boose (7.0 ppg on 56.4% shooting).
This is the 19th all-time meeting between Parkside and Wayne State. Parkside has won five of the last seven matchups and is 8-1 against the Warriors all-time in Kenosha.
LOOKING AHEAD:
Following the home weekend, Parkside closes the regular season with a trip to the Upper Peninsula, traveling to Michigan Tech on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 6:30 p.m. CT in Houghton before heading to Marquette to face Northern Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 2 p.m. CT.
To keep up with the Rangers, visit parksiderangers.com/coverage.
