MBB News

Morningside College broke five school records during the 2012-13 men’s basketball season.

The Mustangs dealt a school-record 518 assists to break their former single-season standard of 516 assists set during the 2005-06 season.

The main contributor to the Mustangs’ assist record was Trent Miller, a 6-1 senior guard from Gretna, Neb., who led the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) in assists for the third year in a row. Miller raised his game to new heights this season when he dealt a career-high 194 assists to shatter the former Morningside single-season record of 172 assists set by Dusty Wadlington during the 2000-01 campaign. Miller, who finished second on the team with 78 steals, ranked sixth nationally in the NAIA Division II ranks with an average of 6.0 assists per game and was 10th in steals with a norm of 2.4 per game.

Aside from breaking the Mustangs’ single-season assist record, Miller also broke the Morningside career records for assists and steals. Miller finished his career with 514 assists and 235 steals to break the former Morningside career marks of 425 assists set by Joel Weyand from 1993-97 and 185 steals set by Jack Rother from 2004-08. Miller, who averaged a career-high 8.4 points per game this season, scored 746 points during his career for the 57th highest scoring total in Morningside history.

Tanner Miller, a 6-1 sophomore guard from Gretna, Neb., was also a Morningside record breaker. Miller amassed 91 steals to lead the GPAC and break the former Morningside record of 79 steals in a season set by his brother Trent last season. He averaged 2.8 steals per game for the fifth highest average in the nation. Miller also ranked second on the Mustangs with 91 assists and was their second leading scorer with an average of 11.4 points per game.

Miller picked up his scoring pace considerably over the second half of the season when he averaged 14.4 points per game over the Mustangs’ final 14 games to raise his season’s scoring norm from 9.2 to 11.4 points per game.

The Mustangs’ most prolific scorer was Danny Rudeen, a 6-3 junior guard from Sioux City, who scored 631 points for an average of 19.7 points per game. Rudeen was the GPAC’s individual scoring champion and ranked 12th nationally in the NAIA Division II ranks. Rudeen scored in double figures in 31 of his 32 games played and was the Mustangs’ leading scorer in 22 of their 33 contests, including a career-high 35 points against Northwestern College on Nov. 20 for the team’s top single-game scoring performance of the season. Aside from his scoring exploits, Rudeen was also the Mustangs’ co-rebounding leader with an average of 5.0 caroms per game and pulled down nine rebounds against NCAA Division II Nova Southeastern University on Dec. 18 to match the Mustangs’ top single-game rebound total of the campaign.

Rudeen topped the Mustangs with 225 field goals, 73 3-point field goals, and 108 free throws. He made 73 of 184 3-point field goal attempts for 39.7 percent and 108 of 128 free throw attempts for 84.4 percent to lead the Mustangs’ shooters in both categories. Rudeen ranked seventh nationally in free throw percentage.

Rudeen, who cracked the Mustangs’ starting lineup at the end of his freshman year, will enter his senior season as the 10th leading scorer in Morningside history with 1,277 career points. He has a career scoring average of 14.0 points per game.

Kyle Nikkel, a 6-6 freshman center from Pella, Iowa, grabbed a team-high 164 rebounds and averaged 5.0 rebounds per game to share team honors with Rudeen. Nikkel grabbed nine rebounds in games against Doane College, Dakota Wesleyan University, and Concordia University for the Mustangs’ top single-game rebound total of the season. He also led the Mustangs in field goal accuracy with 114 hoops in 212 attempts for 53.8 percent. Nikkel shot 50 percent or higher from the field in 22 of the Mustangs’ 33 contest, including 11 of their final 14 games. Nikkel, the Mustangs’ third leading scorer with an average of 8.7 points per game, increased his production to averages of 11.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game over the final 12 games of the season.

Drew Dau, a 6-7 junior center from Spirit Lake, Iowa, was the Mustangs’ blocked shot leader with 14 rejections. Dau averaged 4.1 points per game and was a starter in 13 of the Mustangs’ 33 contests.

