Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Sophomore guard Derek Hoellein (Eureka, S.D.) scored a game-high 20 points to lead four Wolves in double-digits as Northern State University overcame an early 11-point deficit to take a 74-68 win over the visiting Black Hills State University Yellow Jackets Saturday evening in exhibition men's basketball action.

NSU senior Kevin Ratzsch (Bloomington, Ind.), the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Player of the Year, tallied a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double despite sitting out much of the first half with foul trouble.  Junior Mitch Boeck (Arlington, S.D.) added 13 points and eight rebounds, while sophomore newcomer Bojan Todorovic (Pozarevac, Serbia) added 12 points and eight more boards off the bench.

The Yellow Jackets, who also gave the Wolves a tight game last season in exhibition play, were led by senior AJ Fodness' 16 points off the bench.

BHSU got on the board early, taking a 5-0 lead out of the gate before the Wolves made their first basket.  The Yellow Jackets also took an 11-point lead at 18-7 after sophomore guard Spencer Childress converted on a 3-point play with 13:24 left in the first half.  That play marked Ratzch's second foul of the half, sending him to the sidelines for the rest of the half.

The Wolves would not give up, however, using runs of 7-0, 8-2 and and 8-0 over the next 10 minutes of play to take their first lead of the game at 32-20 with 3:48 left in the half.  NSU's final run was capped by a Hoellein 3-pointer, one of his six on the night.

Hoellein also sank another trey with just more than a minute showing on the clock to send the Wolves into the halftime break leading by three at 37-34.

The first 13 minutes of the second half were a different story altogether, as the Wolves built a 13-point lead with 7:29 left in the game, capitalizing on Yellow Jacket fouls and offensive rebounds in the effort.

This time, however, it was the Yellow Jackets who put together a tough comeback effort, climbing back to within four at 70-66 on a Will John Johnson tip-in with 1:11 left in the game.  But it was too little, too late as the Wolves held on to claim the preseason victory.

The Wolves, playing tonight without head coach Don Meyer on the bench, will be back in action on Nov. 6 in another preseason exhibition game at the University of Minnesota.  Game time is set for 7 p.m. for that contest.