KENOSHA, Wis. — Parkside men's basketball will play a split week to open February, finishing a three-game road trip Thursday, Feb. 5, with a 7 p.m. CT tip at Roosevelt inside the Goodman Center in Chicago, before returning home to De Simone Arena on Saturday, Feb. 7, to host Ferris State at 3 p.m. CT.
The Rangers enter the week looking to steady themselves in the GLIAC race after a difficult stretch. Parkside is 9-11 overall and has dropped four straight games, including six consecutive conference decisions, to sit 3-9 in GLIAC play (10th of 11 teams) and on the outside of the league tournament picture. Last weekend, Parkside was swept in Michigan, falling 85-77 at Saginaw Valley State on Thursday before suffering its most lopsided loss of the season in a 106-65 defeat at Lake Superior State on Saturday.
Through 20 games, Parkside has scored 74.6 points per game while allowing 75.5 (a minus-0.9 scoring margin). The Rangers are shooting 43.8% from the field and 33.7% from three, and their season-long calling card continues to be pressure at the free-throw line: Parkside is 74.8% at the stripe and is making 18.0 free throws per game on 24.1 attempts. The Rangers are averaging 33.3 rebounds per game, while committing 12.0 turnovers per contest, and they have totaled 59 blocks (3.0 per game).
Individually, Parkside's headliners have continued to drive the offensive identity. Paxton Warden ranks among the league's top scorers and is coming off a career-high 27-point performance against Saginaw Valley. Luka Mateski has been one of the league's most consistent free-throw producers all season, leading the GLIAC in free throws made (135) and attempted (151) while ranking near the top in free-throw percentage. Josiah Palmer is shooting 42.3% from three this season and is coming off a historic milestone, recently becoming Parkside men's basketball's all-time leader in career 3-pointers made (262). On the glass and at the rim, Fawaz Surakat has been a two-way anchor, ranking among the league leaders in rebounding (7.3 per game) and blocks (1.8 per game).
Thursday, Feb. 5
Parkside at Roosevelt
7 p.m. CT | Goodman Center | Chicago, Ill.
Saturday, Feb. 7
Ferris State at Parkside
3 p.m. CT | De Simone Arena | Kenosha, Wis.
SCOUTING ROOSEVELT:
Parkside and Roosevelt met on New Year's Day in Kenosha, with the Rangers earning a 77-74 win behind 16 points from Warden and five Rangers scoring in double figures. This week's matchup is the final stop of Parkside's road trip and comes against a Roosevelt team still searching for traction in the standings.
The Lakers are 2-17 overall and 1-11 in GLIAC play, the lone team below Parkside in the league table. Roosevelt is still looking for its first home win (0-6) and owns one conference victory this season, a 77-74 decision over Purdue Northwest on Jan. 15. Roosevelt enters the week on a five-game losing streak.
Statistically, Roosevelt is averaging 66.1 points per game while allowing 80.2, making it the league's lowest-scoring team and the only GLIAC program below 70 points per game. Individually, the Lakers have a clear scoring trio. Hamahrie Bowers is averaging 15.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, and Mikey West is at 13.3 points per game while playing 34.3 minutes per night (second-most minutes per game in the GLIAC). Dante Sawyer adds 12.7 points per contest, giving Roosevelt multiple perimeter creators who can swing stretches when they are making shots.
Thursday's game is the fourth all-time meeting between the programs. Parkside is 3-0 in the series and won the only previous meeting in Chicago last season, 70-61, on Feb. 6, 2025. Each of the first three matchups has been decided by single digits.
SCOUTING FERRIS STATE:
Parkside returns home Saturday for a matchup with a Ferris State team that has already tested the Rangers in a tight game earlier this season. The Bulldogs edged Parkside 74-72 in Big Rapids on Jan. 5, a game in which the Rangers scored 51 second-half points but could not overcome a slow start.
Ferris State is 9-10 overall and 6-6 in GLIAC play, tied in the league's upper half, and comes to Kenosha looking to bounce back after consecutive losses. Most recently, the Bulldogs fell 76-71 at home to Purdue Northwest on Monday after leading by eight at halftime.
Ferris State's profile is shaped by defense on the perimeter and physicality inside. The Bulldogs are holding opponents to 25.6% from three, the best 3-point defense in the country this season. Offensively, Ferris State is scoring 78.0 points per game, and it is a strong rebounding team at 39.2 boards per contest.
Mykel Bingham has been one of the league's most productive frontcourt players and leads the GLIAC with eight double-doubles. He is averaging 13.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, giving Ferris a steady interior scoring option and a consistent presence on the glass. Ferris State's ability to take away 3s and finish possessions with rebounds has been a defining formula in its best performances, and it will be the focal point again Saturday in De Simone Arena.
Saturday's game is the 23rd all-time meeting between Parkside and Ferris State. The Rangers are 5-17 in the series and 4-7 at home against the Bulldogs. Ferris has won two straight meetings. The last time Ferris State visited Kenosha, however, Parkside delivered one of its biggest wins of last season, upsetting the then-No. 4 team in the country 78-66 on Jan. 16, 2025.
LOOKING AHEAD:
After the split week, Parkside heads back to Michigan for two road games: Thursday, Feb. 12, at Davenport in Grand Rapids at 6:30 p.m. CT, followed by Saturday, Feb. 14, at Grand Valley State in Allendale at 2 p.m. CT.
To keep up with the Rangers throughout the season, visit parksiderangers.com/coverage.