Ryan Strand, a 6-6 junior forward from Meridian, Idaho, grabbed nine rebounds in the Mustangs’ 87-61 victory against McPherson College on Nov. 9 to match the Mustangs’ top individual rebounding performance of the season. Strand was the top scorer and rebounder off the Mustangs’ bench with averages of 5.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

Morningside posted an 18-15 record and finished fourth in the GPAC standings with an 11-9 league mark. The Mustangs peaked at the end of the season when they won 10 of their final 13 contests and reached the championship game of the GPAC Post-Season Tournament.

Morningside head men’s basketball coach Jim Sykes has announced the names of seven high school recruits who will join the Mustangs for the 2013-14 season.

Jon Abbott, a 6-0 guard from Wahoo, Neb. Abbot is a senior at Wahoo High School, where he was the leading scorer for this past season’s Nebraska Class C-1 state champions. He earned first-team all-state honors from the Omaha World-Herald, Lincoln Journal-Star, and Huskerland Prep and was named the captain of the Fremont Tribune and Wahoo Newspaper all-area teams. Abbott also received first-team All-Capitol Conference honors and was named to the all-state tournament team. He scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds in Wahoo’s 45-42 victory against Boone Central/Newman Grove in the state championship game.

Abbott averaged 14.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game and had 86 steals for a norm of 3.0 per game during his senior campaign. He made 171 of 340 field goal attempts for 50.3 percent.

He averaged 10.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game and had 56 steals for an average of 2.1 per game as a junior en route to honorable mention Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal-Star all-state recognition.

Grant Anderson, a 6-5 forward from Randolph, Neb. Anderson is a senior at Randolph High School, where he was a three-time first-team All-Northeast Nebraska Activities Conference performer. He amassed 1,001 points, 701 rebounds, 205 assists, 136 steals, and 126 blocked shots and drilled 50.1 percent of his field goal attempts and converted 70.5 percent of his free throw attempts during his prep career. Anderson was a second-team Class D-1 all-state selection of the Lincoln Journal-Star and Huskerland Preps and was an Omaha World-Herald honorable mention all-stater this past season. He was Randolph’s leading scorer and rebounder with averages of 17.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game to compliment norms of 3.4 assists and 2.0 blocked shots per contest.

He averaged a double-double as a junior with team-high averages of 14.2 points and 10.7 rebounds per game to go along with averages of 2.8 assists and 1.7 blocked shots per game en route to honorable mention Class D-1 all-state honors from the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal-Star. Anderson was also an Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal-Star honorable mention all-stater as a sophomore when he was Randolph’s leading scorer and rebounder with averages of 10 points and eight rebounds per game.

Tyler Bates, a 6-6 forward from Arlington, Minn. Bates is a senior at Sibley East High School, where he accumulated 901 points and 530 rebounds during his prep career. Bates averaged a double-double this past season with averages of 17.7 points and 10.0 rebounds per game en route to All-Minnesota River Conference honors. He had 14 double-doubles during the season and had season’s high of 31 points against Watertown-Mayer and 14 rebounds in games against Lake Crystal-Wellcome-Memorial and Mayer Lutheran. Bates made 138 of 246 field goal attempts for 56.1 percent, 25 of 72 3-point field goal attempts for 34.7 percent, and 109 of 153 free throw attempts for 71.2 percent.

Jake Goltl, a 6-2 guard from La Vista, Neb. Goltl is a senior at Ralston High School, where he earned second-team Class B all-state honors from the Omaha World-Herald this past season after he averaged 13.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocked shots per game.

Goltl received honorable mention all-state recognition from the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal-Star as a junior.

Lucas Lazure, a 5-11 guard from Fort Calhoun, Neb. Lazure is a senior at Fort Calhoun High School, where he dealt a school-record 196 assists during his prep career. He received honorable mention Class C-1 all-state honors from the Omaha World-Herald and the Lincoln Journal-Star in addition to first-team All-Nebraska Capitol Conference honors this past season after he set school records with 433 points, 78 steals, and 88 made free throws. Lazure averaged 17.3 points, 4.3 assists, 3.1 steals, and 2.8 rebounds per game. He made 111 of 209 field goal attempts for 53.1 percent, 41 of 137 3-point field goal attempts for 30.0 percent, and 88 of 117 free throw attempts for 75.2 percent.

Lazure also received honorable mention all-state recognition from the Omaha World-Herald as a junior.

