Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University senior Mitch Boeck scored 18 points, while redshirt freshman Collin Pryor was 6-for-6 from the free throw line as the Wolves pushed past the University of Minnesota, Crookston Saturday night in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men’s basketball action by a final tally of 76-65.

The win, which comes on the heels of Friday night’s overtime loss to MSU Moorhead, is NSU’s fourth in the team’s last six outings, and lifts the Wolves to 9-11 overall and 5-8 in NSIC play.  The Golden Eagles, meanwhile, slipped to 3-16 overall and remain winless in the conference at 0-13. 

UMC had picked up their first ever win over the Wolves earlier in the season in an 80-73 decision back on Nov. 29.  The Wolves were not about to let that trend continue tonight, opening up a quick 11-point lead through the first eight minutes of play.

UMC cut the deficit back down to six to keep the Wolves within striking distance just three minutes later, but NSU used a 6-0 run at the end of the half to push their advantage to 17 points heading into the break.  The Wolves used an up-tempo, half-court pressure defense to force UMC into contested shots throughout the half.  NSU also cleaned up on the defensive glass in that half, holding the Golden Eagles to just four offensive rebounds and a 21-13 overall edge.

Despite the momentum boost heading into the locker room, NSU was unable to put the clamps on the Golden Eagles in the second half.  The Wolves held their double digit advantage through the first portion of the second half, but a determined UMC squad sliced and diced their way back to within six at 62-56 with 4:55 left to go.

Pryor then came through for the Wolves, sinking a pair of free throws before snagging an errant Darin Weeks pass and throwing down a break-away dunk to push the lead back to 10.

UMC would force the game back to a 2-possession affair, using a Matthew Heier trey to make it a 70-64 contest with just over a minute left to play.  The Golden Eagles were then forced to foul in an effort to stop the clock.  NSU converted on six of nine free throws in the game’s final minute to keep UMC at bay and emerge with the 76-65 victory.

Pryor, who came off the bench to go 4-for-7 from the floor, led the way with seven rebounds as the Wolves claimed a 35-29 advantage on the boards.  Junior point guard Jordan King handed out six first-half assists en-route to eight total for the night.  That effort marks the seventh straight game in which King has recorded five or more assists.

Heier drained five of his team’s seven 3-pointers on the night en-route to a game-best 21 points.  Center Adam Hendricks added 15 on 7 of 8 shooting, while Arol Longar came off the bench in the second half for nine points and five rebounds.

NSU now turns its attention to a pair of road games next weekend.  The Wolves take on Winona State on Friday and Upper Iowa on Saturday.  Both games are re-matches from earlier this season when the Warriors came into Wachs Arena to claim a 75-56 victory.  NSU rebounded the following evening for a big 92-75 win over the Peacocks.  Game time is set for 8 p.m. both nights.