Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. – It was an emotional night for the Northern State University men's basketball program on Tuesday as the Wolves took the floor for the 2008-09 season opener.  NSU and the surrounding community welcomed head coach Don Meyer back to the sidelines following an extended journey back after a car accident on Sept. 5.  But in the end, it still all came down to points on the scoreboard, and that was a battle the Wolves never conceded, claiming a convincing 98-57 win over the visiting Mount Marty College Lancers.
    The Wolves and senior Preseason All-American Kevin Ratzsch (Bloomington, Ill.) set the tone early as they raced to a double-digit lead before the Lancers even got on the board.  Ratzsch, who finished with a game-high 24 points despite sitting out much of the second half, had eight of NSU's first twelve points of the game.
    NSU continued to pile on the points, leading by as many as 23 points (28-5) midway through the period.  The Lancers, however, got things going late in the half, cutting the lead to 16 at the break on a Bo Bruckner trey at the buzzer.
    The Wolves again raced out of the gate to begin the second period of play, building their lead back up to 26 at 59-33 in the early going never looked back.
    NSU, who held a 49-23 edge in total rebounds, dominated the second chance-points category, putting up 30 points off 21 offensive rebounds.  The Lancers pulled down just eight offensive boards and managed only seven second-chance points.
    All told, the Wolves had four players in double fitures, including a 14-point, 11-rebound effort from juniior Robert Thomas (Mankato, Minn.).Sophomore Marty Gregor (Chaska, Minn.) and redshirt freshman Alex Thomas (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) added 15 and 14 points, respectively, while newcomer Bojan Todorovic (Pozarevac, Serbia) hauled in ten boards and finished just one point shy of his first career double-double.
    MMC got 12 points from Weston Kusser, but could not overcome 20 turnovers, including a stretch of three straight possessions terminated by a turnover late in the second half.
    The win puts Meyer one step closer to breaking Bobby Knight's all-time record for most wins by a men's coach.  Meyer now has 892 victories and needs just ten more to tie Knight's mark.
    Meyer spoke to the crowd briefly following the game, thanking the community for their prayers and support following the accident.
    The Wolves remain at home during a busy opening stretch of the season.  NSU will take on Mayville State on Thursday beginning at 7 p.m. before hosting a doubleheader with the women's program against Presentation College on Friday.