Jake Nannen, a 6-5 forward from Lincoln, Neb. Nannen is a senior at Lincoln Southeast High School, where he earned first-team all-city, All-Heartland Athletic Conference, and honorable mention all-state recognition from the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal-Star this past season. Nannen led Lincoln Southeast in both scoring and rebounding with averages of 10.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game to go along with 39 assists and 22 steals. He drilled 107 of 221 field goal attempts for 48.4 percent and converted 37 of 55 free throw attempts for 67.3 percent. Nannen scored a season’s high 21 points against Norfolk and had a season’s high 11 rebounds in games against Lincoln Northeast and Papillion La Vista.

Zach Polk, a 6-8 center from Elgin, Neb. Polk is a senior at Elgin High School and played his senior season for Elgin/Pope John. He averaged eight points, eight rebounds, 2.5 blocked shots, 2.0 assists, and 1.5 steals per game this past season to earn honorable mention Class C-2 all-state honors from the Lincoln Journal-Star in addition to honorable mention All-Niobrara Valley Conference laurels.

Polk previously played at Silver Lake High School in Roseland, Neb., earlier in his career.

Morningside posted an 18-15 record and finished fourth in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) standings with an 11-9 league mark. The Mustangs peaked at the end of the season when they won 10 of their final 13 contests and reached the championship game of the GPAC Post-Season Tournament.

Danny Rudeen, a 6-3 junior guard from Sioux City, received the Most Valuable Player Award for Morningside College’s 2012-13 men’s basketball season at the Mustangs’ post-season awards banquet.

Rudeen was the Mustangs’ leading scorer and co-rebounding leader with averages of 19.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. He was the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) scoring champion and ranked 12th nationally in the NAIA Division II ranks with his 19.7-point average. Rudeen scored in double figures in 31 of his 32 games played and was the Mustangs’ leading scorer in 22 of their 33 contests, including a career-high 35 points against Northwestern College on Nov. 20 for the team’s top single-game scoring performance of the season.

Morningside’s other award winners were:

Defensive Player of the Year – Trent Miller, a 6-1 senior guard from Gretna, Neb.

Most Improved – Kyle Nikkel, a 6-6 freshman center from Pella, Iowa.

Arnold Weightlifting Award – Tanner Ferguson, a 6-2 junior guard from Dakota Dunes, S.D.

Danny Rudeen, a 6-3 junior guard from Sioux City, was named to the honorable mention list of the 2012-13 NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball All-America Team.

Rudeen was the Mustangs’ leading scorer and co-rebounding leader this season with averages of 19.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. He was the Mustangs’ leading scorer in 22 of their 33 contests. Rudeen had 16 scoring performances of 20 points or more, including a career-high 35 points against Northwestern College on Nov. 20 for the Mustangs’ top individual scoring performance of the season. He had a season’s high nine rebounds against NCAA Division II Nova Southeastern University on Dec. 18.

Aside from leading the Mustangs in scoring and rebounding, Rudeen ranked third on the team with 70 assists and 30 steals. He was the Mustangs’ most prolific and accurate 3-point field goal shooter with a team-high 73 treys in 184 attempts for 39.7 percent. Rudeen was also the Mustangs’ best free throw shooter with a team-high 108 free throws in 128 attempts for 84.4 percent. Rudeen made a team-high 225 of 448 field goal attempts for 50.2 percent.

Rudeen, a two-time first-team All-Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) performer, will enter his senior season as the 10th leading scorer in Morningside history with 1,277 career points.

Morningside posted an 18-15 record during the 2012-13 campaign and reached the championship game of the GPAC Post-Season Tournament.

Click here for the complete 2012-13 NAIA Division II Men's Basketball All-America Team.

Danny Rudeen, a 6-3 junior guard from Sioux City, has been named to the 2012-13 All-Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Men’s Basketball First Team as selected by the league’s head coaches.

In addition to Rudeen, the Mustangs’ Trent Miller, a 6-1 senior guard from Gretna, Neb., was tabbed to the All-GPAC Second Team and was selected as the GPAC Defensive Player of the Year.

