SIOUX FALLS, S.D.. – The Golden Eagles are set for their seventh consecutive NAIA DII National Tournament, as they will take on Friends University in the first round at 9:30 a.m. EST on Thursday, March 7. Friends enters the tournament out of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, earning an at-large bid after a third-place finish in the KCAC conference standings. Live video/stats/audio links can be found at cugoldeneagles.com for the game. CU will also be hosting a watch party in the Hall of Honor inside the Hansen Athletic Center for CU staff, faculty, and students who would like to attend.
Opponent: Friends (Kan.)
Date: Thursday, March 7
Time: 9:30 a.m. EST
Location: Sioux Falls, S.D. (Sanford Pentagon)
Internet Coverage: Live Video/Audio/Stats
Tournament Success
Head Coach
Kim Elders and the Golden Eagles have a strong resume of national tournament success winning three national championships in 26 years. The team is heading to their sixth straight appearance in the national tournament this season after an elite 8 finish in 2018. In the 14 previous NAIA DII National Tournament appearances, CU has gone 39-13.
Big Sluis
Senior
Sam Vander Sluis is winding down a phenomenal Cornerstone career as the big man has broken multiple program rebounding records. Vander Sluis serves as the career rebounding record holder at CU with 1,496, the season program record holder with 511 this season, and is tied for the single game record recording 23 rebounds two separate times this season. Vander Sluis sits just 57 rebounds away from breaking the NCAA Division I state of Michigan rebounding record that was set by Dave DeBusschere of the University of Detroit Mercy in 1960-62 with 1,552 career rebounds. Sam has also recorded 30 double-doubles in 33 games this season and holds averages of 20.1 PPG and 15.5 RPG.
Scouting Friends
Friends University earned an at-large bid to the national tournament for their first appearance since 2015. The Falcons posted a 22-9 overall record and 17-7 conference record, most recently losing in the KCAC Tournament Semifinals to Southwestern College. Friends is one of the best in the country offensively, ranking 14th in NAIA DII averaging 88.7 PPG. Senior Jordan Murdock has powered the Falcons all year long with an NAIA third best 27.7 points per game. Murdock also leads the team in assists with 147 and rebounds with 8.8 per game. Four other friends players average double-figures this season along with Murdock. Defensively, the Falcons allow an average of 80.4 points per game and a 46.4% mark from the field.
History vs. the Falcons
Cornerstone and Friends have met twice in program history, each recording a win in the National Tournament. CU won the first meeting in 2005 by a score of 95-64, Friends responded nine years later with a 79-69 win over the Golden Eagles in the second round of the NAIA DII Tournament.
Men's Basketball Contact:
Jesse Campbell
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