ABERDEEN, S.D. - Northern State scored 27 points off of Mount Marty turnovers in a season-opening win Thursday evening at Wachs Arena.  The Wolves (1-0) forced the Lancers (1-4) into committing 24 turnovers in the game as they took the decision by a score of 68-56. The Wolves are in action next on Tuesday, November 20, hosting North Dakota at 8:00 p.m.

The Wolves had the scoring edge for the majority of the game, but 17 turnovers of their own kept the game tight. With the score tied at 13-13 midway through the first half, Northern 16-6 scoring streak to gain a 29-19 advantage and their first double figure lead in the game.  The Wolves looked to Levi Hamilton in the paint for four buckets during this stretch.  Northern led 35-28 at the half after shooting 46.9 percent from the field. 

Mount Marty opened the second half with a series of buckets to narrow the deficit, but Northern got on track after a few minutes and stretched their lead to 12 points, 53-41, at the 10:45 mark.  Both teams were off the mark from the field and the charity stripe as scoring faded in the following minutes.  Northern's defense made up for their lack of scoring and they finished the game by maintaining at least a ten point lead.  Free throws down the stretch set the final score at 58-56.

Hamilton was the scoring leader for the Wolves in the season opener, hitting 7-of-10 shots from the field and connecting on two free throws for 17 total points.  Kevin Ratzsch followed with 14 points and led the squad with seven rebounds.  Craig Nelson had four of the team's 14 steals.

The Wolves shot 40.3 percent from the field (25-62) and out-rebounded the Lancers 40-35.  The Wolves have yet to heat up from beyond the arc, where they shot a cool 20.8 percent (5-24).  Northern had 32 points in the paint and received 21 points from their bench.

Mount Marty shot 46.9 percent from the field, but hit two fewer field goals than the Wolves (23-49).  They hit a meager 8-of-18 shots from the line.  Nathan Fischer led his team with 12 points and seven rebounds and was followed by Chris Filsinger with 11 points.