Rudeen, a repeat first-team All-GPAC selection, was the GPAC scoring champion this season with an average of 19.7 points per game. He was the Mustangs’ leading scorer in 22 of their 33 games and had 16 scoring performances of 20 points or more, including a career-high 35 points against Northwestern College on Nov. 20 for the Mustangs’ top single-game scoring performance of the season. Aside from leading the Mustangs in scoring, Rudeen was second on the team with 161 rebounds for an average of 5.0 caroms per game. Rudeen grabbed nine rebounds against Nova Southeastern University on Dec. 18 for the Mustangs’ top single-game rebound total of the campaign. He finished third on the team with 70 assists for an average of 2.2 per contest.

Rudeen was the Mustangs’ most prolific and accurate 3-point field goal shooter with a team-high 73 3-pointers in 184 attempts for 39.7 percent as well as the team’s best free throw shooter with 108 free throws in 128 attempts for 84.4 percent. Rudeen made 225 of 448 field goal attempts for 50.2 percent.

Rudeen has scored 1,277 points during his Morningside career for the 10th highest point total in Morningside history.

Miller dealt a school-record 194 assists for an average of 6.1 per game to lead the GPAC in assists for the third year in a row. He was second on the Mustangs with 78 steals for a norm of 2.4 per game. Miller also averaged 8.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per contest. He made 92 of 232 field goal attempts for 39.7 percent, 16 of 55 3-point field goal attempts for 29.1 percent, and 70 of 91 free throw attempts for 76.9 percent.

Miller will graduate as Morningside’s all-time leader with 514 career assists and 235 career steals.

Morningside’s Tanner Miller and Kyle Nikkel were named to the All-GPAC honorable mention list.

Miller, a 6-1 sophomore guard from Gretna, Neb., averaged 11.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game and led the GPAC with a school-record 91 steals for an average of 2.8 per game. He also had 91 assists for a norm of 2.8 per game.

Nikkel led the Mustangs in rebounding with 164 caroms for an average of 5.0 per game to compliment an 8.7-point scoring average. He also led the Mustangs in field goal percentage with 114 hoops in 212 attempts for 53.8 percent.

Morningside peaked at the end of the season with a 10-4 record over its final 14 games to finish with a record of 18-15. The Mustangs reached the championship game of the GPAC Post-Season Tournament before they bowed out with a 75-63 loss against 13th-ranked Dordt College.

Click here for the complete 2012-13 All-GPAC Men's Basketball Team.

Tanner Ferguson and Danny Rudeen have been named 2012-13 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes in the sport of men’s basketball.

Ferguson, a 6-2 junior guard from Dakota Dunes, S.D., has a 3.65 cumulative grade point average (GPA) with a major in biology.

Rudeen, a 6-3 junior guard from Sioux City, has a 3.73 cumulative GPA with a major in computer science.

Student-athletes must be of at least junior academic status and have a minimum GPA of 3.50 in order to be eligible for Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors.

Click here for the complete list of 2012-13 Daktronics-NAIA Men's Basketball Scholar-Athletes.

Danny Rudeen, a 6-3 junior guard from Sioux City, has been named the Hauff Mid-America Sports/Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for Jan. 28 to Feb. 3.

Rudeen averaged 24.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game to lead the Mustangs to victories against Dakota Wesleyan University and Nebraska Wesleyan University. Rudeen made 21 of 27 field goal attempts for a sizzling 77.8 percent in the two contests, including a five-for-six performance from the 3-point arc.

He scored a game-high 34 points in the Mustangs’ 90-86 victory against Dakota Wesleyan on Jan. 30 and scored 15 points to go along with a game-high seven rebounds in Morningside’s 72-61 triumph against Nebraska Wesleyan on Feb. 2.

Rudeen is the Mustangs’ leading scorer and rebounder with averages of 19.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He has made a team-high 59 3-point field goals and is the Mustangs’ best free throw shooter with 79 free throws in 93 attempts for 84.9 percent. He has been the Mustangs’ leading scorer in 18 of their 27 contests.

Morningside is picked for a fifth place finish in the GPAC Men’s Basketball Coaches Pre-Season Poll.

The Mustangs return nine lettermen, including two starters, from a team that posted an 18-13 record last season and finished tied for fourth in the GPAC standings with a 12-8 league mark.

Morningside will open the 2012-13 campaign on Friday, Nov. 2, with a 7:30 p.m. home game against William Penn University.

Click here for the complete 2012-13 GPAC Men’s Basketball Coaches Pre-Season Poll.